This guide provides helpful information for those looking to join the Navy as a Cryptologic Technician – Technical (CTT) during the Fiscal Year 2025.
You’re the eyes and ears of the fleet. As a Cryptologic Technician Technical (CTT), you track enemy signals, jam radars, and disrupt threats before they happen.
Special warfare teams, surface ships, they all count on you to provide tactical intel and electronic warfare support. If a missile’s coming, you detect it first.
If an enemy’s scanning for targets, you throw them off. And if the fight gets close? You operate combat systems to defend the ship.
You keep the fleet safe—can you handle that? Step up and find out.
Job Description
Cryptologic Technicians – Technical (CTTs) track, jam, and disrupt enemy signals. They work in Electronic Warfare (EW)—running electronic sensors, analyzing radar signals, collecting ELINT, and making sure commanders get the intel they need.
Their job? Detect threats before they happen. Whether it’s missile defense, information warfare, or tactical support for special warfare teams, CTTs make sure the fleet stays a step ahead.
CTTs serve everywhere—on ships, aircraft, submarines, shore commands, and with Naval Special Warfare. They work in high-tech, secure environments, usually alone or in small teams, solving complex problems with minimal supervision.
This is a small, elite community—only about 3,000 Sailors—with missions that directly impact national security. Their career path? Signals intelligence, radar tracking, high-level reporting, operational facility management, and even instructing the next generation of cryptologic specialists.
Specific Responsibilities
CTTs specialize in radar signals from the air, land, and sea. Their job includes:
- Running electronic sensors, recording devices, and intel analysis systems
- Jamming enemy radars and disrupting missile guidance systems
- Providing intel and tactical support to surface, subsurface, air, and special warfare teams
They see the threats before anyone else does.
Different Roles
Airborne/Subsurface Electronic Warfare Operator
Tracks enemy radar and electronic signals from the air and under the sea. Uses high-tech receivers and analysis tools to gather intelligence, then sends that intel to commanders to support missions and national objectives.
Information Operations Planner
Plans and executes Electronic Warfare (EW) and Information Operations (IO) to control the battlespace. Builds Military Deception (MilDec) plans, spectrum management plans, OPSEC directives, and EMCON strategies. Ensures commanders stay ahead of threats in electronic warfare.
Operational Electronic Intelligence Analyst (OPELINT)
Collects and analyzes foreign radar and electronic signals. Tracks enemy weapons systems, vulnerabilities, and trends to provide tactical and strategic commanders with real-time intelligence.
Surface Electronic Warfare Maintainer
Keeps Electronic Warfare (EW) systems running. Installs, tests, repairs, and troubleshoots radar jammers, antennas, Decoy Launching Systems (DLS), and digital/optical interfaces. If it breaks, they fix it fast.
Surface Electronic Warfare Operator
Uses radar receivers, recording devices, and electronic warfare systems to track and identify enemy signals. Analyzes intercepted signals, provides early warning intel, and sends reports up the chain to support tactical operations and fleet security.
Tactical Information Operations Specialist
Handles special ops electronic warfare. Works alongside SEALs and Special Operations Forces (SOF), maintaining and repairing electronic systems for ground and airborne missions. Fabricates custom surveillance gear, collects critical battlefield intelligence, and runs direct-action support missions.
Technical Electronic Intelligence Analyst (TECHELINT)
Breaks down non-communication signals. Tracks and deciphers foreign weapons systems, providing assessments on threat capabilities, weaknesses, and patterns. Helps commanders stay ahead of enemy technology.
If the Navy needs to know what’s happening in the electromagnetic spectrum, these are the experts making sure nothing goes unseen.
Rank Structure
Pay Grade | Rate | Abbreviation | Title |
---|---|---|---|
E-1 | Seaman Recruit | SR | Seaman Recruit |
E-2 | Seaman Apprentice | SA | Seaman Apprentice |
E-3 | Seaman | SN | Seaman |
E-4 | Cryptologic Technician Technical Third Class | CTT3 | Petty Officer Third Class |
E-5 | Cryptologic Technician Technical Second Class | CTT2 | Petty Officer Second Class |
E-6 | Cryptologic Technician Technical First Class | CTT1 | Petty Officer First Class |
E-7 | Chief Cryptologic Technician Technical | CTTC | Chief Petty Officer |
E-8 | Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician Technical | CTTCS | Senior Chief Petty Officer |
E-9 | Master Chief Cryptologic Technician Technical | CTTCM | Master Chief Petty Officer |
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 Grade | Less than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 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.
Training and Career Opportunities
Training Path
After Boot Camp at Great Lakes, new Cryptologic Technicians Technical (CTTs) head to Pensacola, FL, for specialized training at Class “A” School (12 weeks).
Here, they learn:
- Radar system theory and how different systems operate
- Electronic intelligence analysis and tracking enemy radar signals
- Operating high-tech collection devices (both analog and digital)
- Using radar analysis equipment to break down signal patterns
- Radio-wave modulation principles to understand and manipulate signals
- Automated data processing and reporting systems
- Computer security procedures to protect sensitive information
Class “C” School (7-10 weeks) follows, training CTTs on:
- Shipboard, submarine, and airborne collection devices
- Advanced radar analysis tools
After training, CTTs can be stationed worldwide—in the U.S., Europe, Hawaii, and the Western Pacific. They get assigned to ships, aircraft squadrons, submarines, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) teams, and shore-based commands.
Women can serve in all CTT roles except submarines and limited NSW assignments.
Career Growth
- Promotion is competitive, based on performance
- Advanced training is available later in your career
- Officer roles may be an option for those with a degree
Civilian Opportunities
When it’s time to transition out of the Navy, CTTs bring high-value skills to the civilian world. Their security clearance, intelligence processing experience, and computer expertise make them prime candidates for government and private-sector jobs in cybersecurity, defense contracting, and intelligence analysis.
Qualifications to Join
Basic Requirements
To become a Cryptologic Technician Technical (CTT), you need:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- U.S. citizenship (mandatory)
- Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance eligibility
- Normal hearing, sight, speech, and color perception
Key Traits & Skills:
- Strong memory and ability to recall critical details
- Curiosity and resourcefulness—solving puzzles and uncovering hidden patterns
- Aptitude for math—analyzing radar signals and encryption
- Adaptability—working in fast-changing environments under pressure
- Strong analytical skills—turning complex information into clear intelligence
ASVAB Score Requirements
You can qualify for CTT through different scoring paths:
4-Year Enlistment (CTT 4YO):
- AR + 2MK + GS = 212; or
- AR + MK + CT = 159 (and CT = 60)
6-Year Enlistment (CTT 6YO – Advanced Electronics Field (AEF)):
- AR + MK + EI + GS = 223; or
- AR + MK + CT = 162 (and CT = 60)
Additional Screening & Disqualifications
- SSBI (Single Scope Background Investigation) is required (starts at Recruit Training Command)
- A personal security screening interview will be conducted by Cyber Forces Command
- Moral turpitude offenses (serious ethical/legal violations) are generally disqualifying
- Former Peace Corps members are not eligible
- You must be worldwide assignable—expect deployments on ships, aircraft, and shore-based intelligence facilities
Because of the highly sensitive nature of this work, CTTs must be of exceptional character and integrity.
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 Cryptologic Technician – Technical (CTT), 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: