Military Money: Here’s What Men and Women in Uniform Earn

Jordan Rosenfeld
·4 min read
soldiers american flag
soldiers american flag

American military men and women work hard for the safety and security of our country. Many roles within the military start out at modest pay, but salaries increase as individuals rise through the ranks.

Here, GOBankingRates reveals the average pay rate of military personnel across all five branches of the U.S. military at the enlisted, warrant officer and commissioned officer pay grades. These rates, however, do not account for other kinds of pay that many military folks also obtain, such as special and incentive pay for those with specializations ? including aviators and parachutists ? or for those who engage in dangerous or hardship duties. Military personnel who don?t live in military housing also often receive housing and food assistance, known as Basic Allowance for Subsistence and Basic Allowance for Housing.

GOBankingRates used Defense Finance Accounting Service data for 2020 military monthly basic pay to determine what men and women in uniform earn at each pay grade. GOBankingRates also found the title for each pay grade across all five branches of the U.S. military, sourced from the United States Department of Defense. Find out what soldiers earn, and what benefits they can receive.

Last updated: Oct. 30, 2020

Soldiers helping man to climb wooden wall in boot camp
Soldiers helping man to climb wooden wall in boot camp

Private

  • Pay range: $20,797-$20,797

  • Other titles: Seaman Recruit, Airman Basic

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-1

soldiers climbing rope during obstacle course in boot camp
soldiers climbing rope during obstacle course in boot camp

Private

  • Pay range: $23,310-$23,310

  • Other titles: Private First Class, Seaman Apprentice, Airman

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-2

A young American soldier portrait.
A young American soldier portrait.

Private First Class

  • Pay range: $24,512-$27,634

  • Other titles: Lance Corporal, Seaman, Airman First Class

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-3

soldier holding flag
soldier holding flag

Corporal

  • Pay range: $27,151-$32,958

  • Other titles: Petty Officer Third Class, Senior Airman

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-4

Dramatic shot of Drill Instructors saluting the U.
Dramatic shot of Drill Instructors saluting the U.

Sergeant

  • Pay range: $29,610-$42,023

  • Other titles: Petty Officer Second Class, Staff Sergeant

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-5

US soldier salute. US army. US troops. Military of USA.
US soldier salute. US army. US troops. Military of USA.

Staff Sergeant

  • Pay range: $32,324-$50,065

  • Other titles: Petty Officer First Class, Technical Sergeant

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-6

Military Staging Base, Chief Engineer Uses Radio and Army Grade Laptop. Forest Operation/ Mission in Progress.
Military Staging Base, Chief Engineer Uses Radio and Army Grade Laptop. Forest Operation/ Mission in Progress.

Sergeant First Class

  • Pay range: $37,372-$67,169

  • Other titles: Gunnery Sergeant, Chief Petty Officer, Master Sergeant

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-7

Warrant Officer 1

  • Pay range: $38,556-$66,625

  • Other titles: USN Warrant Officer 1

  • Warrant officer pay grade: W-1

Second Lieutenant

  • Pay range: $39,445-$49,637

  • Other titles: Ensign

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-1

US Navy Shoulder Board Warrant Officer 2 Ordnance Technician in New York
US Navy Shoulder Board Warrant Officer 2 Ordnance Technician in New York

Chief Warrant Officer 2

  • Pay range: $43,927-$73,318

  • Other titles: USN Chief Warrant Officer 2

  • Warrant officer pay grade: W-2

Military female smiling - Stock image with copy space.
Military female smiling - Stock image with copy space.

First Lieutenant

  • Pay range: $45,450-$62,896

  • Other titles: Lieutenant Junior Grade

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-2

Army solider working in the office and writing on some papers.
Army solider working in the office and writing on some papers.

Chief Warrant Officer 3

  • Pay range: $49,644-$87,080

  • Other titles: USN Chief Warrant Officer 3

  • Warrant officer pay grade: W-3

Pilot with suit and military air.
Pilot with suit and military air.

Captain

  • Pay range: $52,600-$85,576

  • Other titles: Lieutenant

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-3

Serious mature Hispanic female military officer salutes the American flag.
Serious mature Hispanic female military officer salutes the American flag.

Master Sergeant

  • Pay range: $53,762-$76,676

  • Other titles: Senior Chief Petty Officer, Senior Master Sergeant

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-8

Shot of a high ranking military officer standing at ease in the outdoors.
Shot of a high ranking military officer standing at ease in the outdoors.

Chief Warrant Officer 4

  • Pay range: $54,360-$101,254

  • Other titles: USN Chief Warrant Officer 4

  • Warrant officer pay grade: W-4

Major

  • Pay range: $59,825-$99,889

  • Other titles: Lieutenant Commander

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-4

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (10774087w)Sergeant Major Thomas Payne, United States Army, waits to accept the Medal of Honor from US President Donald Trump during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 11, 2020.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (10774087w)Sergeant Major Thomas Payne, United States Army, waits to accept the Medal of Honor from US President Donald Trump during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 11, 2020.

Sergeant Major

  • Pay range: $65,675-$101,970

  • Other titles: Master Gunnery Sergeant, Master Chief Petty Officer, Chief Master Sergeant

  • Enlisted pay grade: E-9

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (10481459j)Lieutenant Colonel Alexander S.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (10481459j)Lieutenant Colonel Alexander S.

Lieutenant Colonel

  • Pay range: $69,336-$117,799

  • Other titles: Commander

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-5

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Greg E Mathieson Sr/Mai/Shutterstock (9352350h)Colonel Robert (Rob) Manning III currently serves as the Director of Defense Press Operations for the U.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Greg E Mathieson Sr/Mai/Shutterstock (9352350h)Colonel Robert (Rob) Manning III currently serves as the Director of Defense Press Operations for the U.

Colonel

  • Pay range: $83,174-$147,244

  • Other titles: Captain

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-6

Mandatory Credit: Photo by AP/Shutterstock (8990511a)Col.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by AP/Shutterstock (8990511a)Col.

Chief Warrant Officer 5

  • Pay range: $96,656-$126,482

  • Other titles: USN Chief Warrant Officer 5

  • Warrant officer pay grade: W-5

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Martin Schutt/EPA/Shutterstock (8217090c)Brigadier General Michael Ryan Commander of V Us-corps Heidelberg Delivers a Speech at Memorial Site Point Alpha Near Rasdorf Germany 31 March 2010 a Ceremony Commemorated the Function of Us Troops in Europe 20 Years After the Last Patrol of Us Troops at the German-german Border the Ceremony is Scheduled to Take Place Annually As a German-american Festival of Encounter Germany RasdorfGermany Usa Commemoration - Mar 2010.

Brigadier General

  • Pay range: $109,681-$163,872

  • Other titles: Rear Admiral Lower Half

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-7

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ben Sklar/EPA/Shutterstock (7846277h)Major General Keith Huber Speaks About the Present State of Three Former U S Hostages Held Captive in Colombia That Arrived Yesterday to Brook Army Medical Center at the Fort Sam Houston Golf Club in San Antonio Texas Usa 03 July 2008 Three American Captives Marc Gonsalves Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes Were Us Defence Department Contract Workers Who Fell Into Columbian Rebel Hands in 2003 After Their Light Aircraft Crashed in the Jungle Also Rescued in the Operation Was French-colombian Ingrid Betancourt and 11 Other HostagesUsa Colombian Hostages Rescued - Jul 2008.

Major General

  • Pay range: $131,994-$190,289

  • Other titles: Rear Admiral Upper Half

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-8

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (10684005al)United States Army Lieutenant General Daniel Hokanson testifies before the US Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to lead the National Guard in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (10684005al)United States Army Lieutenant General Daniel Hokanson testifies before the US Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to lead the National Guard in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Lieutenant General

  • Pay range: $186,552-$197,302

  • Other titles: Vice Admiral

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-9

General

  • Pay range: $197,302-$197,302

  • Other titles: Admiral

  • Commissioned officer pay grade: O-10

More From GOBankingRates

For this piece, GOBankingRates used Defense and Accounting Services data for 2020 military monthly basic pay to determine what men and women in uniform earn. For each pay grade, GOBankingRates found the (1) lowest monthly basic pay; (2) lowest annual basic pay; (3) minimum years of service required for lowest pay; (4) highest monthly basic pay; (5) highest annual basic pay; and (6) minimum years of service required for highest pay. GOBankingRates also found the title for each pay grade across all 5 branches of the U.S. military, sourced from the United States Department of Defense. All data was collected on and up to date as of October 12, 2020.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Military Money: Here’s What Men and Women in Uniform Earn