Question:

Military Pay vs. Civilian Pay.?

by  |  earlier

0 LIKES UnLike

I am all for the military. The love of my life is a soldier. Im just curious though about something though. If you could make more money with a civilian job, then why do so many insist on joining military besides serving the country. Is it for all the amazing benefits and being able to travel and see the world? Those I think are great perks that most civilian jobs do not have.

Anyways, when someone is looking for a job, they care alot about the money. So why the military if you can make more as a civilian?

Keep in mind though please I am not saying people should join the military because that's not what I'm saying!

I look up to all the servicemembers and all they have done for our country

 Tags:

   Report

11 ANSWERS


  1. go into the reserve

    u get to live ur life like a civilian but you are still a soldier  


  2. well sometimes in order to go to school...you have to have a job..and some join for this reason..my husband couldnt get a job that would pay anything ....and that was one of the reasons he went in....when he did get his degree he was 5 years away from retiring...why would you get out at that point? and he has goals that he wants to reach...as far as rank is concerned..to be the best of the best..to push yourself to a height that most others cant reach...its a matter of pride he is good at what he does and wants to go as high as he can...so if he can do that..he will have his retirement pay as well as his anything he makes in a civilian job with his degree....pretty smart i think...and no student loans..which is the best part

  3. I examined this for my senior thesis in college.  You have to take into account that you have full medical, dental, and optometry benefits in the US Military.  Also as a typical Soldier in the US Military (Not special forces, senior officer or NCO) you will make between 70% to 105% of what your civilian counterparts make in the same career field.  

    To add to that your housing and subsistence allowances are not taxed unlike your civilian counterparts whom are taxed on 100% of the pay that they receive.

    Also, when speaking with GEN (r) Shinseki for my thesis the typical conversation that he had with friends in civilian industry included talking about how many senior officers and NCO that they had "stolen" from the military.  When asked why they needed to take his leaders rather than create their own, he usually got the reply, "The military trains leader better than we ever could, and frankly it's easier on our industry to only teach the technical items to new leaders rather than try to mold one."

    In the end, unless your are part of US Special Forces, or a Senior Officer or NCO nearing retirement with a pension it does not serve you well to leave the military before retirement with a pension.  At which time you are typically between the ages of 38 and 42 and at the height of your earning power and can boast on your resume that you have had nearly 20 years of leadership experience.

    So if your looking at the money alone, you may want to consider doing a career in the military before entering into civilian industry because in the long run you will make yourself less expendible as a member of civilian industry and receive a higher salary, and will possess the skills that industry will always demand, leadership and management.

    My own personal reasons for being in the military are not so monetarily driven.  I love the fact that I get to jump out of planes on a daily basis, lead young motivated Soldiers, shoot, blow things up, and go put foot to a** for my country whenever it issues the call.  And finally (and most importantly) I absolutely believe in the principles this country was founded on as stated in the US Constitution, and I'm willing to fight for those principles and defend them.  And in my mind the day that I don't love leading and being with my Soldiers and believe in the principles stated in the Constitution is the day that I should leave the military.

    So if your looking at a career in the military and do not love the idea of serving your country and protecting the principles it was founded upon, you shouldn't be looking for a career with my brothers and sisters in arms.

  4. It is a calling to most, also you can retire at an early age and work at a higher paying job while receiving a retirement check and other benefits.

    Vet-USAF / Father is retired Chief Master SGT - USAF

  5. The military is often a lifestyle more than just a job.  For me, though I could potentially make more money on the outside, I like the sea-going life and the camaraderie of the ship, the wardroom, etc.  I wouldn't trade it for a civilian job.

    The benefits are also nice.  Though salary may be more with a civilian job, when you factor in medical/dental/life insurance/legal and the savings of shopping on base, if you live within your means you can have quite a nice life on a military salary.  Plus, the military will pay for your education (and with the new GI bill, it's possible to transfer GI Bill benefits to your dependents, so they can receive educational funding as well).

    For me, and for many others, the military is a calling rather than a job.  That makes salary a small concern compared to the satisfaction I get from my job.

  6. I was an E6, I made around $65k/year and I was tax exempt for almost all of my career.

    I was able to purchase an apartment building at each duty station [beginning once I was an E5], and until I reached retirement.

    When I got my 20 year pension, I had collected four such properties.

    I would not consider that to be poverty wages.


  7. AD

    Couldn't have said it better.


  8. There are lots of reasons to join the military.  My husband joined because the Army paid for his college education.

  9. The military is silly enough to pay me to do something that I love... so why even TRY to look at another job?

    And, the military goes and sends me all over the country and the world, so I love it - and so does my wife and kids!  The military also won't just arbitrarily file Chapter 11 and go away, nor will they just fire me for no good reason - both of which the civilian sector will do in a heartbeat.

    Then, I get to retire after 20 years and go get one of those civilian jobs that I always wanted to do - like be a cowboy, or a lawyer or a teacher or anything else!

    The military will KIND OF pay you more money for being married.  As a single member, you get money (BAH - Basic Allowance for Housing) to live off base (if you are APPROVED to live off base!!).  If you are married, they pay you a little more, since you have more than just yourself to provide for.  It isn't much, but it helps.  It may be as little as $75 per month - it might be several hundred, depending upon where you live.

  10. Believe it or not, your average 18-year old private fresh out of basic makes more than your average 18-year old civilian with no education further than high school or a GED.  Then you add on the benefits and it is more than it seems.  Free medical versus a $100+ a month insurance policy with a deductible?  Extra pay just for getting married?  Up to $4500 Tuition Assistance a year for school?  Those are some of the things people don't think about when they compare the pay.  As a married E-6 I make more than your average person in my area with a bachelor's degree and I am taking classes for free to get a degree of my own.

    Besides the benefits, most people join to serve their country.  I'm pretty sure your boyfriend already told you his reasons to serve but if he didn't you can always ask.

    EDIT: Yes, the extra money for being married is true.  The service member gets Basic Allowance for Housing if they are married or live off-post.  If they are in basic, AIT, or stationed in Korea or another dependent-restricted tour they will receive the rate for where their depedents are located at the time.  If they are at their permanent duty station in the US or deployed then they will receive the rate for the duty station regardless where the depedents are located.  You can see the rates by entering your ZIP code here and the rank of your boyfriend here:

    http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem...

    Also, they receive $250 a month extra when they are deployed or are on any other assignment that keeps them apart from their dependents (it doesn't count if your spouse simply doesn't want to move to your base since that isn't considered the fault of the military).

  11. Add to the fact that to get the big money at a civilian job you need some training.  DH's a Nuke so we hear it all the time that he could get out and make $100,000 + a year as opposed to his between $40,000 to $50,000 depending on his deployment status in the Navy.  But he couldn't do that with out his Navy training.  Or a lot of college education.  Sometimes the military is a stepping stone to the career you want.

Question Stats

Latest activity: earlier.
This question has 11 answers.

BECOME A GUIDE

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.