Royal Navy rating | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Royal Navy ratings work in a variety of job roles on board ships or submarines at sea, or onshore at a naval base.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to

Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
Dock or undock vessels, sometimes manoeuvring through narrow spaces, such as locks.
Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.
Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.
Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.
Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status.
Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models.
Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment.
Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.
Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
Purchase supplies or equipment.
Tow and manoeuvre barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.
Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbours or patrolling beaches.
Assign watches or living quarters to crew members.
Interview and hire crew members.
Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills.

Average salary
56,478 GBP *
per year

Average salary for Royal Navy rating

57,713 GBP
52,883 GBP

Average salary for full-time Royal Navy rating

Showing:

56,478 GBP
52,883 GBP
57,713 GBP

Salary over time for Royal Navy rating

Salary for this role has increased over time

57,343 GBP
59,769 GBP
58,826 GBP
57,759 GBP
56,671 GBP
53,769 GBP
56,478 GBP
57,670 GBP
52,016 GBP

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Future outlook for Royal Navy ratings

Balanced outlook

13 000+ jobs available

Balanced outlook

-1% yearly wage growth (on average)

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Royal Navy rating and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

You can apply directly to join the Royal Navy as a rating. You don't need any specific qualifications, but you will need to meet the Navy's eligibility requirements. For example,

be a UK, Republic of Ireland or Commonwealth citizen
pass a medical check
have a good level of fitness
be at least 151.5cm tall
pass security checks
pass enhanced background checks

After applying, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do. You'll then attend an interview and assessment.

If you have the right skills, you'll be invited to attend the 4-day Pre-Royal Navy Course. This includes further interviews, fitness, medical and aptitude tests. If you're successful, you'll be offered a place on the navy's basic training programme.

You'll need:

physical fitness and endurance
the ability to work well with others in a team
excellent verbal communication skills
concentration skills for practical tasks
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to be flexible and open to change
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
thinking and reasoning skills for making quick decisions
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Royal Navy rating

Policing

Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. Self Control Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Leadership Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. Stress Tolerance Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

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Royal Navy rating | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

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Future outlook for Royal Navy ratings

Royal Navy rating - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

Things to highlight for your Royal Navy rating interview

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