What Is an E-4 Pay Scale in the Army?
Soldiers in the Army enlist not only to serve their country but also to earn money and support their families. The Army provides basic salaries based on years of service, rank and status as an active duty or reserve soldier. Unpaid benefits, such as special duty pay, bonuses and medical care, add to the value of an army career. An E-4 (specialist or corporal) has been in the service longer than an E-1 (private), E-2 (private) or E-3 (private first class) and therefore earns more money.
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Basic Pay: Active Duty
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According to the Army pay scale for 2009, an active duty E-4 with under two years of service earned $21,931. An E-4 with two to four years of service earned $25,531 and an E-4 with over four years of service earned $26,622.
Basic Pay: Reservists
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According to the Army pay scale for 2009, an E-4 in the Army Reserves with under two years of service earned $3,777 per year, based on one weekend of training a month and two additional weeks of training per year. Under the same working conditions, an E-4 with two to four years of service earned $4,397 per year and an E-4 with over four years of service earned $4,584 per year.
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Bonuses
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The army offers varying bonuses, including some for enlistments, education, civilian skills, Rangers, officer candidate school and Middle Eastern translator aides. The amount of these bonuses varies. Most of these bonuses are paid upon enlistment, so they do not apply to an E-4. However, depending on the decisions a soldier makes after she has been in the Army for a while, some of the bonuses may apply to an E-4. For example, an E-4 who applies to and attends officer candidate school is eligible for a bonus.
Allowances
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Soldiers in the Army receive allowances, which are paid in addition to a soldier's regular pay. The Army pays allowances for food, housing, clothing, cost of living, moving and relocation and family separation. The amount of these allowances varies based on many factors, including marital status, where a soldier is stationed and whether he may have his family with him, and what sort of uniforms and footwear his job requires.
Special Pay
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The Army, in some cases will pay soldiers extra "special pay" based on where they are stationed and what job they perform. Pay is offered for special duty, hardships, proficiency in some foreign languages, flight status, being a health care provider, performing diving duty and being at sea.
Total Compensation
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According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), almost 60 percent of a soldier's total compensation is comprised of non-cash benefits, such as retirement pay, health care, free or subsidized food, childcare, education benefits and housing.
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