Staff Sergeant Salary in the United States

How much does a Staff Sergeant make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Staff Sergeant in the United States is $35,992 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40,185
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,906 to $38,187
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $28,186
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View as table View as graph 25% $31,906 10% $28,186 90% $40,185 75% $38,187 $35,992 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Staff Sergeant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $38,187 $3,182 $734 $18
Average $35,992 $2,999 $692 $17
25th Percentile $31,906 $2,659 $614 $15
Check out Staff Sergeant Job Openings in the United States
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Local CDL

C.R. England - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Staff Sergeant Salaries

A Staff Sergeant'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Staff Sergeant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Staff Sergeant'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): $35,594
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $35,878
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $36,275
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $36,898
  • Expert (over 8 years): $37,446
Levels Salary
Entry Level Staff Sergeant$35,594
Intermediate Level Staff Sergeant$35,878
Senior Level Staff Sergeant$36,275
Specialist Level Staff Sergeant$36,898
Expert Level Staff Sergeant$37,446
$35,594 0 yr
$35,878 < 2 yrs
$36,275 2-4 yrs
$36,898 5-8 yrs
$37,446 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Staff Sergeants

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: $45,396
  • San Francisco: $44,899
  • Oakland: $43,953

What Skills Can Increase a Staff Sergeant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Confidentiality (Mentioned in 4.27% Job Postings): The process of and obligation to apply and enforce rules and practices that ensure that specific types of information are accessible only to those authorized to use it.
  • Infection Control (Mentioned in 4.46% Job Postings): Infection control is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub-discipline of epidemiology. It is an essential, though often underrecognized and undersupported, part of the infrastructure of health care. Infection control and hospital epidemiology are akin to public health practice, practiced within the confines of a particular health-care delivery system rather than directed at society as a whole. Anti-infective agents include antibiotics, antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals and antiprotozoals. Infection control addresses factors related to the spread of infections within the healthcare setting (whether patient-to-patient, from patients to staff and from staff to patients, or among-staff), including prevention (via hand hygiene/hand washing, cleaning/disinfection/sterilization, vaccination, surveillance), monitoring/investigation of demonstrated or suspected spread of infection within a particular health-care setting (surveillance and outbreak investigation), and management (interruption of outbreaks). It is on this basis that the common title being adopted within health care is "infection prevention and control."
  • Emergency Services (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): Emergency Services are the public organizations that respond to and deal with emergencies when they occur, especially those that provide police, ambulance, and firefighting services.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Confidentiality 4.27%
Infection Control 4.46%
Emergency Services 2.09%
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 Staff Sergeant's salary.
  • Crisis Management: Can increase your salary by up to 135%.
  • Service Excellence: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Emergency Medical Services: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Crisis Management
$84,580
135%
Service Excellence
$44,630
24%
Emergency Medical Services
$41,750
16%
Dedication
$39,951
11%
Written Communication
$39,951
11%
Leadership
$39,591
10%
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Staff Sergeant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Staff Sergeant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 40% above the average. Conversely, Staff Sergeant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Staff Sergeant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Staff Sergeant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$50,388$24.040%

Staff Sergeant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Staff Sergeant'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Staff Sergeant

Salaries for a Staff Sergeant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $50,338 in 2023 to around $50,965 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Staff Sergeant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Staff Sergeant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,338
2024
$51,137
2025
$50,965
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,338
2024 $51,137
2025 $50,965
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Staff Sergeant

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

Here are companies hiring for Staff Sergeant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Staff Sergeant Job

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

United States
  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    14 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    16 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    17 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    17 Days Ago

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FAQ about Staff Sergeant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Staff Sergeant?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Staff Sergeant roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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.)

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