The United States military comprises six branches that employ approximately 2.4 million individuals on active duty and in the reserves. Serving their country is a full-time job for these people, with a steady wage and benefits.
Of course, the total is affected by rank. The salaries of those serving in the United States military range from an entry-level cadet to an O-4 major in the Army.
Enlisted Members Get $386.50/Month For Groceries And Food
Regardless of branch or rank, the great majority of military personnel receive allowances for supplies such as food and other goods. Enlisted soldiers of the military will be paid $386.50 a month beginning in 2020.
Officers, on the other hand, earn a monthly allowance of $266.18.
Enlisted Members Get 386.50 Month For Groceries And Food
Cadets And Midshipmen: $1,186/Month
They are at the bottom of the salary scale as cadets or midshipmen at one of the five service academies. Nonetheless, they are paid on a monthly basis, which other college students do not have!
Students receive $1,186 every month, for a total of $14,232 per year.
Cadets And Midshipmen 1186 Month
E-1s With Less Than Four Months Experience: $1,650/Month
Privates in the Marine Corps and Army, Airman Basics in the Air Force and Space Force, and Seaman Recruits in the Navy and Coast Guard are the lowest ranks an enlisted service member can hold, with an E-1 class being the highest (enlisted-1).
E-1 service members, on the other hand, receive $1,650 per month even if they have less than four months of active duty under their belt.
E 1s With Less Than Four Months Experience
E-2 Service Members: $2,000.70/Month
An E-2 is the next level of military rank. Private first class in the Marines, seaman apprentice in the Navy and Coast Guard, an airman in the Air Force and Space Force, and private second class in the Army all have this rank.
Their monthly allowance rises to $2,000.70 every month, for total yearly compensation of $24,008.40. An E-8’s starting salary is about double that of an E-2. But you’ll have to keep reading to find out how much it is.
E 2 Service Members
E-3s With Less Than Two Years Experience: $2,103.90/Month
When a service member reaches the level of E-3, their compensation is determined by the number of years they have been enlisted. Marine lance corporals, Army privates first class, Air Force and Space Force airmen first class, and Navy and Coast Guard seamen are all classified as E-3.
Service members with less than two years of experience will get $2,103.90 per month, while those with at least three years would earn $2,371.80 per month.
E 3s With Less Than Two Years Experience
E-4: $2,330.40/Month – $2,829/Month
Army specialists and corporals, Navy and Coast Guard petty officers third class, Marine corporals, and Air Force and Space Force senior airmen are all E-4 service members.
This rank will earn roughly $2,829 per month with at least six years of experience, which is $500 more than those with the same rank but less than two years of service.
E 4
E-5: $2,541.60/Month – $3,606.90/Month
Those that get to E-5 status had to work their way up the ranks from an E-1. But it’s totally worth the effort.
From petty officers, second class in the Navy and Coast Guard to sergeants in the Army and Marines and staff sergeants in the Air Force and Space Force, military members who reach an E-5 pay grade have served at least 12 years and can earn up to $43,282.80 per year.
E 5
E-6: $2,774.40/Month – $4,297.20/Month
An E-6 military rank is granted to petty officers first class in the Navy and Coast Guard, technical sergeants in the Air Force and Space Force, and staff sergeants in the Army and Marines.
This indicates that they have served for at least 18 years and receive a monthly compensation ranging from $2,774.40 to $4,297.20 for an annual salary of roughly $51,566.40.
E 6
E-7: $3,207.60/Month – $5,765.40/Month
The salary disparity between E-7 servicemen and women is significant. Marine gunnery sergeants, Navy and Coast Guard chief petty officers, Army sergeants first class, and Air Force and Space Force master sergeants fall within this category.
If an E-7 has fewer than two years of service, their annual compensation is mere $38,491.20. Simultaneously, E-7 service members with at least 26 years of experience can earn a yearly pay of $69,184.80.
On the lower end of the scale, a W-3 earns somewhat less than an E-7 ($5,765.40/month). Continue reading to find out how much.
E 7
E-8: $4,614.60/Month – $6,581.40/Month
The E-8 pay scale is only available to military members with at least eight years of experience. Senior master sergeants in the Air Force and Space Force, first sergeants in the Army, master sergeants in the Army and Marines, and senior chief petty officers in the Navy and Coast Guard fall under this category.
These military members can earn between $55,375.20 and $78,976.80 per year.
E 8
E-9: $5,637/Month – $8,752.50/Month
When a service member reaches the level of E-9, their monthly salary increases significantly. Master chief petty officers in the Navy and Coast Guard, Army sergeants major, Air Force and Space Force chief master sergeants, and Marine master gunnery sergeants and sergeant majors earn between $5,637 and $8,752.50 a month.
E-9s with at least 38 years of experience can earn a six-figure compensation, with an annual salary of roughly $105,030.
E 9
W-1: $3,309.30/Month – $5,718.60/Month
W-1s, or warrant officer 1s, are experts in a given skill and have their ranks confirmed by Congress. While they officially have a higher rank than enlisted military personnel, they may not have as much experience, resulting in a lower monthly wage.
Aside from the Air Force and Space Force, all branches have warrant office 1s, with salaries ranging from $3,309.30 to $5,718.60 per month.
W 1
W-2: $3,770.40/Month – $6,293.10/Month
The next category is a Chief Warrant Officer, also known as a W-2, only available in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Servicemen and women will be paid differently depending on how long they have been in these branches.
Those who have served for less than two years will be paid $45,244.80 each year. At the same time, W-2s with at least 24 years of service can earn up to $75,517.20 per year.
W 2
W-3: $4,261.20/Month – $7,474.50/Month
A serviceman or woman who has risen through the W-3 ranks possesses exceptional abilities. She contributes essential expertise and resources to their unit. A W-3 Chief Warrant Officer can be found in the Army, Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy, among other departments of the US military.
W-3 officers can expect to earn at least $51,134.40 per year, or $89,694 per year if they have at least 26 years of experience.
W 3
W-4: $4,665.90/Month – $8,691/Month
While individuals in the Army, Marine Corps, and Navy advance to the W-5 pay grade, those in the Coast Guard advance to Chief Warrant Officer 4, or W-4. And these servicemen and women are compensated handsomely for their efforts.
W-4s with less than two years of experience will earn $55,990.80 per year in 2021, while those with at least 30 years of experience would accumulate $104,292 per year.
W 4
W-5: $8,296.20/Month – $10,856.40/Month
W-5 is the highest paygrade available to those serving in the Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Although chief warrant officers are capped off, they are extremely well compensated for their services.
Service members with at least 20 years of service will get $99,554.40 a year, while those with at least 38 years of experience earn $130,276.80. Now that you know which levels in the US military pay the least, find out which ones produce the most!
W 5
O-10: $16,608.30/Month
If a service member is fortunate enough to earn the rank of general in the Army, Marines, Air Force, or Space Force, or admiral in the Coast Guard or Navy, they have reached the O-10 tier, and their income has been capped.
However, it doesn’t matter because this prominent position comes with a good base salary of $199,299.60 every year.
O 10
O-9: $16,012.50/Month – $16,608.30/Month
The pay schedule for an O-9 does not even begin until the service member has served for at least 20 years. Those who advance to the ranks of lieutenant general in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and vice admiral in the Coast Guard and Navy are well compensated.
The starting salary is $192,150 per year, with individuals with more than 26 years of service earning up to $199,299.60 per year.
O 9
O-8: $11,329.50/Month – $16,333.20/Month
O-8s have earned considerable compensation due to the number of obligations placed on their shoulders. This tier contains significant generals of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and Navy rear admirals.
While the starting salary for this grade is $135,954 per year, it can rise to $195,998.40 for people with at least 34 years of experience.
O 8
O-7: $9,414.30/Month – $14,065.80/Month
O-7 is a high-level ranking that few people see. It consists of a brigadier general from the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force and a rear admiral from the Coast Guard and Navy.
Even military members with little experience can expect to earn a six-figure wage, with base pay starting at $112,971.60 per year. Those with at least 30 years of experience make a yearly salary of $168,789.60!
O 7
O-6: $7,139.10/Month – $12,638.40/Month
O-6 officers include colonels in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and captains in the Coast Guard and Navy. It is not easy to reach this level, and those who do are generously compensated for their efforts.
The starting salary for an O-6 is $85,669.20 per year, with the ability to earn up to $151,660.80 after 30 years of service.
O 6
O-5: $5,951.40/Month – $10,111.20/Month
O-5s are the commissioned officers who come after them. Lieutenant colonels in the Army, Marines, Air Force and Space Force are assigned to this tier, while commanders in the Coast Guard and Navy are. O-5s, regardless of their exact title, are compensated well based on their expertise.
Those with little to no experience can expect to earn $71,416.80 per year, while those with at least 22 years of experience can expect to earn $121,334.40 per year.
O 5
O-4: $5,135.10/Month – $8,573.70/Month
O-4s are the next rank, which includes a major in the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force and a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard and Navy. While it is uncommon, some persons quickly advance to the O-4 position with no prior experience.
These military members may expect to earn roughly $61,621.20 each year. Those with at least 18 years of experience, on the other hand, are well into the six figures, making $102,884.40 each year.
O 4
O-3E: $6,022.80/Month – $7,839/Month
Even without years of experience, an O-3E captain or lieutenant might expect to earn an excellent annual salary. Service members at this rank can earn up to $72,273.60 per year right away.
And that’s nothing in comparison to those with experience. Those with at least 18 years of experience can expect to earn up to $94,068 each year!
O 3E
O-3: $4,514.70/Month – $7,345.20/Month
The next tier is an O-3, a captain’s rank in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, and a lieutenant’s rank in the Coast Guard and Navy. It is possible to obtain this rank without prior experience. However, the compensation is slightly lower.
O-3s with no experience can expect to earn $54,176.40 per year, while those with at least 14 years of experience can earn up to $88,142.40 per year.
O 3
O-2E: $5,289.90/Month – $6,251.70/Month
While an O-2E has the same rank as an O-2, their pay grade is slightly higher. Before being eligible for O-2E status, a person must have served for at least four years as a warrant officer or enlisted member.
If an individual achieves O-2E status, they will begin with a yearly pay of $64,782. Those with at least 14 years of experience, on the other hand, may expect to earn up to $75,020.40 each year.
O 2E
O-2: $3,901.20/Month – $5,398.50/Month
An O-2 is a first lieutenant in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force and a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy and Coast Guard. An O-2’s pay, like that of other military ranks, is determined by their experience.
Those with less than two years of experience can expect to earn $46,814.40 per year, while those with at least six years can expect to earn $64,782 per year.
O 2
O-1E: $4,260.60/Month – $5,289.90/Month
An O-1E officer earns somewhat more than an O-1 officer. Again, it all comes down to years of expertise. While O-1s are often fresh out of the academy or an ROTC school, O-1Es have some service experience.
They must serve for a minimum of four years before receiving their commission and O-1E status. These service members can earn up to $51,127.20 per year, with at least 14 years of experience earning up to $63,478.80.
O 1E
O-1: $3,385.80/Month -$4,260.60/Month
Officer 1s (O-1) outrank W-5s; however, they are paid much less. This is because O-1s are often relatively young and lack the experience of a W-5, having graduated from one of the academies of an ROTC program.
However, O-1 second lieutenants and ensigns are still well compensated. Their annual salary ranges from $40,629.60 to $51,127.20.
O 1