# Master sailor
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{{Short description|Non-commissioned member rank of the Royal Canadian Navy}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name = Master Sailor
| native_name = {{lang|fr|Matelot-chef}}
| image = 50px
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| country = {{flag|Canada}}
| service branch = {{navy|Canada}}
| abbreviation = {{ubl | MS | {{lang|fr|matc}} {{in lang|fr}}}}
| rank group = [Junior ranks](/source/Junior_ranks)
| rank =
| NATO rank = OR-4
| Non-NATO rank =
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| abolished =
| higher rank = [Petty officer second class](/source/Petty_officer_second_class)
| lower rank = [Sailor first class](/source/Sailor_first_class)
| equivalents = [Master corporal](/source/Master_corporal)
| history =
}}
'''Master sailor''',[{{Cite web|title=Royal Canadian Navy drops 'seaman' title for gender-neutral term 'sailor'|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7301880/canadian-navy-seaman-sailor/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Global News|language=en-US}}] formerly '''Master seaman''',[{{cite web|title=Government of Canada. D Cdts. National Defence. "''Cadet Instructor Cadre - Basic Officer Qualification Course - Programmed Instructional Package''". 2006. Chapter 2, Annex A, "''Abbreviations for Titles and Appointments''". p.33.|url=http://www.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/eric/doc/manuels_dep_guides/DEP_CQEO_E.pdf|accessdate=2007-12-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706184012/http://www.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/eric/doc/manuels_dep_guides/DEP_CQEO_E.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-06}}. (6.81 [MB](/source/megabytes)).] or ''matelot-chef (matc)'' in [French](/source/French_language), is a [non-commissioned member](/source/non-commissioned_member) [rank](/source/Military_rank) of the [Royal Canadian Navy](/source/Royal_Canadian_Navy), which is between [sailor first class](/source/Leading_seaman) and [petty officer 2nd class](/source/Petty_Officer_2nd_Class). Technically, the rank is actually an appointment, with appointees holding the rank of sailor first class.[{{cite web|title=QR&O: Volume I - Chapter 3 Rank, Seniority, Command and Precedence (Section 3.08)|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/policies-standards/queens-regulations-orders/vol-1-administration/ch-3-rank-seniority-command-precedence.html|access-date=2024-08-07}}] If demoted, a master sailor will become a [sailor second class](/source/Able_Seaman_(rank)) or sailor first class depending on seniority. However, the process to be appointed is very similar to that of a promotion, and holding the appointment of master sailor is a prerequisite to promotion to PO2.
A contributing factor to the confusion of 'appointment' vs 'promotion' is that when promoted/appointed to master sailor, the sailor enters a new pay scale, unlike appointment to sailor second class, wherein the sailor has simply entered a new incentive level within the pay scale for ordinary sailors (sailors third class).[{{cite web|title=Regular Force pay by rank|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/benefits-military/pay-pension-benefits/pay/regular.html#toc0|access-date=2024-08-07}}]
A master sailor is equal to a [master corporal](/source/master_corporal) of the [Canadian Army](/source/Canadian_Army) and the [Royal Canadian Air Force](/source/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force).
The rank of master sailor is sometimes{{when|date=April 2026}} referred to{{according to|date=April 2026}} as "master killick", from "killick", the slang for sailor first class. Those personnel junior to the master sailor, however, are advised{{by who|date=April 2026}} to refrain from addressing the holder by that term.{{explain|date=April 2026}}
In September 2020 the name of the rank was changed from master seaman to master sailor as part of a change to gender-neutral rank names.