The level of education achieved by our officers is impressive. We are always interested in seeing our officers grow academically. Individuals holding a Bachelors degree will usually be commissioned as an Ensign, those possessing a Masters degree as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and those with a Doctoral degree as a Lieutenant. Their pay will be based upon their grade, their time in service, their dependents, and the geographic locale to which they are assigned. In addition to their pay, our officers receive their medical and dental treatment at government expense.
Officers become eligible for retirement after twenty years of active service.
The comprehensive retirement plan includes regular payments for the remainder of your life, commensurate with years of active duty served, with cost of living adjustments. Medical and dental benefits continue after retirement with some limitations. To illustrate the range of annual income that a newly commissioned officer in the Navy could expect to receive, the following figures are based on the current pay scale for calendar year 2000 and assignment to the greater Washington, D.C. area.