UTUtilitiesman(UT Navy Rating)
Installs and maintains plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems.
Underwater Construction Team (UCT) pathway. BU / CE / EO / UT / SW / CM / EA sailors can volunteer for the UCT NEC (5932), which combines Seabee construction skills with second-class diver qualification. See the ND profile for full UCT standards (age ≤ 27, dive PST, and the 16-week pipeline at NDSTC Panama City).
Overall
Quick Stats
Security Clearance
No Clearance — Open to Permanent Residents
This rate does not require a security clearance and is open to lawful permanent residents (green card holders) as well as U.S. citizens.
ASVAB Requirements
Who This Is Best For
Best for individuals who want to leave the Navy with journeyman-level plumbing and HVAC skills — two of the most in-demand and highest-paying trades in the civilian market. International deployment experience with the Seabees adds variety, while the trade credentials provide immediate post-Navy employability. One of the strongest ROI rates for trade-career seekers.
+Pros
- ✓Strong civilian career transition
–Cons
Real Opinions
+Positive
“Seabees are the best-kept secret in the Navy. Great deployments, real skills, and you actually build stuff.”
“UT covers plumbing, HVAC, and water purification. You learn three trades in one rate which makes you very marketable.”
–Negative & Mixed
“Deployments can be to some rough locations. And you are still in the Navy, so expect Navy nonsense on top of the construction work.”
“The work is not glamorous. You are dealing with sewage systems and broken pipes. But someone has to do it.”
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0 charsRecruiter vs Reality
What the recruiter says vs. what it's actually like.
🫡 Recruiter says
“Seabees travel the world building things and have great quality of life!”
💀 Reality
Source: MyNavyRates researchQuality of life is generally good but deployments to austere locations (desert, jungle) are common. You will do real construction but also a lot of maintenance and military duties.
🫡 Recruiter says
“Utilitiesmen handle plumbing and HVAC.”
💀 Reality
Source: veteran feedbackUT installs and maintains water, sewage, and HVAC systems. The trade skills are directly transferable to civilian plumbing and HVAC careers. Deployments involve building infrastructure from scratch.
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Horror Stories
Real stories people have shared about this rate. Swipe to browse.
“Still in A-school as an active-duty Seabee UT, and already trying to find any way out — cross-rate, inter-service transfer to the Army or Marines, anything. The responses were blunt. The Navy had already invested in this sailor — boot camp, A-school, pay, food, shelter, medical care — and they were not about to let someone walk away easily. Cross-rating required no NJP for two years, a CO recommendation, good evals, and a destination rate with open billets. An inter-service transfer from active duty was not even possible directly. The advice came down to one hard truth: the first year is the hardest, stick it out. But the fact that someone was already looking for the exit during training tells you everything about how they felt about the UT rate.”
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Guides on picking a rate, ASVAB, bonuses, promotion, and life after the Navy.
Getting Started
How do you choose the right Navy rate for you?
Choosing a Navy rate means weighing your ASVAB scores, lifestyle preferences, civilian career goals, and willingness to deploy or go to sea. Start by identifying which ratings you qualify for, then narrow the list by what matters most to you.
Getting Started
What is the ASVAB and what scores do you need?
The ASVAB is a multi-aptitude test that determines which Navy ratings you qualify for. Your sub-test scores combine into line scores, and each rating has minimum line-score requirements. Higher scores open more options.
Career & Pay
Which Navy rates have the biggest enlistment bonuses in 2026?
Active Component (Active Duty) only. Per the CNRC GENADMIN dated 10 April 2026, the Nuclear Field carries the biggest source-rate bonus at $40,000 (FY26 ship dates) and a $75,000 EB cap. Top Special Operations and submarine ratings sit at $30,000 EBSR with a $60,000 EB cap. All other rates cap at $50,000. The Loan Repayment Program adds up to $65,000 on top, separately. Reserve component (SELRES) bonuses are governed by a different message and are not covered here.
Career & Pay