It’s a full-time job, and people are often away from their families for long periods. The sum a person makes while in the military is based on rank. Therefore, entry-level cadets earn less than majors in the Army. Here are the benefits and salaries for those who proudly serve in the military:
Midshipmen and Cadets
Cadets and midshipmen come from one of five academies and are students. Therefore, they get paid less, though that monthly allotment is higher than traditional college students get. They receive $1,186 per month ($14,232 annually).
Midshipmen And Cadets
E-1s
E-1s are considered the lowest enlisted service ranks and are called Seaman Recruits (Navy or Coast Guard), Privates (Army and Marines), and Airman Basics in the Air Force or Space Force. These people receive $1,650 per month, even if they haven’t been on active duty for four or more months.
E-1s
E-2s
E-2s are the next military rank. These include private first class (Marine), private second class (Army), Airman (Air Force and Space Force), and Seaman Apprentice (Navy and Coast Guard). Their monthly allowance of $2,000.70 helps them earn $24,008.40 per year before taxes!
E-2s
E-3s
Servicemembers who make it to the E-3 rank make salaries based on how many years they’ve been in the military. The ranking includes Seamen (Navy and Coast Guard), airmen first class (Air Force and Space Force), lance corporals (Marines), and private first class (Army). These men and women earn $2,103.90 per month!
E-3s
E-4s
E-4s are called senior airmen (Space Force or Air Force), corporals (Marines), petty officers third class (Navy or Coast Guard), and corporals (Army). They often have six years of experience in the military and earn $2,829 per month.
E-4s
E-5s
E-5s have had a long journey to get where they are, and that means they earn more money. These people are called petty officers second class (Coast Guard or Navy), sergeants (Army), and staff sergeants (Air Force and Space Force.) They’ve had over 12 years of training, so they make $43,282.80 each year.
E-5s
E-6s
Servicepeople with an E-6 status have served in the military for over 18 years. They tend to make a bigger monthly salary because of all that extra training. Overall, they earn about $51,566.40 every year.
E-6s
E-7s
E-7s are called chief petty officers (Coast Guard and Navy), gunnery sergeants (Marines), master sergeants (Space Force or Air Force), and sergeants first class (Army). If they’ve been at that rank for two years or less, they make less, but if they’ve served for 26 years, they earn an incredibly high salary.
E-7s
E-8s
Servicepeople with more than eight years of experience reach the E-8 pay scale. This includes senior master sergeants (Air Force and Space Force), master sergeants (Marines and Army), first sergeants (Army), and senior chief petty officers (Navy and Coast Guard). They earn between $4,614 and $6,581 each month.
E-8s
E-9s
E-9s include master chief petty officers (Navy and Coast Guard), master gunnery sergeants (Marines), sergeant majors (Marines and Army), and chief master sergeants (Space Force and Air Force). People with over 38 years of experience can earn six figures, but many make between $5,637 and $8,752 per month.
E-9s
W-1s
W-1s are the warrant officers, so they’re approved by Congress before they get that rank. Still, they’re experts in the field with specific skills that rank higher than enlisted men and women. They only make $4,409 to $5,718 because they have less experience than others.
W-1s
W-2s
W-2s are chief warrant officers, and Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine servicepeople can attain this title. The pay grade ranges from $3,770 to $6,293 each month based on how long they’ve served in the military.
W-2s
W-3s
W-3s often have invaluable skills and expertise and are found in various military branches like the Marines and Navy. Such servicepeople earn anywhere from $4,261 to $7,474 per month, and those with 26 or more years of experience earn that higher paycheck.
W-3s
W-4s
You can only be a W-4 if you’re in the Coast Guard because the Army, Marines, and Navy don’t offer this rank. Still, you could earn $4,665 to $8,691 each month. It’s lower when you’ve only got two years of experience and at the high end for those with 30 or more years in the military.
W-4s
W-5s
Army, Marines, and Navy servicepeople go directly from W-3 status to W-5s, and it’s the highest pay grade possible. You could make $8,296 to $10,956 each month, which translates to a six-figure salary for those with 38 or more years of service.
W-5s
O-10s
Generals (Marines, Army, Air Force, and Space Force) or Admirals (Navy and Coast Guard) can reach the O-10 level. Their base pay is $16,608 a month or about $199,299 each year, but they’ve had many decades of experience to get there.
O-10s
O-9s
You can’t be an O-9 unless you’ve been in the military for at least 20 years. This includes vice-admirals (Navy or Coast Guard) and lieutenant generals (Marines, Army, Air Force, and Space Force). They’re well-compensated because they get $16,012 to $16,608 each month.
O-9s
O-8s
O-8s have many responsibilities, which means they earn more money. This tier includes rear admirals (Navy or Coast Guard) and major generals (Army, Marines, Space Force, and Air Force). Generally, they earn between $11,329 to $16,333 per month, though men and women with over 34 years of experience make the most.
O-8s
O-7s
O-7s are an elite rank and include the rear admiral lower (Coast Guard and Navy) and the brigadier general (Air Force, Space, Force, Army, and Marines). These people make roughly $9,414 to $14,065 each month!
O-7s
O-6s
O-6s include captains (Navy or Coast Guard) and colonels (Army, Marines, Space Force, and Air Force). It’s not easy to attain this level, so the people who make it are compensated well. They make $7,139 to $12,638 each and every month!
O-6s
O-5s
O-5s make $5,951 to $10,111 per month and are commissioned officers. These include lieutenant colonels (Marines, Space Force, Army, and Air Force) and commanders (Navy or Coast Guard). They’re often paid huge sums of money because they have more experience than others.
O-5s
O-4s
Typically, O-4s earn $5,135 to $8,573 per month and are majors (Marines, Army, Space Force, and Air Force) or lieutenant commanders (Coast Guard or Navy). Often, people shift to that rank quickly, even without much experience.
O-4s
O-3Es
O-3Es tend to make $6,022 to $7,839 each month and are captains or lieutenants. They generally have little experience and earn so much. Immediately at that rank, they make about $72,273 per year, and it rises based on expertise.
O-3Es
O-3s
O-3s usually make $4,514 to $7,345 each month and tend to be captains (Marines, Army, Space Force, and Air Force) or lieutenants (Coast Guard and Navy). People often attain the rank without much experience, and they get paid a little less because of it.
O-3s
O-2Es
O-2Es are technically O-2s, but they have a higher pay grade ($5,289 to $6,251 per month) because they require four years as a warrant officer or enlisted member to become one. As they gain experience, they earn more money.
O-2Es
O-2s
O-2s are lieutenant junior grade (Navy or Coast Guard) and first lieutenant (Air Force, Marines, Army, and space Force). As with other rankings, their pay depends on their experience. Typically, they earn $3,901 to $5,398 each month.
O-2s
O-1Es
O-1Es tend to earn more than O-1s, but it also depends on their years of experience. O-1s are often out of the academy, so these ranks have a little more time under their belts. To reach this status, they need four years of service and can earn $4,260 to $5,289 each month.
O-1Es
O-1s
O-1s actually outrank W-5s, though they’re paid less because they tend to be younger with less experience. Usually, they’re graduates from an academy or ROTC program. Still, they earn about $3,385 to $4,260 each month. Check out the other enlistment perks below!
O-1s
Food and Groceries
Generally, enlisted service people get about $386.50 every month for groceries on top of their normal paycheck. That’s part of the reason why so many people join the military; they get so many extras. Still, officers only receive $266.18 for their food items.
Food And Groceries
Education Benefits
Just because you join the military after high school doesn’t mean you give up your education. The military actually helps people pay off loans or go to college. Most enlistees find that 100 percent of the tuition is paid while they’re on active duty!
Education Benefits
Specialty Training
Military personnel learn things they can’t find out anywhere else. Whether you’re learning a new language, shooting, or checking out different guns, there are so many interesting tidbits to know about.
Specialty Training
Annual Paid Vacations
Did you realize that military personnel have special resorts that only they can visit? These include Shades of Green at Walt Disney World and Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki. There are even some in Japan, Germany, and South Korea!
Annual Paid Vacations
Travel to Many Places
The military pays to relocate the person’s family. Therefore, you can travel the world and see it all while you serve. There are even “space-available” flights you’re eligible for to anywhere you want to go. Some cost nothing, and military bases also house servicepeople.
Travel To Many Places
Option for Full- and Part-Time
Many people focus on the commitment of four years in the military. However, branches often have part-time services available. Therefore, you can work, be close to your family, and protect your country.
Option for Full- and Part-Time
Tax-free Boarding
The military usually offers room and board (including meals) as part of the pay scale for each service person. While they’re on active duty, they receive an allowance or get free meals. New recruits tend to live on the base, though.
Tax Free Boarding
Healthcare and Dental Care
Active-duty personnel and their families get access to hospitals, clinics, and dental services on/near military installments. In fact, active-duty personnel gets free life insurance, which protects their families if they’re killed in action (KIA).
Healthcare And Dental Care
Military Commissary and Exchange Stores
Service members and their families can shop at military exchange stores and even get a discount. On-base housing communities often have church facilities, banks, commissaries, theaters, restaurants, gyms, libraries, and schools, too.
Military Commissary And Exchange Stores
Special Home Loans and Discounts
There are various federal and state support programs for veterans (often called veteran’s benefits). These include guarantees for home loans, small business loans, and others. The VA home loan program helps buyers find zero-down financing.
Special Home Loans And Discounts
Guaranteed Paycheck with Cash Bonuses
Every service person receives a paycheck, but they can also get enlistment bonuses. This often varies by branch, and there are certain requirements to meet. However, people can easily talk to recruiters about options and bonuses.
Guaranteed Paycheck With Cash Bonuses
Sense of Patriotism and Honor
Military members get tangible perks and a healthy paycheck, but the best thing is feeling patriotism and honor for serving their country. These people are highly trained and can often use those leadership skills in other areas of their lives.
Sense Of Patriotism And Honor