Active Military Salary in the United States

How much does an Active Military make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Active Military in the United States is $79,530 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, an Active Military's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,088
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,140 to $88,197
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,501
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $71,140 10% $63,501 90% $96,088 75% $88,197 $79,530 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Active Military Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $88,197 $7,350 $1,696 $42
Average $79,530 $6,628 $1,529 $38
25th Percentile $71,140 $5,928 $1,368 $34
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Key Factors That Influence Active Military Salaries

An Active Military'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 Active Military Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Active Military'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): $74,768
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,037
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $78,326
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $81,697
  • Expert (over 8 years): $81,937
Levels Salary
Entry Level Active Military$74,768
Intermediate Level Active Military$75,037
Senior Level Active Military$78,326
Specialist Level Active Military$81,697
Expert Level Active Military$81,937
$74,768 0 yr
$75,037 < 2 yrs
$78,326 2-4 yrs
$81,697 5-8 yrs
$81,937 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Active Military 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 Active Militaries. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $88,056.
  • California: $87,722.
  • Massachusetts: $86,552.

Top Paying Cities for Active Militaries

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: $100,311
  • San Francisco: $99,325
  • Oakland: $97,122

What Skills Can Increase an Active Military's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 23.19% 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.
  • Technical Services (Mentioned in 2.73% Job Postings): Technical services are services that an IT organization provides to support business services or IT operations. Employee provisioning, backup and recovery, storage, and self-service help desk are examples of technical services
  • Support Services (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): Support Services means those activities provided to or on behalf of a person in the areas of personal care and assistance and property maintenance in order to allow a person to live in the least restrictive environment.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 23.19%
Technical Services 2.73%
Support Services 1.77%
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 an Active Military's salary.
  • Computer Hardware: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Economics: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Hardware
 $93,050
17%
Presentation
 $89,074
12%
Economics
 $85,892
8%
Confidentiality
 $85,097
7%
Organizational Skills
 $84,302
6%
Programming
 $84,302
6%
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How Education impacts an Active Military's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Active Militaries 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 an Active Military with a Associate's Degree is between $76,000 and $81,454).

Active Military Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Active Military
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 14.3%
High School 71.4%
Associates 14.3%
Bachelors 14.3%
Masters 71.4%
Doctorate 14.3%
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Active Military Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Active Military'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 January 01, 2026
$71,140
Average $79,530/year
$88,197
$5,928
Average $6,628/month
$7,350
$1,368
Average $1,529/week
$1,696
$34
Average $38/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $88,197 $7,350 $1,696 $42
Average $79,530 $6,628 $1,529 $38
25th Percentile $71,140 $5,928 $1,368 $34

Salaries of jobs related to Active Military

Salary Trends for Active Military

Salaries for an Active Military can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $62,920 in 2023 to around $62,133 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Active Military salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Active Military Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$62,920
2024
$62,598
2025
$62,133
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $62,920
2024 $62,598
2025 $62,133
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Active Military

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

Here are companies hiring for Active Military and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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