United States Army Pay Scale
The U.S. Army has an elaborate formula for determining what it pays its soldiers. Rank and years of service are the primary considerations. Allowances are given for housing, food and cost of living depending on where the soldier is based. There are also pay increases for things like combat, flight service and hazardous duty. All these variables result in significantly varied pay for Army personnel.
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Features
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U.S. Army pay is primarily determined by the rank of the soldier. They are divided into three categories: enlisted personnel, warrant officers and commissioned officers. Ranks are designated by a letter indicating category and a number indicating level. The letter is "E" are for enlisted, "W" for warrant officer and "O" for commissioned officer. E-1 signifies an newly recruited private while E-9 is a sergeant major. There are five grades of warrant officer ranging from W-1 to W-5. O-1 represents a second lieutenant while O-10 is a four-star general. The Army produces a pay chart every year with base salaries for every rank designation.
Time Frame
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The amount of time spent in the Army also determines a soldier's pay. The Army pay rate tables make adjustments for years of service. This ranges from an E-1 with less than 4 months service to those with more than 38 years of service. The number of years in the Army can affect pay by thousands of dollars per month. For example, an O-10 with 38 years of service earns about $3,000 per month more than another O-10 with 20 years experience.
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Benefits
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Army personnel assigned to combat zones get the benefit of "imminent danger pay." This is several hundred dollars a month and is paid regardless of how many days were spent in the combat zone during that month. There is an additional tax bonus for serving in combat zones. All Army pay for enlisted personnel and warrant officers is excluded from taxable gross income. Commissioned officers also get an exclusion but it is limited to an amount equal to the highest enlisted pay. Army personnel performing dangerous jobs also get hazardous duty pay. This includes duties like handling bombs, flying and parachute jumping. Hazardous duty pay ranges from $150 to $225 per month. Foreign Language Proficiency Pay is an annual bonus of up to $12,000. Special Duty Assignment Pay is given to enlisted soldiers with special skills. It ranges from $75 to $450 per month. Hardship Duty Pay is given to paid to Army personnel serving outside the continental United States in areas where the quality of life is below American standards. It ranges from $50 to $150 per month.
Considerations
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The Army also pays its people for living expenses. A tax-free housing allowance is paid to enlisted soldiers with dependents who live off base. Variable Housing Allowances are paid to Army personnel living in areas of the continental United States with expensive housing. The Overseas Cost of Living Allowance is for those living overseas, Hawaii or Alaska, to compensate them for the additional cost of living there.
Potential
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Army pay is reconsidered and adjusted periodically. Some categories are adjusted annually, while others are changed after several years. Check the latest Army pay tables for the latest pay rates.
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