Salary AI Book a Demo

Second Lieutenant Salary in the United States

How much does a Second Lieutenant make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Second Lieutenant in the United States is $51,479 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, a Second Lieutenant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $64,339
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,775 to $58,210
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,851
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Second Lieutenant Salaries

A Second Lieutenant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Second Lieutenant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Second Lieutenant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $50,633
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,875
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,794
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $56,605
  • Expert (over 8 years): $56,805
Levels Salary
Entry Level Second Lieutenant$50,633
Intermediate Level Second Lieutenant$50,875
Senior Level Second Lieutenant$53,794
Specialist Level Second Lieutenant$56,605
Expert Level Second Lieutenant$56,805
View as Graph

How Do Second Lieutenant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Second Lieutenants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $56,998.
  • California: $56,781.
  • Massachusetts: $56,025.

Top Paying Cities for Second Lieutenants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $64,931
  • San Francisco: $64,220
  • Oakland: $62,866

What Skills Can Increase a Second Lieutenant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.64% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 5.18% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
  • Tutoring (Mentioned in 3.17% Job Postings): A Tutor is responsible for helping students learn and understand new concepts and complete assignments.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.64%
CPR 5.18%
Tutoring 3.17%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Second Lieutenant's salary.

  • Conflict Resolution: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Conflict Resolution $55,083
7%
Project Management $54,053
5%
Coordination $54,053
5%
Get Latest Data

Second Lieutenant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Second Lieutenant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Business Services and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Second Lieutenant positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Second Lieutenant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Second Lieutenant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Business Services$66,923$32.030%
Healthcare$56,627$27.010%
Software & Networking$56,627$27.010%

How Education impacts a Second Lieutenant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Second Lieutenants enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Second Lieutenant with a Bachelor's Degree is between $54,398 and $60,944).

Second Lieutenant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Second Lieutenant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 7.3%
Associates 7.3%
Bachelors 37.9%
Masters 43.5%
Doctorate 2.4%
View as Graph

Second Lieutenant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Second Lieutenant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$42,775
Average $51,479/year
$58,210
$3,565
Average $4,290/month
$4,851
$823
Average $990/week
$1,119
$21
Average $25/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $58,210 $4,851 $1,119 $28
Average $51,479 $4,290 $990 $25
25th Percentile $42,775 $3,565 $823 $21

Most common benefits for Second Lieutenant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Second Lieutenant

Here are companies hiring for Second Lieutenant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Second Lieutenant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Second Lieutenant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Second Lieutenant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Second Lieutenant?

The Business Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Second Lieutenant roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst