U.S. Coast Guard · Mechanical Maintenance

MK Machinery Technician (MK)

Coast Guard Machinery Technicians (MK) operate, maintain, and repair the diesel engines, hydraulic systems, refrigeration plants, and auxiliary machinery aboard Coast Guard cutters and shore facilities.

last verified 2026-06-02

MK (Machinery Technician (MK)) is in the Coast Guard and requires a minimum AFQT of 36 and VE+AR+MK+AS of at least 205. Last verified 2026-06-02 against asvabusa.org (Coast Guard rating ASVAB line scores).

Quick check

Can I qualify for this job?

Enter the scores you already know. Leave a box blank if you do not have that score yet.

AFQT minimum 36Enter AFQT
VE+AR+MK+AS minimum 205Enter VE+AR+MK+AS

Plain requirement

What you need.

  • Min AFQT36
  • Training~18 weeks
  • VE+AR+MK+AS line score≥ 205

Source: asvabusa.org (Coast Guard rating ASVAB line scores) · last verified 2026-06-02.

Role brief

About MK — Machinery Technician (MK).

Coast Guard Machinery Technicians (MK) operate, maintain, and repair the diesel engines, hydraulic systems, refrigeration plants, and auxiliary machinery aboard Coast Guard cutters and shore facilities.

Starting pay · 2026

What this job pays as a junior enlisted member.

Base pay is set by pay grade, not by job — every Coast Guard enlistee at the same grade earns the same monthly base pay. These are the 2026 active-duty rates (3.8% raise, effective 2026-01-01).

GradeRankMonthly base payService
E-1Seaman Recruit (SR)$2,407after 4 months of service
E-2Seaman Apprentice (SA)$2,698under 2 years
E-3Seaman (SN)$2,837under 2 years
E-4Petty Officer 3rd Class$3,142under 2 years
  • Plus food allowance (BAS)$460/moFlat enlisted rate, tax-free, paid on top of base pay.
  • Plus housing allowance (BAH)Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is paid on top of base pay and is tax-free, but it varies by duty-station ZIP code, pay grade, and whether you have dependents — there is no single nationwide figure. Use the official DoD BAH calculator for your assignment location.DoD BAH rate lookup →

Source: DFAS 2026 active-duty basic pay tables (3.8% raise, effective Jan 1 2026) · last verified 2026-05-23 · date retrieved 2026-05-23.

Eligibility notes

What MK candidates should check.

  • This MK line-score figure is pending final re-verification against the official Coast Guard rating table (COMDTINST M1510.10, Enclosure 3), which is not openly published. Independent ASVAB references commonly list the MK minimum as a single qualifying composite of 150 (or VE+AR ≥ 106) rather than the four-subtest composite shown here, so confirm the exact requirement with a Coast Guard recruiter.

What are the rating requirements for MK Machinery Technician (MK)?

The Coast Guard Machinery Technician (MK) rating (MK) requires a minimum AFQT of 36 and VE+AR+MK+AS of at least 205, with initial training of about 18 weeks. Those are the ASVAB-based entry requirements; a recruiter confirms the full enlistment picture (medical, background, and current openings). Source: asvabusa.org (Coast Guard rating ASVAB line scores), last verified 2026-06-02.

How long is MK Machinery Technician (MK) training?

MK initial training runs about 18 weeks. Source: asvabusa.org (Coast Guard rating ASVAB line scores), last verified 2026-06-02.

Source: asvabusa.org (Coast Guard rating ASVAB line scores) · last verified 2026-06-02 · date retrieved 2026-06-02.

Related

Practice AFQT plus MK line-score subtests.

AFQT + VE+AR+MK+AS practice targets

Independent test-prep — not affiliated with DoD or the ASVAB program. See officialasvab.com for the test program.

Sources