Money and the Military - Different Payouts for Different Branches?

Hey there! So I'm a junior and starting to look at my options post-high school. College seems nice, but honestly making money sooner via the military route does sound appealing. I heard that some branches may pay more than others, but I'm not sure if this is true. Could anyone give me some info on this? Thanks in advance!

Hello! It's a great question. In fact, the basic pay for each rank is the same across all the branches, which include the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force. This is decided by federally mandated pay charts that are updated annually. The base salary depends on the pay grade (which is determined by your rank) and is adjusted for the number of years a person has served.

However, the overall compensation can differ quite a bit based on some factors:

1. Job Specialty/Bonuses: Certain military occupations, known as MOS (Military Occupational Specialties), receive bonus pay because they require extra skills or they're hard-to-fill. Therefore, your job choice within the military can lead to extra income.

2. Location: Members of the military receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS). BAH rates are dependent on the cost of living in the area where you're stationed, your pay grade, and dependents, so if you're stationed in a high cost-of-living area, your BAH will be more.

3. Special Duty Pay: There's also Special Duty Pay for jobs that demand extra responsibility or skills, or carry extra risk. These can include jobs like airborne or flight duty, special duty assignment pay (such as recruiters or drill instructors), working in a submarine, or more.

So while the basic pay is the same across branches, the complete pay package can vary based on your role, skills, location, and additional duties. Hope this clarifies your query!