Money · 1 of 5
What service members are paid
Mid-career petty officer
$52,000
First year, most junior rank
$28,900
Senior enlisted, 20 plus years
$85,000
This is basic pay only, and it is not a market wage. Military pay comes from the Department of Defense basic pay table, which sets an exact figure for every rank at every year of service, the same in Maine as in Hawaii. Congress votes a raise most years. Housing and food allowances sit on top of these numbers and are not included here.