Career Sea Pay Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

Do reservists earn sea pay?

Reserve members on active-duty sea assignments earn pro-rated CSP for the days served on qualifying orders.

Does a PCS to a different ship reset the tier?

No - transferring between sea-duty units does NOT break consecutive sea-duty months as long as there is no shore assignment in between.

When does Sea Pay Premium end?

It continues for every month on sea duty after the 36-month threshold. If you PCS to shore duty, the premium ends immediately.

Does sea pay count toward retirement?

No - only base pay enters the High-3 retirement calculation. CSP is incentive pay and is excluded from the retirement formula.

Is CSP paid while in port?

Yes - CSP is paid for the assignment, not for underway time. You earn it every month you are assigned to a qualifying sea-duty billet regardless of whether the ship is at the pier.

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Estimates for informational purposes only.

Important Disclaimer: Estimates for informational purposes only.

This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results are based on assumptions and may not reflect actual outcomes. Consult qualified professionals in relevant fields before making important decisions based on these results.

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How It Works

Career Sea Pay (CSP) is a monthly incentive paid to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard assigned to qualifying sea-duty billets aboard ships, submarines, or aviation squadrons embarked on a ship. Rates increase with consecutive months of sea duty - rewarding career sailors who shoulder back-to-back deployments - and with pay grade.

After 36 consecutive months on sea duty the member also receives Sea Pay Premium, a flat $100/month on top of base CSP. This calculator returns the monthly CSP, the premium component if earned, and the annualized total. CSP is taxable but is paid for the assignment, not for the number of underway days.

Eligibility

CSP is paid to active-duty Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members assigned to designated sea-duty billets. Key criteria include:

Assignment to a ship, submarine, or embarked aviation squadron on sea-duty orders.

CSP rate tier is determined by consecutive sea-duty months (0-36, 37-60, or 60+).

Sea Pay Premium ($100/month) activates after 36 continuous months of sea duty.

Shore assignments, schools longer than 90 days, or breaks in sea-duty status reset the consecutive clock to Tier 1.

Reserve members on active-duty sea assignments earn pro-rated CSP for days served.

Tips

Track your consecutive sea-duty months carefully - crossing from Tier 1 to Tier 2 at month 37 can add $100-$200/month plus the $100 Sea Pay Premium.

Transferring between sea-duty units without an intervening shore assignment does NOT break consecutive counting - your tier is preserved.

CSP is taxable income; budget for withholding, especially when you cross into a higher tier and your monthly pay jumps.

Consider the impact of long OCONUS schools on your consecutive counter before accepting TDY orders that last more than 90 days.

CSP does not count toward your High-3 retirement calculation - only base pay does.

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