How does the U.S. military pay scale work for enlisted and officers?

I'm curious about how the pay scale differs between enlisted personnel and officers in the military. What should someone enlisting right out of high school expect to earn, and how does this change over time or rank?

The U.S. military pay scale is organized into multiple pay grades. Both enlisted personnel and officers have dedicated pay grades, but the grades for officers are generally higher, reflecting their advanced education and responsibilities. Enlisted pay grades range from E-1 to E-9, while officer pay grades start from O-1 and move up to O-10.

For enlisted personnel, an individual enlisting right out of high school typically starts at the E-1 level. As of 2024, the base pay at E-1 is approximately $1,733 per month. Moving up each enlistment grade generally leads to a pay increase. For example, an E-5 (Sergeant) with less than two years of service might expect to earn about $2,548 per month.

Over time, as enlisted personnel gain more experience and responsibility, they can move up the pay grades, and their salary increases accordingly. Factors that influence this increase include length of service, promotions, and additional skills or qualifications acquired during service.

Officers, on the other hand, require a four-year degree and start at the O-1 pay grade. The base pay at this level, as of 2024, is approximately $3,385 per month. As with the enlisted personnel, their pay also increases with promotions and length of service. For example, an O-3 (Captain) with over two years of service might receive around $5,187 per month.

Beyond the base pay, military personnel are also eligible for certain allowances such as Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), and special duty pays, depending on service conditions.

It's important to note that these figures can change annually as the military typically receives a pay raise each year. Therefore, always check the latest figures from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) for updated information.