Nigerian Navy Salary 2026, Ranks and Allowances

The Nigerian Navy stands as one of the most prestigious branches of Nigeria’s Armed Forces. They are tasked with protecting our nation’s vast territorial waters, securing maritime borders, and combating piracy along the Gulf of Guinea. When you look past the honor of service, the Navy provides an attractive compensation package, which many ambitious Nigerians have seen as a reason to embark on this career path.

Today, we will look at everything you need to know about the Nigerian Navy salary, its ranks, and how its allowances are distributed. This will help you or anyone looking to understand what they should expect when it comes to the Nigerian Navy Salary, Ranks, and Allowances for 2026 before they embark on the journey.

Overview of the Nigerian Navy Salary Structure

The Nigerian Navy salary, ranks a and allowances operate under the consolidated armed forces salary structure (CONAFSS), a unified payment system across all Nigerian military branches. Your compensation depends on several key factors:

• How long you’ve been in active service
• Your rank in the naval hierarchy
• Your educational qualification
• The type of duty and operational assignments
• Specialized skills and training

It is important to note that the Nigerian Navy has two distinct career paths: the commissioned officers, who comprise university graduates who joined through competitive selection, and the non-commissioned officers who join using SSCE, NCE, or ND qualifications.

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Nigerian Navy Commissioned Officer Ranks and Salaries

The commissioned officers represent the leadership cadre of the Nigerian Navy. The officers who make up this section join through prestigious entry points, including the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), direct short service commission (DSSC), or the short service commission (SSC).

Their ranks from lowerst to highest are as follows;

1. Midshipman
2. Sub-Lieutenant
3. Lieutenant
4. Lieutenant Commander
5. Commander
6. Captain
7. Commodore
8. Rear Admiral
9. Vice Admiral
10. Admiral (Chief of Naval Staff)

The Nigerian Navy Salary, Ranks, and Allowances for the commissioned officers are as follows;

Rank	Monthly Basic Salary	Estimated Total Package
Midshipman	₦180,000 – ₦200,000	₦280,000 – ₦320,000
Sub-Lieutenant	₦220,000 – ₦255,000	₦350,000 – ₦420,000
Lieutenant	₦265,000 – ₦310,000	₦450,000 – ₦520,000
Lieutenant Commander	₦345,000 – ₦395,000	₦550,000 – ₦650,000
Commander	₦425,000 – ₦485,000	₦700,000 – ₦820,000
Captain	₦525,000 – ₦595,000	₦850,000 – ₦1,000,000
Commodore	₦650,000 – ₦750,000	₦1,050,000 – ₦1,250,000
Rear Admiral	₦850,000 – ₦1,000,000	₦1,400,000 – ₦1,700,000
Vice Admiral	₦1,100,000 – ₦1,300,000	₦1,850,000 – ₦2,200,000
Admiral (CNS)	₦1,500,000 – ₦1,800,000	₦2,500,000 – ₦3,000,000

Nigerian Navy Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks and Salaries

The non-commissioned officer, which we normally refer to as a rating, makes up the operational backbone of the Nigerian Navy. They join using  SSCE, NCE, or a national diploma through a program we refer to as the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS)

Non-Commissioned Officer Ranks (Lowest to Highest):

1. Trainee/Recruit
2. Ordinary Rating
3. Able Rating
4. Leading Rating
5. Petty Officer
6. Chief Petty Officer
7. Warrant Officer
8. Master Warrant Officer

The Nigerian Navy Salary, Ranks, and Allowances for the commissioned officers are as follows;

Rank	Monthly Basic Salary	Estimated Total Package
Trainee/Recruit	₦49,000 – ₦55,000	₦70,000 – ₦85,000
Ordinary Rating	₦58,000 – ₦65,000	₦85,000 – ₦100,000
Able Rating	₦68,000 – ₦78,000	₦95,000 – ₦120,000
Leading Rating	₦82,000 – ₦95,000	₦125,000 – ₦155,000
Petty Officer	₦98,000 – ₦115,000	₦150,000 – ₦185,000
Chief Petty Officer	₦125,000 – ₦145,000	₦195,000 – ₦235,000
Warrant Officer	₦155,000 – ₦180,000	₦245,000 – ₦290,000
Master Warrant Officer	₦185,000 – ₦220,000	₦300,000 – ₦365,000

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Allowances in the Nigerian Navy

The Nigerian Navy salary becomes more attractive when you factor in the comprehensive allowance that supplements basic pay. These allowances can increase to a whopping 40-7-% depending on your rank.

Allowance Type	Percentage/Amount	Purpose
Housing Allowance	20-35% of basic salary	Accommodation support for personnel not in barracks
Transport Allowance	10-15% of basic salary	Daily commuting and mobility expenses
Utility Allowance	5-10% of basic salary	Electricity, water, and essential services
Uniform/Kit Allowance	Annual payment	Maintaining professional appearance and equipment
Meal Subsidy	Daily/Monthly rate	Food and nutrition support
Leave Grant	One month’s basic salary	Annual vacation entitlement
Medical Benefits	Full coverage	Healthcare for the officer and immediate family

Career Progression and Salary Growth

One of the most fascinating things about the Nigerian Navy is how they structure their career progression pathway with regular salary increases. Let’s take a look at the breakdown;

Promotion Timeline for Non-Commissioned Officers

Current Rank	Next Rank	Typical Years Required	Salary Increase
Ordinary Rating	Able Rating	2-3 years	15-25%
Able Rating	Leading Rating	3-4 years	20-30%
Leading Rating	Petty Officer	4-5 years	25-35%
Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer	5-6 years	30-40%
Chief Petty Officer	Warrant Officer	6-8 years	35-45%
Warrant Officer	Master Warrant Officer	7-10 years	40-50%

Promotion Timeline for Commissioned Officers:

Current Rank	Next Rank	Typical Years Required	Salary Increase
Sub-Lieutenant	Lieutenant	2-3 years	20-30%
Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	4-6 years	25-35%
Lieutenant Commander	Commander	5-7 years	30-40%
Commander	Captain	6-8 years	35-45%
Captain	Commodore	8-10 years	40-50%
Commodore	Rear Admiral	Competitive selection	50%+

Tips for Maximizing Your Nigerian Navy Career Earnings

Here are some strategic tips that will help you make the most out of your naval career earnings

1. Pursue continuous education – Take advantage of sponsored courses and programs
2. Obtain professional certifications – Enhance your technical qualifications
3. Volunteer for challenging assignments – Gain experience and visibility
4. Learn additional languages – Increase your value for international postings
5. Specialize in high-demand areas – IT, engineering, intelligence, aviation

Comparing Nigerian Navy Salary with Other Security Agencies

This is how the Nigerian Navy Salary, Ranks, and Allowances stand when you  compare them to other security services;

Security Agency	Entry-Level Monthly	Mid-Level Monthly (₦)	Senior-Level Monthly	Special Benefits
Nigerian Navy	₦85,000 – ₦100,000	₦350,000 – ₦650,000	₦1,400,000 – ₦3,000,000	Maritime allowances, sea duty pay, international exposure
Nigerian Army	₦80,000 – ₦95,000	₦320,000 – ₦600,000	₦1,300,000 – ₦2,800,000	Combat allowances, field operations pay
Nigerian Air Force	₦90,000 – ₦110,000	₦380,000 – ₦680,000	₦1,500,000 – ₦3,000,000	Flight allowances, technical specialization pay
Nigeria Police Force	₦60,000 – ₦75,000	₦220,000 – ₦450,000	₦800,000 – ₦1,800,000	Investigation allowances, rank-based benefits
NSCDC	₦55,000 – ₦70,000	₦180,000 – ₦380,000	₦650,000 – ₦1,400,000	Security duty allowances
Nigeria Customs Service	₦70,000 – ₦90,000	₦280,000 – ₦520,000	₦950,000 – ₦2,200,000	Seizure incentives, border allowances
Immigration Service	₦65,000 – ₦80,000	₦250,000 – ₦480,000	₦850,000 – ₦1,900,000	Immigration processing fees

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Conclusion

The Nigerian Navy Salary represents just one aspect of what makes the naval career attractive. When you combine that with the benefits of job security and professional development alongside the honor that comes with serving your nation, then you will realize that it is the most rewarding career path you can take as someone who wants a military career.