Military Pay Grade
A career in the military is a valuable commitment that offers growth opportunities. Military pay grades have certain criteria and rankings that increase as per time and performance.
What Is a Military Pay Grade?
- A military pay grade is the classification or ranking system used to determine how much a service member earns
- The armed forces’ different branches have their specific pay grades, though all are based on the same basic principles and hierarchy
- Pay grades range from E-1 (the lowest enlisted rank) to O-10 (the highest officer rank)
How Pay Grades Work
- Generally, increases in rank result in increased responsibility and an increase in base salary
- For those serving in combat zones, there may be additional allowances such as hazardous duty pay or combat zone tax exclusion
- Likewise, special skills can lead to higher levels of compensation such as enlistment bonuses or aviation career incentive pays
- Those who stay in the military for multiple years may also receive automatic pay raises due to longevity or may receive special awards for exemplary service
Additional Military Income
- In addition to base pay and allowances, members of the military also receive a range of benefits such as health care, housing allowances, and access to certain discounts
- These benefits can vary in amount depending on rank and service time
- Though all branches have adopted the same basic system of pay grades, each branch has its own specific regulations on salaries and compensation
- For more detailed information about military pay grades, it is important to check the appropriate branch’s regulations
- You can easily find the regulations for each branch online
- By familiarizing yourself with military pay grades, you can make sure that you always receive fair compensation for your service
Lowest Pay Grade in Military
- The lowest pay grade in the military is E-1
- This rank is held by personnel who have just entered the service, and they receive base pay of $1,514 per month in 2021
- This rate increases with time in service and promotion to higher ranks
- As troops progress through their career there are automatic raises for each subsequent year of service until they reach the pay cap of 15 years
- Beyond this point, only promotions result in additional salary increases
Next Pay Grade in Military
- The next pay grade in the military is E-2
- This rank is typically held by personnel who have been in the service for a few months and received some basic training
- At this pay grade, base pay increases to $1,822 per month in 2022
- As with the lowest rank, there are automatic salary increases each year up to 15 years of total service
Highest Pay Grade in Military
- The highest pay grade in the military is O-10
- This rank corresponds to a General or Admiral, and those at this level receive base pay of $17,422 per month as of 2021
- Additionally, those holding this position may be eligible for other special allowances and bonuses depending on their responsibilities
- For officers, the lowest pay grade is O-1 and begins at a monthly base pay of $3,570 per month in 2022
- Like enlisted personnel, officer salaries increase with promotion and longevity until reaching the pay cap of 20 years
- At this point, only promotions result in additional salary increases
