Annual Salary
£31,000 to £57,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Royal Navy officers manage ship and submarine operations and are responsible for all personnel under their command.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
3.4% more Royal Navy officer jobs in 2027.
As a Royal Navy officer, your duties will depend on your role.
You could:
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
You could work at a military base, on a ship or in a warzone.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through:
If you have a degree, you can apply through the Direct Graduate Entry route.
For some officer roles you'll need specific qualifications and experience, for example:
You can start applying before you finish your studies, as the process can take up to 6 months. If you're accepted, you'll attend Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon, to begin officer training.
You'll usually need:
You can join the Royal Navy Reserve to get some experience of what life is like in the service, and to learn new skills at the same time.
You'll need to:
If you're between 12 and 18 years old, you can join the Sea Cadets.
You can apply directly for officer training.
You'll need a minimum of:
Age limits vary depending on which officer role you're interested in.
If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do. You'll also have a medical and fitness check.
There will be further assessments and interviews to complete and if you're successful, you'll be offered a place on a full officer training programme.
You'll need to:
You will need to pass physical fitness assessments, including swimming, to be accepted into the Royal Navy. Get fit to Join has information on how to check your current fitness and how to improve to the level required.
You'll find more details about how to become an officer from Royal Navy Careers.
With experience you could be promoted to sub-lieutenant, lieutenant, commander and the higher ranks.
Throughout your navy career, you'll have the opportunity to gain qualifications in your area of expertise.
On leaving active service, you could use your skills, qualifications and experience to go into a new career. You can find details about support and opportunities from:Quest; Career Transition Partnership; Forces Employment Charity; Get Into Teaching
Royal Navy Careers has information on the full range of officer specialisms.
You'll need: