EmblemComparison: Marine Pay Vs. Other Military Branch Pay

(Excluding Coast Guard)


Not everyone knows that every single branch of the military has the same pay chart. The main difference is, how fast a person can climb the ranks to gain the higher monthly pay. Here is a small chart of the 2000 military pay - effective July 1.


Now here is a listing of all the branches Promotion requirements:

Marines

  • to private first class (E-2) - six months active duty
  • to lance corporal (E-3) - eight months time in grade and nine months time in service.
  • to corporal (E-4) - eight months time in grade, 12 months time in service and meet established score.
  • to sergeant (E-5) - 12 months time in grade, 24 months time in service and meet established score.
  • to staff sergeant and above (E-6 to E-9) - various time in grade requirements based on the needs of the Marine Corps, and chosen through competitive board selection.

Army

  • to private (E-2) - six months active duty and commander's recommendation.
  • to private first class (E-3) - 12 months active duty service, four months as a private and commander's recommendation.
  • to specialist or corporal (E-4) - 12 months active duty service, six months time in grade and commander's recommendation.
  • to sergeant and staff sergeant (E-5 and E-6) - Must have high school diploma or equivalent, and meet Army promotion point system scores and promotion board criteria.
  • to sergeant first class and above (E-7 to E-9) - must meet Army centralized selection board criteria.

Navy

  • to seaman apprentice (E-2) - nine months active duty with commander's recommendation.
  • to seaman (E-3) - nine months time in grade, demonstrated military and professional qualifications and commander's approval.
  • to petty officer 3rd class and above (E-4 to E-9) - based on Navy-wide vacancies within each career field. Must also meet certain minimum time in grade requirements, be recommended for advancement by commander, complete education and training requirements and compete on Navy-wide examinations.

Air Force

  • to airman (E-2) - must have six months time in grade and be recommended by the commander.
  • to airman 1st class (E-3) - must have 10 months time in grade and commander recommendation.
  • to senior airman (E-4) - must have 36 months time in service and 20 months time in grade or 28 months time in grade.
  • to staff sergeant (E-5), technical sergeant (E-6), and master sergeant (E-7) - basd on time in grade/time in service requirements and points. Performance reports, decorations, job knowledge and Air Force knowledge tests also earn points towards promotion. Compete against others in their grade and job skill.
  • to senior and chief master sergeant (E-8/E-9) - virtually the same as E-5 and above. Also must meet a selection board based on whole-person concept.


Back 1