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The Global Insight

What rank is a captain in the Coast Guard

Author

Matthew Martinez

Updated on April 14, 2026

Captain is the 22nd rank in the United States Coast Guard , ranking above Commander and directly below Rear Admiral Lower Half. A captain is a Senior Officer at DoD paygrade O-6, with a starting monthly pay of $6,931.

What pay grade is a captain in the Coast Guard?

Coast Guard Captain Pay A Captain is a senior officer in the United States Coast Guard at DoD paygrade O-6. A Captain receives a monthly basic pay salary starting at $6,931 per month, with raises up to $12,270 per month once they have served for over 30 years.

What is the highest rank in the US Coast Guard?

Admiral (ADM/O-10) Admiral is the highest USCG rank in peacetime and is designated a four-star flag on their insignia. Admirals have the greatest responsibility, overseeing the entire operation of more than 41,000 active-duty personnel. Command of the Coast Guard reports directly to the President of the United States.

Is a captain a high rank?

captain, a rank in the military and maritime service, and the highest-ranking company officer. … In the British and U.S. navies the rank corresponds to the army rank of colonel, as does group captain in the Royal Air Force.

What is the rank designation of a captain?

CaptainPay gradeO-3Next higher rankMajorNext lower rankFirst lieutenantEquivalent ranksLieutenant (U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard)

How long to become a captain in the Coast Guard?

Must be 19 Years old. Must be able to document 360 days of experience on a vessel. Must have 90 of the 360 days within last 3 years. For the Mate Near Coastal 180 of the 360 days must have been on the ocean or near coastal waters.

How long does it take to become a captain in the Coast Guard?

For a 6-pack license (OUPV) the requirements you need to achieve are 360 days of sea time, 90 of which must be in the range for which you apply. For example, the Near Coastal OUPV requires at least 90 days on near coastal or ocean waters.

What is above a captain in the military?

major, a military rank standing above captain. It is the lowest field-grade rank.

Is captain a respected rank?

In NATO countries, the rank of captain is described by the code OF-2 and is one rank above an OF-1 (lieutenant or first lieutenant) and one below an OF-3 (major or commandant). The rank of captain is generally considered to be the highest rank a soldier can achieve while remaining in the field.

What are the Marine ranks in order?
  • Private (Pvt/E-1)
  • Private First Class (PFC/E-2)
  • Lance Corporal (LCpl/E-3)
  • Corporal (Cpl/E-4)
  • Sergeant (Sgt/E-5)
  • Staff Sergeant (SSgt/E-6)
  • Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt/E-7)
  • Master Sergeant (MSgt/E-8)
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What is a captain in the Coast Guard?

Captain is the 22nd rank in the United States Coast Guard , ranking above Commander and directly below Rear Admiral Lower Half. A captain is a Senior Officer at DoD paygrade O-6, with a starting monthly pay of $6,931.

What is an 05 in the Coast Guard?

Commander (CDR)(O5) Commander is the first Coast Guard rank to command ships or squadrons of aircraft. They also may join the staff of a senior officer aboard a large vessel.

How many officers are in the USCG?

There was a large range in the total number of offi- cers in the O-1 through O-6 ranks, from 72,610 in the Army to 6,508 in the Coast Guard. The total number of officers in the Coast Guard and Marine Corps was much smaller than in the other Services.

Who is called captain?

Captain is a title for the commander of a military unit, the commander of a ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel, or the commander of a port, fire department or police department, election precinct, etc.

Who reports to a captain?

Rather, the captain is like the CEO of a company. He or she is ultimately in charge of everything onboard. On most ships, three senior officers report directly to the captain The hotel director is in charge of all of the guest services including the accommodations, the dining, and the entertainment.

Is captain higher than lieutenant?

In the British Army and in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, a second lieutenant is the lowest ranking commissioned officer. Above him in those U.S. services comes a first lieutenant—lieutenant in the British Army—and then a captain.

How much do captains make?

Captain LevelSize of VesselSalary RangeSenior Master170 ft – 200 ft +$144,000 – $300,000Captain100 ft – 170 ft$84,000 – $180,000Junior Captain60 ft – 100 ft$48,000 – $98,000

What size yacht requires a captain's license?

Getting an experienced and qualified captain is a must for any yacht over 100 feet long, as well as if you are not very confident in your ability to control a boat on your own.

What is a six pack license?

The Six-pack captain’s license, also known as the OUPV license, is a designation awarded by the United States Coast Guard that allows the holder to take up to six paying passengers and crew out on the water. The OUPV/Six-pack license is issued in three forms: Inland, Great Lakes & Inland, and Near Coastal.

What is an 05 in the Army?

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)(O5) Typically commands battalion-sized units (300-1,000 soldiers), with a CSM as principal NCO assistant.

What is the salary of a cruise ship captain?

Job TitleSalarySEACOR Ship Captain salaries – 1 salaries reported$2,57,346/yrHorizon Lines Ship Captain salaries – 1 salaries reported$2,67,207/yr

Do captains fight in combat?

It is entirely possible that any and every rank can “see active combat.” On a regular and normal basis, a Captain would be the highest ranking officer in ground forces to be expected to be a trigger puller. Anyone above that rank could, but would not be expected, to be pulling triggers.

Which is the high rank captain or major?

Indian ArmyIndian NavyIndian Air ForceColonelCaptainGroup CaptainLieutenant ColonelCommanderWing CommanderMajorLieutenant CommanderSquadron LeaderCaptainLieutenantFlight Lieutenant

Who is the only 6 star general?

George Washington, History’s Only Six-Star General ( … Sort Of) The rank of five-star general is an honor bestowed upon very few. In fact, you can name them on one hand: George C.

Is Captain higher than Commander?

A commander is the third-highest rank in the force, above the rank of captain and below deputy chief.

Who is the highest ranking officer in the military?

Milley. General Mark A. Milley is the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.

What is military rank lowest to highest?

Pay GradeRankClassificationW-5Chief Warrant Officer 5Warrant OfficerO-1Second LieutenantCommissioned OfficerO-2First LieutenantCommissioned OfficerO-3CaptainCommissioned Officer

What is the most elite Marine unit?

Marine Raider RegimentSize1,512 personnel authorized: 1,475 military personnel 37 civilian personnelPart ofUnited States Special Operations Command United States Marine Corps Special Operations CommandGarrison/HQCamp Lejeune, North Carolina Camp Pendleton, CaliforniaNickname(s)Marine Raiders

Who's tougher Marines or Navy SEALs?

Although the Marines are highly respected and considered one of the most elite fighting forces, the Navy SEALs training is far more rigorous and demanding than that of the Marines.

Can you skip ranks in the military?

In the US military, yes. The most well known example was John J. Pershing, who in 1898 went from First Lieutenant to Major, and in a more spectacular “skip” in 1906 went from Captain to Brigadier General.

What is the lowest rank in the Coast Guard?

Seaman recruit (SR) is the lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Coast Guard, just below seaman apprentice. Two separate pay grades exist within this rank — one for those with service of less than four months and another for those in service for more than four months, even if they have not advanced to seaman apprentice.