Navy Quartermaster (QM): Definitive Guide (2025)

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

As a Quartermaster, your job is to navigate the open seas and ensure our mission stays on course.

You will specialize in maps, charts, and oceanography and will work in the ship’s pilothouse, observing the sunrise and sunset each day.

Every Sailor will depend on your expertise to keep them safe and operational.

When you become a Quartermaster, you become the ship’s GPS, guiding it to reach its destination.

Job Description

navy-qm-insignia
QM Insignia – Credit: U.S. Navy

Quartermasters (QM) are Navy enlisted Sailors who fulfill a variety of responsibilities on a ship, including assisting the Officer of the Deck (OOD) and the Navigator, serving as Helmsmen, and performing ship control, navigation, and bridge watch duties.

Quartermasters handle navigation and communication. They keep ships on track, make sure instruments work, and help with tactical messaging. A job that needs focus, problem-solving, and attention to detail.

Fun Fact: Quartermaster is one of the oldest enlisted jobs in the U.S. Navy.

What They Do

Navigation & Charts

  • Get, update, and store navigational charts and oceanographic publications
  • Keep navigational instruments working and make sure time is correct
  • Record weather data and encode it for operations

Communication & Protocol

  • Use visual, audible, and electronic signals to send tactical messages
  • Handle ceremonies, honors, and observances for U.S. and foreign customs

Where They Work

  • Mostly in the bridge or pilot house—clean, air-conditioned, full of electronic gear
  • Work with a team, but sometimes handle tasks alone

Problem-Solving & Mental Focus

QMs spend a lot of time analyzing, thinking, solving navigation problems.

  • Around 2,000 men and women in this rating
  • Mostly on deploying U.S. Navy ships

They keep the fleet moving, making sure every ship stays exactly where it needs to be.

Specific Responsibilities

Quartermasters work with Deck Officers and navigators to steer the ship, track position, and handle bridge duties. They help keep everything running smoothly on the water.

Navigation & Charts

  • Get, check, and store navigational charts and oceanographic publications
  • Maintain navigational instruments and keep ship’s time accurate

Communication & Ceremonies

  • Send and receive visual messages
  • Perform Honors and Ceremonies for U.S. and foreign traditions

Ship & Craft Oversight

  • Supervise tugboats, self-propelled barges, and other yard craft

Most of the time, QMs work on the bridge, making sure the ship stays on course and responding to changing conditions. Their job takes focus, quick thinking, and attention to detail.

Navy-QM-Rating-Quartermaster-Image-704X396

Different Roles

Navigation Administrator

Navigation Administrators provide navigation expertise to ship personnel, making sure everything follows fleet directives. When conditions get tricky, they offer advice to keep the ship on course.

What They Do
  • Use visual aids, tide data, and current charts for navigation
  • Select, update, and store nautical charts
  • Keep track of navigation logs, equipment, and chart inventories
  • Extract and record maintenance data from navigation publications
  • Set up preventive maintenance schedules and make sure they’re followed
  • Coordinate honors and ceremonies like sunrise, morning, and evening colors

Navigation Manager

Navigation Managers are piloting experts who guide bridge personnel and oversee major navigation operations.

What They Do
  • Manage navigation certification and make sure the ship meets fleet requirements
  • Advise on difficult navigational conditions
  • Conduct navigation briefings and select charts and anchorages
  • Use electronic navigation systems when needed
  • Plan for deployments and long voyages
  • Run emergency drills and evaluate navigation personnel

Navigation Specialist

Navigation Specialists work closely with the Officer of the Deck (OOD) and represent the Navigator. Their job is to keep the ship on course and ensure safe travel.

What They Do
  • Perform ship control, navigation, and bridge watch duties
  • Choose charts for voyages and calculate danger angles and bearings
  • Keep sailing directions, light lists, and navigation publications up to date
  • Follow Coast Guard rules and regulations for safe navigation
  • Maintain the compass book and determine the ship’s location using celestial observations
  • Identify aids to navigation and monitor weather conditions
  • Keep weather logs and analyze patterns
  • Handle radio and visual communications
  • Train and oversee bridge personnel (for more experienced specialists)

Navigation roles require focus, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Every decision matters when the ship is out at sea.

Rank Structure

Pay GradeRateAbbreviationTitle
E-1Seaman RecruitSRSeaman Recruit
E-2Seaman ApprenticeSASeaman Apprentice
E-3SeamanSNSeaman
E-4Quartermaster Third ClassQM3Petty Officer Third Class
E-5Quartermaster Second ClassQM2Petty Officer Second Class
E-6Quartermaster First ClassQM1Petty Officer First Class
E-7Chief QuartermasterQMCChief Petty Officer
E-8Senior Chief QuartermasterQMCSSenior Chief Petty Officer
E-9Master Chief QuartermasterQMCMMaster 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:

PaygradeLess 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.

Training and Career Opportunities

Initial Training

After Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Quartermasters go to Class “A” Technical School for navigation and oceanography training.

Class “A” Technical School

  • Location: Great Lakes, IL
  • Length: 9–11 weeks
  • What You Learn:
    • How to operate electronic navigation equipment
    • How to track weather, compute tides, and keep navigation logs
    • How to find the ship’s position using visual and electronic methods
    • How to calculate sunrise/sunset times
    • How to follow nautical rules to prevent collisions

After training, you’ll go to a ship, in the U.S. or overseas. About 60% of your time will be at sea.

Advanced Training & Career Growth

Promotion happens, but it’s competitive and based on performance.

Later on, you may get more advanced training in navigation and leadership. If you earn a college degree, you could apply for Officer roles and take on leadership positions.

Post-Service Opportunities

The skills and experience from this job translate to civilian careers in:

  • Navigation and maritime operations
  • Logistics and transportation
  • Weather and oceanography

Service Expectations

Over a 20-year career, Quartermasters usually spend:

  • 60% of the time assigned to fleet units (at sea)
  • 40% at shore stations

Some QMs in the Full-Time Support (FTS) program are assigned to Naval Reserve Force (NRF) ships and later train and manage reservists at reserve centers.

Qualifications to Join

To be eligible for enlistment as a Sailor and Quartermaster (QM) in the Navy, a high school diploma or its equivalent is required. U.S. citizenship and meeting security clearance requirements are mandatory for those interested in a Quartermaster position.

Basic Requirements

  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • U.S. citizen
  • Security clearance required
  • Normal color vision and hearing

ASVAB Score

  • VE + AR = 97

Skills You Need

  • Basic math skills for navigation
  • Comfort with computers and modern navigation tech
  • Good communication—both speaking and writing
  • Attention to detail for keeping logs and records accurate
  • Manual dexterity and some physical strength to handle equipment
  • Ability to work as part of a team and follow directions

Other Considerations

Qualifications may change depending on whether you’re new to the Navy, have served before, or are currently serving.

This job needs focus, problem-solving, and precision—mistakes in navigation can have serious consequences.

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 Quartermaster (QM), 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:

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.

Affiliate Notice
The pages on this site may contain affiliate links. I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases through these links. You agree to this notice if you continue to use this site.