Navy Seabee Builder (BU): Definitive Guide (2025)

This guide provides helpful information for those looking to join the Navy as a Builder (BU) during the Fiscal Year 2025.

You build. You fix. You get it done. As a Builder in the Seabees, you don’t wait around—you make it happen. Runways, barracks, bridges, whatever the mission needs, you build it.

No shortcuts. No nonsense. Just real work that lasts.

If the job’s tough, even better. Ready to grab your tools and get to work?

Job Description

navy-bu-insignia
BU Insignia – Credit: U.S. Navy

Navy Builders (BUs) build, fix, and reinforce whatever the mission calls for—barracks, bridges, airstrips, docks, fortifications. If it needs to be built, they make it happen. Wood, steel, concrete—doesn’t matter. They handle everything from framing and roofing to concrete and finishing work.

Seabees work on land, in war zones, disaster sites, remote outposts—wherever the Navy needs them. They don’t sit in offices and they don’t wait around. One day they’re laying foundations, the next they’re throwing up a security fence or reinforcing a bunker.

Most of their work is on shore, but their skills keep Navy bases, ports, and infrastructure mission-ready. There are about 2,380 Builders in the Navy. Some work alone. Some in crews. But all get the job done.


What You’ll Do

  • Read blueprints and plan construction projects.
  • Build and repair wood, steel, and concrete structures—on land and waterfronts.
  • Lay foundations, mix concrete, and operate heavy construction tools.
  • Install finishing materials—drywall, tile, paneling, trim.
  • Estimate project needs—materials, labor, equipment.
  • Run repair shops, maintain tools and construction equipment.
  • Clear debris and rebuild after disasters.
  • Support combat operations by building fortifications and defenses.

This isn’t a job where you watch from the sidelines. You build, you fix, you make it happen.

Builder Role Specifics

Builders build, fix, and manage anything the mission needs. Wood, metal, concrete, masonry—doesn’t matter. They frame, roof, pour, paint, install, and finish. From barracks to bunkers, docks to disaster relief sites, they make sure the Navy has the infrastructure to operate anywhere.

  • Carpentry—Rough and finish work, framing, roofing, flooring.
  • Concrete work—Mix, pour, set, and finish.
  • Masonry—Lay brick, block, and stone.
  • Interior and exterior finishes—Drywall, tile, paneling, painting, preservation.
  • Demolition—Tear down structures safely, clear sites for new builds.
  • Pre-engineered buildings (PEB) and K-Spans—Erect and reinforce for quick, durable structures.
  • Waterfront construction—Piers, docks, and bridges.
  • Shop work—Maintain and operate carpentry and cabinet-making shops.

Builders don’t just swing hammers. They plan projects, estimate materials, schedule crews, control costs, and manage teams. They solve problems, enforce code requirements, and make sure everything gets done right and on time.

They also stay combat-ready, supporting missions in the field and jumping in for disaster relief when things go sideways.

Rank Structure

Pay GradeRateAbbreviationTitle
E-1Constructionman RecruitCRConstructionman Recruit
E-2Constructionman ApprenticeCAConstructionman Apprentice
E-3ConstructionmanCNConstructionman
E-4Builder Third ClassBU3Petty Officer Third Class
E-5Builder Second ClassBU2Petty Officer Second Class
E-6Builder First ClassBU1Petty Officer First Class
E-7Chief BuilderBUCChief Petty Officer
E-8Senior Chief ConstructionmanCUCSSenior Chief Petty Officer
E-9Master Chief SeabeeCBCMMaster Chief Petty Officer

Note:

At Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8), the Builder (BU) rating merges with Engineering Aide (EA) and Steelworker (SW) to form Senior Chief Constructionman (CUCS).

At Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), all construction ratings combine into one: Master Chief Seabee (CBCM).

Salary and Benefits

Salary for the First 6 Years

Monthly pay for Navy enlisted Sailors (E-1 to E-6) in the first six years is laid out in the January  2025 Active Duty Pay chart:

Pay GradeLess than 2 YearsOver 2 YearsOver 3 YearsOver 4 YearsOver 6 Years
E-1$2,108.10$2,108.10$2,108.10$2,108.10$2,108.10
E-2$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80
E-3$2,484.60$2,640.60$2,800.80$2,800.80$2,800.80
E-4$2,752.20$2,892.90$3,049.80$3,204.30$3,341.40
E-5$3,001.50$3,203.70$3,358.80$3,517.20$3,763.80
E-6$3,276.60$3,606.00$3,765.00$3,919.80$4,080.60

Extra Pays and Allowances

Housing Allowance (BAH):
For members living off-base. Covers rent, based on rank, location, and if they have dependents.

Subsistence Allowance (BAS):
Enlisted get $465.77 monthly for food.

Hazard Duty Pay:
For dangerous jobs. Pays $150-$250 per month, depending on the job.

Sea Pay:
For those assigned to ships or deployed units. Depends on rank and time at sea, from $50 to $750 a month.

Special and Incentive Pays:
Bonuses for certain roles, like air traffic control or unique skills. These can be a few hundred to thousands per year.

Source: Figures are from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Benefits

  • Healthcare: Active-duty personnel are eligible for free complete medical and dental treatment. Tricare programs are inexpensive for families to use.
  • Housing Accomodation: Depending on location, rank, and family size, free on-base accommodation or a tax-free housing allowance (BAH) for off-base living are available.
  • Food: Monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for food costs is known as the “food allowance.”
  • Blended Retirement System (BRS): Conventional pensions are no longer available to active-duty personnel. Rather:
    • Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Up to 5% in government matching and automatic contributions.
    • Retirement Pay: After 20 years of service, you’re eligible for monthly payments according on the BRS formula, which combines TSP savings with a calculated pension.
  • Education:
    • Availability of tuition assistance programs that pay for all or part of college tuition.
    • Support for higher education under the post-9/11 GI Bill.
    • Navy College Program to support education while on service.
  • Life Insurance: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides coverage up to $500,000.
  • Vacation: ten or more federal holidays plus thirty days of paid vacation each year.
  • Extra Benefits:
    • Exchanges and commissaries provide tax-free purchasing.
    • Discounted travel via military resorts, access to fitness centers, and leisure amenities.
Navy-BU-Rating-Navy-Seabee-Builder-Image-704X396

Training and Career Opportunities

Training Path

After Boot Camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, you’ll head to Class “A” Technical School in Gulfport, MS for 10 weeks. There, you’ll learn the basic construction skills and theories needed to work as a Builder (BU).

SchoolLocationDurationSubjects CoveredTraining Style
Class “A” Technical SchoolGulfport, MS10 weeksBasic construction skills, combat skillsGroup & individual instruction

After training, you’ll be stationed at:

  • Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) – Port Hueneme, CA or Gulfport, MS
  • Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) – San Diego, CA or Little Creek, VA

NMCBs rotate between homeport and overseas in locations like Spain, Okinawa, or Guam. During homeport duty, Seabees receive additional combat & construction training to stay mission-ready.

You’ll be assigned to a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) or an Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB). Expect rotations between homeport and overseas locations, with ongoing training along the way.

Advancement


Promotion opportunities happen often but are competitive and based on performance. Advanced technical and operational training in construction may also be available as you move forward in your career.


Post-Service Opportunities

The hands-on training and real-world experience you gain as a Builder (BU) can open doors in civilian construction, offering valuable credentialing and career opportunities after service.

Qualifications to Join

What You Need

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Good with tools, machines, and construction materials? Comfortable with basic math—algebra, fractions, measuring accurately? Builders rely on all of it.

Personal Traits That Help

  • Work well with a team—Seabees don’t build alone
  • Resourceful—problems come up, you find solutions
  • Good memory & attention to detailblueprints, measurements, materials—everything has to be right
  • Physically strong—heavy lifting, long hours, hands-on work
  • Normal hearing required

ASVAB Score Needed (Must meet one)

  • AR + MC + AS = 145; or
  • VE + AR + MK + AO = 209

Service Obligation

This is a 5-year enlistment program.

The enlistment qualification requirements above are current as of Fiscal Year 2025, per the Navy Personnel Command. This information is not readily available to the public.

So, contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter for the most current requirements to join the Navy as an enlisted Sailor.

More Information

If you wish to learn more about becoming a Navy Builder (BU), contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter. They will provide you with more detailed information you’re unlikely to find online.

You may also be interested in the following related Navy Enlisted jobs in the Seabees:

Ted Kingston
I’m a Navy veteran who used to serve as a Navy recruiter. This website is the most reliable source of information for all Enlisted Navy Sailor aspirants. In coordination with a network of current and former Navy recruiters, my goal is to make reliable information easily available to you so you can make informed career decisions.

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