Sergeant First Class Salary in the United States

How much does a Sergeant First Class make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sergeant First Class in the United States is $68,851 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Sergeant First Class's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $84,003
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,758 to $76,782
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,031
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View as table View as graph 25% $64,758 10% $61,031 90% $84,003 75% $76,782 $68,851 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Sergeant First Class Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $76,782 $6,399 $1,477 $37
Average $68,851 $5,738 $1,324 $33
25th Percentile $64,758 $5,396 $1,245 $31
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Key Factors That Influence Sergeant First Class Salaries

A Sergeant First Class'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 Sergeant First Class Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Sergeant First Class'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): $64,513
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $87,462
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,704
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $91,617
  • Expert (over 8 years): $107,259
Levels Salary
Security ... Level Sergeant First Class$64,513
Senior Se... Level Sergeant First Class$87,462
Sergeant ... Level Sergeant First Class$69,704
Security ... Level Sergeant First Class$91,617
Security ... Level Sergeant First Class$107,259
$64,513 0 yr
$87,462 < 2 yrs
$69,704 2-4 yrs
$91,617 5-8 yrs
$107,259 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Sergeant First Classes

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: $86,842
  • San Francisco: $85,891
  • Oakland: $84,081

What Skills Can Increase a Sergeant First Class's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.81% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 1.41% 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.
  • Personnel Security (Mentioned in 1.05% Job Postings): Controlling and assessing all personnel to enforce compliance with the information security program.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.81%
CPR 1.41%
Personnel Security 1.05%
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 Sergeant First Class's salary.
  • Field Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Field Operations
 $76,425
11%
Initiative
 $75,736
10%
Commitment
 $75,048
9%
Empowerment
 $74,359
8%
Diversity and Inclusion
 $74,359
8%
Service Quality
 $74,359
8%
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How Education impacts a Sergeant First Class's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Sergeant First Classes enter the field with a Associate'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 Sergeant First Class with a Associate's Degree is between $68,448 and $74,314).

Sergeant First Class Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Sergeant First Class
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.3%
High School 38.3%
Associates 21.3%
Bachelors 29.8%
Masters 6.4%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Sergeant First Class Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Sergeant First Class'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 01, 2026
$64,758
Average $68,851/year
$76,782
$5,396
Average $5,738/month
$6,399
$1,245
Average $1,324/week
$1,477
$31
Average $33/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $76,782 $6,399 $1,477 $37
Average $68,851 $5,738 $1,324 $33
25th Percentile $64,758 $5,396 $1,245 $31

Salaries of jobs related to Sergeant First Class

Salary Trends for Sergeant First Class

Salaries for a Sergeant First Class can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $60,465 in 2023 to around $59,689 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Sergeant First Class salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Sergeant First Class Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$60,465
2024
$60,220
2025
$59,689
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $60,465
2024 $60,220
2025 $59,689
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Sergeant First Class

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Sergeant First Class

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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.

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