What Military Branch Pays The Most

United States Air Force

While the initial base-pay, if you join the USAF, it is identical across every United States branch. The pay is around $20,000 per year.

This relatively low pay is made up for by a myriad of benefits, including housing allowances, educational grants, and deployment pay.

This rings true for every branch of the US military, but the specialized nature of the USAF allows for the most extensive room for growth in terms of compensation.

Put on top of this that you can retire in 20 years and this is definitely a route to go that will keep you further out of harms way than in other branches.

It is among the highest paid military branch.

The Air Force Is For You If:

This branch is great for you if you love technology and want access to some of the most highly advanced applicable training for future professions after a career in the military. The Air Force is also great for those of you that love nice amenities and some of the best deployment cycles out of all of the other branches of service.

Your First Duty Station

This is where you will start your career in the military. Youll be assigned to a unit, and youll start working towards your career goals.

This is when you will actually start earning money. Youll be paid based on your rank and your job.

The higher your rank, the more money youll make. And if you have a dangerous or difficult job, then youll also get hazard pay or combat pay, which is extra money that is added onto your base pay.

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The Coast Guard Isnt For You If:

But, the Coast Guard is no cake walk to get into for enlistment. Any sort of criminal record, poor credit history, or GED will make it near impossible for you to get into the service. You can apply for waivers however and cross your fingers that they will take you but the best thing you can do is speak to a recruiter about this as they have tons of experience in dealing with these type of situations.

Criminal Justice And Law Enforcement

A popular choice for veterans, careers in criminal justice and law enforcement include police officers, private investigators, paralegals, forensic science technicians, bailiffs, and probation officers, to name a few. The highest pay goes to police officers and detectives, who can make an average of $67,290 per year10.

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Related Occupations: What You Need To Know

Serving a career in the Armed Forces can be a great way to learn a skill or trade that can then be used to get a job after retiring from military service. With the education benefits available to all service members Tuition Assistance and Tuition Top-Up it can be easy to get a postsecondary education all the way up to a four-year college degree while serving. One could also go back to school after military retirement and use the GI Bill for an advanced degree.

Here is a sampling of jobs in the Armed Forces that directly convert to the civilian sector, along with information on median salary, growth potential, and the education or training required by most companies to compete for these positions.

What Do Related Occupations Make

While some of the jobs in the Armed Forces are unique and not found in the civilian sector, many do crossover. As the chart below illustrates, the annual salary of three sample military jobs – Pilot, Mechanical Engineer and Electrician – fall around the median salary point when compared to their related civilian equivalents. Nurse and Truck Driver are closer to the Top 10 percent.

The above figures for the first three positions uses an officer O-3 with over 6 years as a standard for Base Pay and an average BAH. For the last two, an enlisted E-6 with over 6 years is used as the standard.

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Medical Pharmacy And Dental Services

Military careers in these healthcare fields approximate civilian careers with similar titles. For example, a military pharmacy specialist may be qualified to work as a pharmacy specialist earning about $121,500 per year on average13.

Careers in many of these fields often require advanced degrees or specialized training.

Coast Guard Boatswain Mate

If there is a jack-of-all-trades in regard to seamanship, a BM isit. Individuals in this position must be able to do everything. From supervisingdeck maintenance, to small boat operations, navigation, and search and rescue, BMs are always there. They also have to know how tooperate hoists, cranes, and winches and know how much of a load a rope or cablecan safely support. A Boatswain Mate is a unique position in that they canbecome an officer-in-charge of a harbor tug, patrol boat, or cutter. Most CoastGuard personnel are stationed within the confines of the United States and itsterritorial waters.

While no post-secondary education is necessary, small boat handling experience is desirable along with an aptitude in algebra, geometry, and shop.

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Do All Enlisted Ranks Receive Equal Compensation Or Are Some Lower

The highest paid military branch is the Army. Officers in the Army earn a base salary of $51,000 annually while enlisted soldiers earn a base salary of $24,000 annually. The difference in pay scales can be significant, with an officer earning over three times as much as an enlisted soldier. However, there are exceptions to this rule – for example, the Air Force pays its officers more than any other service branch. Additionally, different ranks within each service branch receive different pay rates based on their experience and rank. For example, commissioned officers in the Navy typically earn more than non-commissioned officers in the Marine Corps.

How To Find A Job After You Graduate

To improve the chances of being hired into a military career after college, you can take one of several paths.

Consider attending a senior military college or a service academy. Another good option is to enroll in a traditional university or college that offers a Reserve Officers Training Corps program on campus.

Army, Coast Guard, or Navy Officer Candidate School is a third option. In the Air Force, this is known as Officer Training School , and in the Marine Corps, it is called the Platoon Leaders Course . Both traditional college graduates and enlisted service members who wish to transition into officer positions can attend OCS, according to Todays Military.

Officer School programs last between 9.5 weeks and 17 weeks and prepare graduates to enter the given service branch at the level of ensign or Second Lieutenant . Base pay for these officers at rank O-1, with fewer than two years experience, is $3,386 per month.

Graduation from a military college or university avoids the need to secure additional training in an Officer School and guarantees job placement. For instance, U.S. Naval Academy graduates attain a bachelor of science degree and a commission as an ensign in the Navy or second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

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Do My Asvab Scores Influence My Military Career Options

Yes. While you can communicate your preferences to your recruiter during the enlistment process, your options will be limited by the results you get on the ASVAB test. In fact, the ASVAB measures the applicants skills and is a way to pair you with the MOS that will be better-suited to your natural abilities.

How Smart Do You Have To Be To Join The Military

The required age range is 17 to 39. A GED is acceptable in lieu of a high school diploma if you have at least 15 college credits.

If you have a high school diploma, you must obtain a score of at least 36 on the ASVAB, or a GED, a score of at least 65.

You must also adhere to the requirements for weight, height, and physical fitness.

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Medical Specialists And Dentists

In the military, there is a clear need for medical personnel. Physicians have demanding education and training requirements. Generally, you need a bachelors degree, i.e. four years of medical school. Furthermore, training in a medical specialty, this varies between 3 to 7 years. The career of a specialist doctor can be very lucrative, both in the military and civil sector. For doctors and dentists, the median annual salary is $ 126,240 and the maximum annual salary is $ 208,000.

Job Growth Prospects And Outlook In The Armed Forces

With the war in Iraq ended and the drawdown continuing in Afghanistan, the Armed Forces are becoming smaller by design and out of budget necessity. As shown below, the total number of active duty military personnel has been steadily declining:

The need for new service members won’t be as great in the near term as it has been in the last decade. But with ISIS still strong, and other threats still developing, there still will be a need to meet strength goals and to make up for attrition due to service members getting out or retiring.

According to the latest data available, below is a look at how the Armed Services looks now and what it is projected to look like in the next five years:

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Allowances In Addition To Basic Pay

Basic pay is only part of the military pay equation. You may also qualify for other allowances based on your pay grade, living situation and how many dependents you have.

Like basic pay, these allowances are the same regardless of branch of service.

Below is an explanation of some of the allowances you will receive in the military.

How Does Pay For Active Duty Soldiers Compare To Those In Reserve Units

The highest paid military branch is the Army. Active duty soldiers receive a monthly salary of $1,225 while those in reserve units receive a monthly salary of $822. This difference in pay is due to the fact that active duty soldiers are required to attend mandatory training sessions and complete other duties while in reserve units do not have these requirements.

Overall, pay for active duty soldiers compares favorably to those in reserve units. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, Navy personnel earn more than Army personnel because they have longer service periods and are typically stationed aboard ships. Additionally, Air Force personnel earn more than Army personnel because they typically have higher education levels and better job skills.

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Highest Paid Military Branch

How long does the US Army last?

Most first-term enlistments require a commitment of four years of active service and two years of inactivity . However, the services also offer conscript programs for two, three, and six years of active or reserve service. It depends on the service and the job you want.

Which military branch gives the most money?

Based on the money pool provided for basic service budgets only, 35.6% goes to the Air Force, 27.9% to the Army, and 36.4% to the Navy . But these numbers are malleable.

What is the best military branch?

The US Marine Corps is the senior branch of military service.

Highest Paying Military Jobs In The Civilian World

Leaving active duty to return to civilian life doesnât mean you have to leave the military altogether.

Plenty of former service members choose to continue their military careers. Whether you want to work in the Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Army or Air Force, there are many high-paying military jobs that you can pursue after re-entering civilian life.

Letâs dive into what types of careers are out there for military veterans and military personnel, and which pay the best.

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What Are Special And Incentive Paid To The Military

Special and incentive pay are used by each military branch to satisfy recruitment and retention targets, particularly in vital or understaffed professional sectors.

Although services are free to choose their own incentives, the DOD establishes statutory maximums on what they can spend in each area.

Bonuses for joining and rejoining the military, as well as various officer programs, are included in S& I pay. Services provide the largest awards for positions that are difficult to fill and keep employees in.

What Is The Hardest Military Branch

The hardest military branch to get into in terms of education requirements is the Air Force. The military branch with the toughest basic training is the Marine Corps. The hardest military branch for non-males because of exclusivity and male dominance is the Marine Corps.

What is the most badass job in the military?

The 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in the US Military

Which is the highest paying branch of the military?

The highest-ranking officer, regardless of branch, carries a pay grade of O-10. The Army is generally the branch of the military that promotes the fastest. That said, your military job and the level of advanced education you have will impact your ability to be promoted.

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Which Military Branch Has The Highest Allowances

There all the same.

Youll receive the same basic pay regardless of where you serve.

The Department of Defense created this pay structure to keep all military branches equal.

However, there are many other ways you can earn additional pay, regardless of branch.

Thus, you should choose a military branch you want to serve in rather than pick one simply based on its pay.

Highest Paying Military Branch

How long is the army in USA?

Most first-term enlistments require a commitment to four years of active duty and two years of inactive . But the services also offer programs with two-, three- and six-year active-duty or reserve enlistments. It depends upon the service and the job you want.

Which military branch gives the most money?

Based on the pool of money allocated to the base budgets of the services alone, 35.6 percent goes to the Air Force, 27.9 percent goes to the Army, and 36.4 percent goes to the Navy . But those numbers are malleable.

Which is the best military branch?

U.S. Marine Corps is the top-rated military service branch.

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Discover More About A Career With A Military Degree

Q. How hard is it to get into a military college?

It is fairly difficult and competitive. The National Center for Education Statistics data suggests the average acceptance rate is about 9.8% across all service academies. Four of the five service academies require a nomination from an authorized source, often a member of Congress. Applicants also need strong SAT or ACT scores, excellent high school academics, leadership experience, community involvement, and athletics and extracurricular activities on their resumes.

What does military college cost? Military colleges are tuition-free to accepted students in exchange for a period of service post-graduation.

Th French Foreign Legion

If you are looking for a little more international experience and want to be paid well for your efforts, then the French Foreign Legion is the place for you. While the starting base salary may be relatively low, the appeal increases tremendously when you factor in the huge salary increases if you serve on a foreign assignment with the French Foreign Legion .

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Enlist In A Military Branch

Which military branch pays the most?

As we previously outlined, there is no precise answer for which military branch pays you the most.

The basic pay rate is determined by military rank and years of service.

Consequently, you will not earn more just because you are in one military branch compared to another branch.

However, military personnel can earn more through various other means.

For starters, youll need to settle on a military branch.

There are 6 different branches worth considering in the U.S. Armed Forces:

In general, the U.S. Army promotes rank the fastest.

Thus, some consider this military branch the quickest method to receiving a higher base pay.

Regardless, having previous work experience or an advanced education can also warrant you a higher starting pay.

For example, enlisted recruits sometimes join at the rank of officer because of previous experience or education.

Moreover, there are countless other ways toward earning a higher military salary .

Unfortunately, advancing in your military is partly a waiting game and exercise in patience.

Often, military promotions are granted once a senior member retires or transfers to another occupational specialty.

Do Soldiers Make Good Money

Base pay for an enlisted service member in their first six months comes out to less than $20,000 per year. But troops earn increases as they advance in rank and gain experience. The highest ranking enlisted Marine, Sgt. Maj of the Marine Corps Ronald Green, makes over $90,000 a year in base pay alone.

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Special And Incentive Pays

Each military service uses special and incentive pays to meet recruiting and retention goals, especially in critical or understaffed career fields. While services have flexibility in setting their incentives, the DOD sets statutory limits on the maximum they can pay for each category.

S& I pay includes bonuses for enlistment and re-enlistment and some officer programs. The services pay the highest bonuses for career fields that are hard to fill and retain people in.

DOD allows an enlistment career field bonus of $40,000. The maximum re-enlistment career field bonus is $90,000 for a three-year re-enlistment.

Serivce branches can pay other discretionary bonuses associated with enlistment on top of the enlistment bonus itself. For example, in April 2022, the Navy announced it would offer a $25,000 bonus to recruits who shipped to basic training by June. Foreign language bonuses are also common.

You can learn about different S& I pays, including bonuses, from the official S& I index.

Note that S& I pay and enlistment bonuses are taxable.