Americans enlist in the US armed forces for a variety of reasons. The military is a good opportunity for many young adults who want to learn technical skills, obtain higher education, or retain order and discipline in their lives. Some also enlist for patriotic reasons; recruitment was up following the 9/11 attacks or, further back, the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Military enlistment and recruiting numbers were down in 2023. The Pentagon called it “the toughest recruitment year for the military services since the inception of the all-volunteer force.” Indeed, newly recruited Army or Marine Corps privates could earn less than theywould flip burgers full-time: roughly $20,000 – $25,000 per year, depending on their age and prior experience. Pay in the US armed forces increases significantly by rank and time served, so the longer someone spends in uniform and the more successful they are in meeting the challenges of climbing the ranks, they could reach significantly higher pay.
To find the military pay grades that pay the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2022 basic pay tablesfrom the Defense Finance and Accounting Service for the Department of Defense. Pay grades are ordered by the maximum possible base pay (we used the monthly pay to calculate annual pay). Comparable ranks for each pay grade also came from the DOD. Coast Guard ranks are mostly the same as Navy ranks.
Monthly pay ranges from about $1,695 – $2,000 for a private to $16,975 per month, or about $204,000 per year, for a four-star general or admiral who has served at least 20 years in the armed forces.
One interesting feature of the US military pay structure is the difference between enlisted and officer ranks. The lofty position of the top advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest enlisted pay, is only the eighth best-paying military rank, at about $112,000 per year.
Each pay amount on the list, however, is just base pay. Many enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and officers receive additional special pay that can boost their overall wages. For example, there is hazardous duty incentive pay and assignment incentive pay. Accession and retention bonuses exist for certain professions, such as medical professionals, nuclear professionals, and engineers.
Uniformed service members who serve full-time also pay zero out-of-pocket costs for health care, including coverage for family members, through the DOD’sTricare program, which offers benefits that would be much less attainable in the private sector.
Why Are We Talking About Military Pay?
As stated, military enlistment and recruitment have been down. Maintaining a strong military is important to ensure the country is ready to protect its citizens and carry out its missions. Understanding how the military compensates its soldiers is important for those considering this opportunity as a career path. Let’s read on to understand better the different levels within the military and how they are compensated.
27. E-1
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps: Private; Navy: Seaman Recruit; Air Force: Airman, Basic
- Pay for E-1 <4 months of service: $1,695.00 per month
- Pay for E-1 >4 months of service: $21,999.60 per year
26. E-2
- Rank example, by military branch: Army: Private; Navy: Seaman Apprentice; Marine Corps: Private First Class; Air Force: Airman
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $24,656.40 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $24,656.40 per year
25. E-3
- Rank example, by military branch: Army: Private First Class; Navy: Seaman; Marine Corps: Lance Corporal; Air Force: Airman First Class
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $25,927.20 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $29,228.40 per year
24. E-4
- Rank example, by military branch: Army: Corporal or Specialist; Navy: Petty Officer, 3rd; Marine Corps: Corporal; Class; Air Force: Senior Airman
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $28,720.80 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $34,866.00 per year
23. E-5
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps: Sergeant; Navy: Petty Officer, 2nd Class; Air Force: Staff Sergeant
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $31,323.60 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $44,452.80 per year
22. O-1
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: 2nd Lieutenant; Navy: Ensign
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $41,727.60 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $52,506.00 per year
21. E-6
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps: Staff Sergeant; Navy: Petty Officer 1st Class; Air Force: Technical Sergeant
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $34,192.80 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $52,959.60 per year
20. O-1E
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: 2nd Lieutenant; Navy: Ensign
- Pay with min 4 years of service: $52,506.00 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $65,192.40 per year
19. O-2
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps: 1st Lieutenant; Navy: Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $48,078.00 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $66,531.60 per year
18. W-1
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps: Warrant Officer
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $40,784.40 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $70,477.20 per year
17. E-7
- Rank example, by military branch: Army: Sergeant First Class; Navy: Chief Petty Officer; Air Force: Master Sergeant
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $39,531.60 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $71,053.20 per year
16. O-2E
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: 1st Lieutenant; Navy: Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Pay with min 4 years of service: $65,192.40 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $77,047.20 per year
15. W-2
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Navy: Chief Warrant Officer; Marine Corps: Warrant
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $46,465.20 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $77,554.80 per year
Officer 2
14. E-8
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps: Master Sergeant or First Sergeant; Navy: Senior Chief Petty Officer; Air Force: Senior Master Sergeant
- Pay with min 8 years of service: $56,869.20 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $81,108.00 per year
13. O-3
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Captain; Navy: Lieutenant
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $55,638.00 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $90,522.00 per year
12. W-3
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Navy: Chief Warrant Officer; Marine Corps: Chief Warrant Officer 3
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $52,516.80 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $92,116.80 per year
11. O-3E
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Captain; Navy: Lieutenant
- Pay with min 4 years of service: $74,224.80 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $96,609.60 per year
10. O-4
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Major; Navy: Lieutenant Commander
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $63,284.40 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $105,663.60 per year
9. W-4
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Navy: Chief Warrant Officer; Marine Corps: Chief Warrant Officer 4
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $57,502.80 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $107,107.20 per year
8. E-9
- Rank example, by military branch: Army: Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major; Navy: Master Chief Petty Officer; Marine Corps: Sergeant Major or Master Gunnery Sergeant; Air Force: Chief Master Sergeant
- Pay with min 10 years of service: $69,469.20 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $107,866.80 per year
8*. E-9
- Rank example, by military branch: Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Sergeant Major of the Army; Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy; Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force; Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps; Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force; Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard; or Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
- Pay any time: $112,266.00 per year
7. O-5
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Lieutenant Colonel; Navy: Commander
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $73,346.40 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $124,610.40 per year
6. W-5
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Navy: Chief Warrant Officer; Marine Corps: Chief Warrant Officer 5
- Pay with min 20 years of service: $102,243.60 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $133,794.00 per year
5. O-6
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Colonel; Navy: Captain
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $87,984.00 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $155,754.00 per year
4. O-7
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Brigadier General (1 star); Navy: Rear Admiral Lower Half (1 star)
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $116,020.80 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $173,347.20 per year
3. O-8
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Major General (2 stars); Navy: Rear Admiral Upper Half (2 stars)
- Pay with <2 yrs of service: $139,626.00 per year
- Pay at 40 years of service: $201,290.40 per year
2. O-9
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: Lieutenant General (3 stars); Navy: Vice Admiral (3 stars)
- Pay with 20 years of service: $197,337.60 per year
- Pay from 24 years of service: $203,698.80 per year
1. O-10
- Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps, Air Force: General (4 stars); Navy: Admiral (4 stars)
- Pay from 20 years of service:$203,698.80 per year
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