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Military salary
Average military salary
$51,584
Average Military Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average military salary stands at $51,584 annually, equating to approximately $25 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of service, and specific roles within the military. For instance, salaries may increase with rank and specialization, providing opportunities for advancement and higher earnings.
Salary by State
Different states offer various salary scales for military personnel. For example, states with a high cost of living, such as California and New York, often provide higher salaries to compensate for living expenses. In contrast, states with a lower cost of living might offer more modest salaries. By examining salary data by state, potential candidates can make informed choices about where to serve.
Highest Paying Cities
In addition to state variations, some cities are recognized for higher military salaries due to the presence of military bases and defense contractors. Cities like San Diego, Norfolk, and Seattle often rank as top locations for military compensation.
Understanding the military salary landscape helps service members and prospective recruits navigate their career paths effectively and ensures they are well-prepared for financial planning.
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Where can a Military earn more?
Average military salary by state
The highest-paying states for militaries are Alaska, New Jersey, and New York. The lowest average military salary states are Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Oregon.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for militaries
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $78,650 | $37.81 |
| 2 | Maine | $59,924 | $28.81 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $51,192 | $24.61 |
| 4 | Delaware | $50,760 | $24.40 |
| 5 | Virginia | $54,118 | $26.02 |
| 6 | California | $63,316 | $30.44 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $55,484 | $26.68 |
| 8 | Mississippi | $47,781 | $22.97 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $63,833 | $30.69 |
| 10 | New York | $63,818 | $30.68 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $48,821 | $23.47 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $50,752 | $24.40 |
| 13 | Indiana | $53,629 | $25.78 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $44,908 | $21.59 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| 16 | Arizona | $51,158 | $24.60 |
| 17 | Vermont | $45,583 | $21.91 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $48,471 | $23.30 |
| 19 | Maryland | $49,283 | $23.69 |
| 20 | Kansas | $43,398 | $20.86 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $48,623 | $23.38 |
| 22 | Illinois | $51,774 | $24.89 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $50,143 | $24.11 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $43,428 | $20.88 |
| 25 | Utah | $44,221 | $21.26 |
| 26 | Iowa | $44,045 | $21.18 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $46,555 | $22.38 |
| 28 | Ohio | $43,585 | $20.95 |
| 29 | Michigan | $45,061 | $21.66 |
| 30 | Nevada | $43,131 | $20.74 |
| 31 | Idaho | $42,972 | $20.66 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $39,794 | $19.13 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $36,498 | $17.55 |
| 35 | Washington | $44,398 | $21.35 |
| 36 | Missouri | $38,261 | $18.39 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $37,914 | $18.23 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| 39 | Alabama | $34,926 | $16.79 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $35,171 | $16.91 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $33,833 | $16.27 |
| 42 | Montana | $31,664 | $15.22 |
| 43 | Texas | $39,624 | $19.05 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $38,416 | $18.47 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $34,184 | $16.43 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $36,394 | $17.50 |
| 47 | Florida | $36,127 | $17.37 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $34,212 | $16.45 |
| 49 | Oregon | $34,037 | $16.36 |
| 50 | Colorado | $32,154 | $15.46 |
| 51 | Georgia | $35,017 | $16.84 |
Highest paying cities for militaries
The highest-paying cities for militaries are Santa Clara, CA, New York, NY, and Newark, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara, CA | $65,015 | $31.26 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $63,776 | $30.66 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $63,705 | $30.63 |
| 4 | Bangor, ME | $54,252 | $26.08 |
| 5 | Hampton, VA | $54,031 | $25.98 |
| 6 | La Crosse, WI | $52,750 | $25.36 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,871 | $24.46 |
| 8 | Frederick, MD | $48,698 | $23.41 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $45,429 | $21.84 |
| 10 | Mason City, IA | $45,059 | $21.66 |
| 11 | Redmond, WA | $44,458 | $21.37 |
| 12 | Leavenworth, KS | $43,538 | $20.93 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $43,504 | $20.92 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $40,891 | $19.66 |
| 15 | Chesterfield, MO | $39,003 | $18.75 |
| 16 | Clovis, NM | $38,285 | $18.41 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $36,537 | $17.57 |
| 18 | Clarksville, TN | $35,216 | $16.93 |
| 19 | Marietta, GA | $34,883 | $16.77 |
| 20 | Fort Smith, AR | $34,019 | $16.36 |
Military salary details
A military's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a military's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $51,584 | $4,299 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Top companies hiring militaries now:
Which companies pay militaries the most?
Military salaries at Baker Hughes and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average military salary at companies like Applied Materials and Constellation Energy Partners are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baker Hughes | $125,423 | $60.30 |
| 2 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $125,259 | $60.22 |
| 3 | Applied Materials | $124,051 | $59.64 |
| 4 | Constellation Energy Partners | $106,448 | $51.18 |
| 5 | General Dynamics Mission Systems | $105,693 | $50.81 |
| 6 | Beaumont Health | $93,717 | $45.06 |
| 7 | Gallagher | $89,999 | $43.27 |
| 8 | Wells Fargo | $84,761 | $40.75 |
| 9 | IDA | $83,924 | $40.35 |
| 10 | Axient | $83,422 | $40.11 |
| 11 | Equinix | $82,954 | $39.88 |
| 12 | Northrop Grumman | $75,899 | $36.49 |
| 13 | Henry M. Jackson Foundation | $75,785 | $36.44 |
| 14 | Geisinger Medical Center | $72,667 | $34.94 |
| 15 | Oasis Systems | $70,761 | $34.02 |
| 16 | Scientific Research | $70,161 | $33.73 |
| 17 | Prudential Bank | $69,271 | $33.30 |
| 18 | A. Duie Pyle | $66,345 | $31.90 |
| 19 | Leidos | $66,171 | $31.81 |
| 20 | Vencore | $62,885 | $30.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Military salary trends
The average military salary has risen by $9,210 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average military earned $42,374 annually, but today, they earn $51,584 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for militaries over the last decade.
Compare military salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average military salary over time
Compare military salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Military salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,600 | $24.80 | +5.1% |
| 2024 | $49,000 | $23.53 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $47,500 | $22.84 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $46,300 | $22.28 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $45,500 | $21.90 | +2.3% |
Recently added military salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Kentucky | Military Fighter/Driver/Oper-Department of Military Affairs (Non-Merit) | Greenville, KY | 06/29/2025 | $34,632 |
| Job Listingsallied Universal | Security Professional-Military Experience Required | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $50,088 |
| State of Vermont | Military Maintenance Spec IV | South Burlington, VT | 06/27/2025 | $51,319 |
| Allied Universal | Security Professional-Military Experience Required | Seattle, WA | 06/21/2025 | $50,088 |
| St. Moritz Security Service | Armed School Security Professiona/Fle/Military | Naples, FL | 06/20/2025 | $48,001 |
| Scientific Research Corporation | Military Systems Spec III | Kaneohe, HI | 06/19/2025 | $68,750 |
| Parker-Hannifin, Corporation | Toolmaker SR-Military Flight Controls Division | Irvine, CA | 06/17/2025 | $75,257 |
| Gamestop | Military Retail Keyholder | Twentynine Palms, CA | 06/12/2025 | $38,088 |
| Gamestop | Military Retail Keyholder | Houston, TX | 06/06/2025 | $38,088 |
| Excelsior | Military VET Partnership Specialist | Saint Petersburg, FL | 06/02/2025 | $58,500 |
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