The salary of the army depends on several factors, including rank, length of service, duty station location, family, and job specialty. Service members’ compensation is more generous thanks to additional advantages including tax-free sections of their pay and government healthcare. In this article, we break down their basic pay, or monthly income, for each rank to help you get an idea.
How much does the Army pay?
The base wage for each rank in the army is as follows on an annual basis:
#1. E-1: $20,340
The US military’s lowest enlisted rank is E-1, which is equivalent to Seaman Recruit (Navy), Private (Army/Marine Corps), and Airman Basic (Air Force). After completing six months of service, service members are automatically get promotion to the next level. They typically hold this rank during basic training. At this rank, base pay (compensation), rounded to the nearest dollar, begins at $1,695 per month. The monthly salary will rise to $1,833 following four months of service. As a form of discipline, the military may demote soldiers to this rank.
#2. E-2: $24,648
After six months of service, military personnel get automatic promotion to the E-2 pay grade, which includes Seaman Apprentice (Navy), Private (Army), Private 1st Class (Marine Corps), and Airman (Air Force). Their monthly salary rises to $2,054.
#3. E-3: $25,920
Twelve months of service immediately qualify you for promotion to the E-3: Lance Corporal (Marine Corps), Private First Class (Army), Airman First Class (Air Force), and Seaman (Navy). This rank’s base pay is $2,160.
#4. E-4: $30,180
Generally, service personnel who are promoted to E-4 have at least two years of service, while each branch has different standards for time in service. Chief Petty Officer (Navy), Specialist/Corporal (Army), Corporal (Marine Corps), Senior Airman (Air Force) If an E-3 remains in the same pay grade after two years, they will still receive a pay raise to $2,296. The salary for individuals who do earn an E-4 after two years will rise to $2,515 a month. After just one year at this pay grade, some service members will get promotion to the next rank; those who stay at the E-4 level will receive a pay increase to $2,652 per month after three years of service.
#5. E-5: $35,040
Although promotions are no longer automatic, troops can still advance to E-5 after just three years of service. These positions include Petty Officer 2nd Class (Navy), Staff Sergeant (Air Force), and Sergeant (Army/Marine Corps). These soldiers will now receive a monthly salary of $2,920. It is typical for service personnel to remain at this pay grade for at least three years. During that period, they do not rise in rank, but their pay does increase in proportion to their service time. After four years of service, an E-5 will earn $3,058 a month. Even if they do not receive a promotion, their compensation will rise once more to $3,273 per month after six years of service.
#6. E-6: $42,576
It is uncommon for a military man to become an E-6 with less than six years of service, which is equivalent to Staff Sgt. (Army/Marine Corps), Petty Officer 1st Class (Navy), or Technical Sgt. (Air Force). A person with an “E-6 with six” makes $3,548 a month. Following a further two years of service, it will rise to a monthly compensation of $3,864, or roughly $46,368 annually. It is possible to reach the following pay grade, E-7, before completing ten years of service, although it is not a given. An E-6 will still earn a pay boost and take home $3,987 per month if they don’t progress before then. Twelve years after the date of their enrollment, they will receive another wage increase, bringing their monthly salary to $4,225.
#7. E-7: $51,624
It is uncommon, but not impossible, to become an E-7 (Master Sergeant, Air Force, Sgt. 1st Class, Army, Marine Corps, Chief Petty Officer, Navy) with less than ten years of service. Individuals who meet this goal will get $4,302 each month, which will rise to $4,440 once they hit their tenth enlistment anniversary. If a service member retires at this pay grade, their salary will rise every two years until they reach retirement eligibility. Their salary will be $5,232 per month, or $62,784 annually, when they turn 20. Each service member’s tenure in each rank is limited by the military. Often known as “up or out,” this policy states that a service member will not be eligible to reenlist if they do not progress to the following rank. While they differ throughout the branches, chief petty officers in the Navy are subject to a 24-year restriction. After twenty-four years of service, a chief earns $5,528 a month.
#8. E-8: $60,936
After as little as 12 years of service, personnel of the armed forces are eligible for promotion to E-8, which is Senior Master Sgt. or 1st Sgt. (Air Force), 1st Sgt. or Master Sgt. (Army), Master Sgt. or 1st Sgt. (Marine Corps), and Senior Chief Petty Officer (Navy). They will thereafter get $5,078 a month at that moment. After 20 years of service, troops will receive a monthly pay of $5,860, or $70,320, as an E-8 retirement. Every two years after that, they will get raises if they continue working there. After 28 years of service, an E-8 earns $6,626 per month. For every 1st Sgt. or Sgt. Maj., the Army prohibits more than 29 years of service due to the up-or-out policy.
#9. E-9: $75,348
E-9s typically have 15 to 30 years of experience, while some may have more than 30 years if they get particular roles. Chief Master Sergeant (Air Force), Sergeant Major (Army), Master Gunnery Sergeant or Sergeant Major (Marine Corps), and Master Chief Petty Officer (Navy) are their titles. The monthly salary for service personnel with 15 years of experience who reach this rank is $6,279. When they reach 16 years of experience, they will get an additional six thousand seven hundred dollars a month. They will receive $6,790 after 20 years, or $81,480 when they become eligible for retirement. E-9s can remain in the military for up to 32 years in some branches, after which they will get $8,151, or $97,812, per year.
#10. O-1: $41,724
Military officers get far more money than enlisted soldiers with equivalent experience. Base pay alone for a newly commissioned O-1, such as a 2nd Lt. (Army/Marine Corps/Air Force) or Ensign (Navy), is $3,477 per month.
#11. O-2: $54,744
Officers who serve for two years get automatic promotion to O-2. Since this promotion represents one of the biggest wage increases an officer would ever receive in their career, it is greatly anticipated. First Lieutenant (Air Force/Army/Marine Corps) and Lieutenant (J.G.) are those ranks. An O-2 makes $4,562 a month in pay.
#12. O-3: $74,220
After three years of service, officers will get a wage increase. After four years of service, officers will automatically advance to the next rank based on the Army’s typical promotion timetable. Then after four years of service, newly appointed captains and lieutenants are paid $6,185 per month. Every two years, officers at this rank will get salary increases.
#13. O-4: $94,692
The average military officer will have served for ten years by the time they are promoted to the rank of O-4. Lt. Cmdr. (Navy), Maj. (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps): After ten years of service, a major or lieutenant commander makes $7,891 a month, or $94,692 annually. With every two years of extra service, an officer’s compensation increases. O-4 salary is set at $8,805 per month; hence, an officer must be promoted to O-5 to earn more than $105,660 after bonuses and allowances.
#14. O-5: $114,516
Before being promoted to O-5, officers usually serve in the military for at least 17 years. Up until their 18th commissioning anniversary, they will receive $9,543 per month; beyond that, they will receive $9,813 per month. Lt. Col. (Air Force/Army/Marine Corps) and Cmdr. (Navy) are those levels. Officers who have served for eighteen years in the military are paid around $117,756 annually.
#15. O-6: $141,879
“Full bird” colonels and Navy captains receive a monthly salary of $11,823, with an average of 22 years of service. After thirty years of service, officers who do not advance to the rank of general or admiral are required to retire. They will be earning $12,979 a month at this stage, or around $155,748 annually.
#16. O-7: $169,944
Advancement to the rank of rear admiral and brigadier general is contingent upon several factors, one of which is employment opportunities. The monthly salary for an officer with twenty-five years of experience who is promoted to O-7 is $14,162. Like the enlisted “up or out” policy, each of these ranks has a mandatory condition that officers must fulfill to advance to the next higher rank or retire. After thirty years of service, officers who have held the lowest flag rank for less than five years are required to retire.
#17. O-8: $201,288
After 35 years in the military, generals and admirals with two stars (Maj. Gen., Air Force/Army/Marine Corps, Rear Adm., Navy) are required to retire. They will be making $16,774 a month at this stage, or $201,288 annually.
#18. O-9: $203,688
The US Code sets limits and regulations on military officer pay. Generals and admirals with three or four stars who remain in the service for a sufficient amount of time will be paid the highest amount permitted under the code. For the Navy, these positions are vice admiral, and for the other branches, lieutenant general. These officers receive a monthly salary of up to $16,974 when supplemental compensation, cost of living adjustments, and allowances are excluded. That works up to $203,688 annually.
#19. O-10: $203,688
A military officer’s monthly salary is capped at $16,974 once they reach the four-star rank of general or admiral, regardless of how long they continue to serve. After that, they are no longer eligible for pay raises.
What elements make up the U.S. Army salary?
In the United States Army, pay is determined by several factors that vary depending on a service member’s level and occupational requirements. These factors include:
#1. U.S. Army basic pay
The U.S. Army basic pay is the first portion of a soldier’s pay and is increased as rank advances. All other allowances, benefits, and bonuses are added to the base pay as part of the U.S. Army’s total compensation scheme. The pay for every enlisted rank is different:
- Private (E1): $21,420 per year
- Private (E2): $24,008 per year
- Private First Class (E3): $25,246 per year
- Corporal (E4): $27,964 per year
- Sergeant (E5): $30,499 per year
- Staff Sergeant (E6): $33,292 per year
After two years of service, enlisted personnel’s basic pay is represented by these values; after four and six years, their salaries increase. Similar compensation scales apply to commissioned officers, with lower-ranking officers earning less than higher-ranking officers:
- Second Lieutenant (O1): $40,629 per year
- First Lieutenant (O2): $46,814 per year
- Captain (O3): $54,176 per year
- Major (O4): $61,621 per year
#2. Specialty pay
The specialty pay that the US Army provides for a particular MOS, like military police or airborne infantry, is an additional component of a soldier’s pay. Additionally, rank affects specialist pay because soldiers with higher MOS ranks receive better compensation for their specific skill sets.
#3. Drill pay
Another option for part-time drill pay is the U.S. Army. For soldiers in the United States Army Reserve and National Guard who work one training weekend per month, drill pay is in addition to basic pay. In addition, years of experience, rank, and enlistment or commission status affect the drill pay scale. The pay scale is topped by commissioned officers at the rank of major (O4) and bottomed by enlisted soldiers with less than two years of experience:
- Private (E1): $3,748 per year
- Private (E2): $4,201 per year
- Private First Class (E3): $4,418 per year
- Corporal (E4): $4,893 per year
- Sergeant (E5): $5,337 per year
- Staff Sergeant (E6): $5,826 per year
- Second Lieutenant (O1): $7,110 per year
- First Lieutenant (O2): $8,192 per year
- Captain (O3): $9,480 per year
- Major (O4): $10,783 per year
#4. Bonuses
Active-duty service members are eligible for a number of bonuses and incentives from the US Army. Generally, bonus incentives vary throughout branches, such as law enforcement, security, and medicine. For example, recruits enlisting as infantry, military police, or airborne infantry may receive bonuses that are far higher than those given to recruits enlisting in other MOSs. Additionally, the U.S. Army provides several enlistment bonuses of up to $20,000 simply for signing up.
#5. Allowances
In addition, the U.S. Army provides certain allowances as part of a soldier’s pay. Housing and food allowances are standard for U.S. Army members, and soldiers who have families normally receive a sizable family allowance to help with expenses like auto insurance and transportation. The number of family members and the soldier’s marital status determine the allowance scale.
#6. Health benefits
Members of the US Army are always eligible for health benefits. Soldiers benefit from many health care benefits, including family medical, maternity leave, accident protection, and dental and medical insurance. The U.S. The Army further promotes family care by offering both in-network and on-base medical care.
Benefits attached to the salary of a soldier in the USA
According to their classification as officers or enlisted personnel, U.S. Army soldiers are entitled to a base stipend for subsistence. Enlisted soldiers received $348.44 per month for subsistence, while warrant and commissioned officers received $239.96. On-post housing is free for soldiers. Soldiers who are unable to find lodging on-post are given a baseline housing stipend that varies according to their duty station and pay grade.
Soldiers assigned to dangerous or unique duties may be paid more. According to Army Regulation 601–210, private soldiers normally enlist in the U.S. Army for a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years. After 20 years of active duty, U.S. Army troops are eligible for retirement benefits including Army retired pay, ongoing health care, commissary privileges, and access to recreation areas on specific military installations.
How much do I get paid in the Army?
The pay of service members in the U.S. Army varies depending on their rank and the requirements of their position.
How does pay work in the Army?
Unlike weekly or biweekly pay, basic pay rates are computed monthly and are taxable, much like civilian pay. Additionally, you are not entitled to overtime compensation, much like salaried civilians in the private sector. Automatically, your monthly salary is divided in half and given to you twice a month.
How much does the Army pay per hour?
In the United States, a soldier makes, on average, $12.27 per hour. While hourly earnings on ZipRecruiter can reach as high as $14.90 and as low as $9.38, most soldier pay in the US now falls at $10.34 and $14.42.
How much does the Army pay per month?
The typical annual wage in the United States Army is $31,641 for a corporal and $97,500 for a sergeant major. The typical monthly wage in the United States Army for a Multiple Launch Rocket Fire Direction Specialist is roughly $1,839, whereas the compensation of a First Sergeant is $6,052.
Army Pay Chart
The 2024 Military Pay Charts:
The basic wage for all branches of the military is the same. Military pay is determined by years of service and a pay grade, or rank, according to pay charts. There is no inherent benefit to choosing one branch of service over another in terms of your base pay.
What is the highest-paid military rank?
O-10 is the highest pay grade in the military, and regardless of service length, a military officer does not get salary raises once they reach the four-star rank of general or admiral.
Do I get paid for basic training?
Yes, you are paid on the first and fifteenth of each month for Basic Training. Your rank determines how much.
How much do you get paid for basic Army basic training?
The BMT pay scale is based on your rank. All enlisted recruits begin as E1s and are paid around $20,170.80 per year. The typical E1 payment for basic training, including lodging and meals, is approximately $3,800, as BMT lasts for ten weeks.
Does the Army pay for housing?
Your housing is covered if you are a Soldier residing on the base. They provide a housing allowance to aid with housing costs if you live off base.
What is the lowest-paid military branch?
E-1 is the pay grade of the lowest-ranking enlisted military member, whether they are a recruit for the Navy or the Army.
How long is Army basic training?
The army’s basic training lasts over ten weeks. You’ll be psychologically and physically stronger than ever after ten weeks, and you’ll be prepared to take on the role of team member protecting the United States.
When does basic pay change?
Every January, at the beginning of the calendar year, military pay is increased automatically. The first pay period of the year is when service members notice the change.
What kinds of retirement benefits do U.S. Army soldiers receive?
Retirement pay is given to troops who have served in the United States Army. The number of years of service and rank at retirement determines the retirement allowance. The retirement benefits offered by the U.S. Army are structured similarly to a 401(k), enabling retired soldiers to save money, invest, and buy a house. Another alternative provided to retirees as a way to supplement their retirement savings is the government-backed Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
What kinds of tax benefits do U.S. Army soldiers receive?
In addition to other tax incentives, the U.S. Army offers service members a tax rate that is substantially lower than that of civilians. This is because there is a 6% interest cap, which means that the amount of taxes that can be withheld from a soldier’s salary cannot be greater than this.
Why does military pay increase?
Every year, the military sets a pay increase that closely corresponds to the national growth in private sector wages and salaries.
What to do if your military pay is incorrect?
Get in touch with your payroll or finance office right away if you have been monitoring your LES and see any changes in your salary that you don’t understand.
If you require additional assistance,
- Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force active duty or Reserve: Call 1-888-332-7411
- Retiree, survivor, or beneficiary: Call 1-800-321-1080
- Former spouse or creditor with a question about alimony, child support, and other court-ordered garnishments: Call 1-888-332-7411
- Coast Guard active duty, reservists and retirees
- Active duty or in the Reserve: Contact your unit administrative yeoman
- Retirees: Contact the Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center at 1-866-772-8724
NAVY LOGO: Meaning, Jobs, and Requirement
US ARMY LOGO: Concept, Requirement, Rank, and All You Should Know.
U.S. Army Logo: What is the US Army Logo?
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