Surface Warfare Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Surface Warfare Officer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States is $84,664 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

However, a Surface Warfare Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $98,940
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,406 to $92,137
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,977
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View as table View as graph 25% $75,406 10% $66,977 90% $98,940 75% $92,137 $84,664 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Surface Warfare Officer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $92,137 $7,678 $1,772 $44
Average $84,664 $7,055 $1,628 $41
25th Percentile $75,406 $6,284 $1,450 $36
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Key Factors That Influence Surface Warfare Officer Salaries

A Surface Warfare Officer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Surface Warfare Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Surface Warfare Officer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $85,307
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,151
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,804
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $132,463
  • Expert (over 8 years): $155,439
Levels Salary
Surface W... Level Surface Warfare Officer$85,307
Project E... Level Surface Warfare Officer$97,151
Project E... Level Surface Warfare Officer$115,804
Project E... Level Surface Warfare Officer$132,463
Project E... Level Surface Warfare Officer$155,439
$85,307 0 yr
$97,151 < 2 yrs
$115,804 2-4 yrs
$132,463 5-8 yrs
$155,439 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Surface Warfare Officers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $106,787
  • San Francisco: $105,617
  • Oakland: $103,392

What Skills Can Increase a Surface Warfare Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 7.18% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Cost Control (Mentioned in 1.97% Job Postings): Managing and analyzing financial data in determining and reducing business expenses to increase revenue and profitability.
  • Project Engineering (Mentioned in 1.17% Job Postings): Project engineering includes all parts of the design of manufacturing or processing facilities, either new or modifications to and expansions of existing facilities. A "project" consists of a coordinated series of activities or tasks performed by engineers, designers, drafters and others from one or more engineering disciplines or departments. Project tasks consist of such things as performing calculations, writing specifications, preparing bids, reviewing equipment proposals and evaluating or selecting equipment and preparing various lists, such as equipment and materials lists, and creating drawings such as electrical, piping and instrumentation diagrams, physical layouts and other drawings used in design and construction. A small project may be under the direction of a project engineer. Large projects are typically under the direction of a project manager or management team. Some facilities have in house staff to handle small projects, while some major companies have a department that does internal project engineering. Large projects are typically contracted out to engineering companies. Staffing at engineering companies varies according to the work load and duration of employment may only last until an individual's tasks are completed.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 7.18%
Cost Control 1.97%
Project Engineering 1.17%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Surface Warfare Officer's salary.
  • Earned Value Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Land Development: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Earned Value Management
$89,744
6%
Land Development
$88,897
5%
Consulting
$88,897
5%
Budgeting
$88,897
5%
Civil Engineering
$88,051
4%
AutoCAD
$87,204
3%
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Surface Warfare Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Surface Warfare Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Surface Warfare Officer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Surface Warfare Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Surface Warfare Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$110,063$53.030%
Software & Networking$110,063$53.030%
Financial Services$105,830$51.025%
Energy & Utilities$101,597$49.020%
Internet$101,597$49.020%

How Education impacts a Surface Warfare Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Surface Warfare Officers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Surface Warfare Officer with a No Diploma is between $75,964 and $79,944).

Surface Warfare Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Surface Warfare Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 73.6%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 73.6%
Masters 25.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Surface Warfare Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Surface Warfare Officer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Surface Warfare Officer

Salaries for a Surface Warfare Officer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $79,860 in 2023 to around $80,173 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Surface Warfare Officer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Surface Warfare Officer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$79,860
2024
$80,825
2025
$80,173
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $79,860
2024 $80,825
2025 $80,173
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Surface Warfare Officer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Surface Warfare Officer

Here are companies hiring for Surface Warfare Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Surface Warfare Officer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Surface Warfare Officer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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FAQ about Surface Warfare Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Surface Warfare Officer?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Surface Warfare Officer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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