How much does a soldier make in the United States?
$78,350a year
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $6,529 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $5,306
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 1.5 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 111 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $200,000 a year.
What armed forces occupations, other ranks earn in the United States
Lowest 10%: $47,030Median: $78,350Highest 10%: $118,300
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $139,000 |
| 2. Norway estimate | $105,900 |
| 3. Austria estimate | $96,090 |
| 5. Finland estimate | $79,600 |
| 6. United States | $78,350 |
| 7. Netherlands estimate | $69,640 |
| 111. Gambia estimate | $658 |
Similar jobs
Armed forces occupations
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| Maine | $107,100 |
| New Mexico | $101,800 |
| Maryland | $99,970 |
| Washington | $99,720 |
| Virginia | $98,410 |
| Rhode Island | $94,570 |
| Nevada | $93,670 |
| Hawaii | $90,040 |
| Alaska | $89,810 |
| Indiana | $88,880 |
See all 49 states
| New Jersey | $87,450 |
| Oklahoma | $81,330 |
| West Virginia | $81,330 |
| Minnesota | $81,290 |
| North Dakota | $80,990 |
| South Carolina | $80,540 |
| California | $80,480 |
| Illinois | $79,800 |
| Wyoming | $79,440 |
| Utah | $79,370 |
| Mississippi | $79,350 |
| Ohio | $77,590 |
| Oregon | $76,960 |
| New Hampshire | $76,720 |
| Colorado | $76,110 |
| Delaware | $75,780 |
| Wisconsin | $74,940 |
| Connecticut | $74,870 |
| Alabama | $74,650 |
| Michigan | $73,960 |
| Texas | $73,860 |
| Missouri | $72,320 |
| North Carolina | $72,070 |
| Florida | $70,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,930 |
| Georgia | $68,370 |
| Arkansas | $68,060 |
| Massachusetts | $67,450 |
| Nebraska | $67,200 |
| Idaho | $65,790 |
| Montana | $65,730 |
| Kentucky | $65,660 |
| New York | $65,530 |
| Iowa | $63,120 |
| Kansas | $61,710 |
| Arizona | $59,580 |
| Louisiana | $58,960 |
| Tennessee | $58,700 |
| Vermont | $52,770 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a soldier make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $6,529 a month, $78,350 a year.
How much does a soldier make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $47,030 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $118,300.
Which country pays a soldier the most?
United States, with a median of $78,350 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a soldier the most?
Maine, with a median of $107,100 a year.
Does a soldier make more in the United States or in Canada?
In the United States: $78,350 a year against $55,170 in Canada, 1.4 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate