What Are the Highest-Paying Military Jobs?

The US Armed Forces consists of seven service branches that work together to maintain the country’s security. Some members work in military-specific roles in and out of combat, while others may work in occupations outside of the military. Salaries and wages depend on years of service and rank and remain the same across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and National Guard. 

If a military career interests you or you’re already an active member, exploring the many high-paying job opportunities the US military provides is essential. Military personnel receive extra compensation based on qualifications such as overseas employment, serving as a medical or dental officer, or flight duty. Discovering these qualifications and high-paying jobs is a great way to begin or advance your career in the US Armed Forces.

Highest-paying military jobs

The Department of Defense recently listed some of the military’s top-paying jobs' average salaries. A military salary includes base pay, cost-of-living allowances, housing and subsistence allowance, hazardous duty pay, and other bonuses and incentives.

Explore eight high-paying options here.

Military dental laboratory technician

Median annual salary: $74,336 [1]

Requirements: Enlisted, active duty military, high school diploma, dental laboratory training

In this role, you’ll perform laboratory procedures, including creating, repairing, reconstructing, and finishing dental prosthetic devices such as dentures and protective and restorative intraoral appliances. You may also assist in clinical procedures, consult other medical and dental specialists, and perform procedures necessary to construct dental prosthetics.

To qualify, you must have a high school diploma and status as an actively enlisted Air Force or Navy member. You'll receive job training in dental care’s basic techniques, procedures for working in a lab, and how to create, maintain, and repair dental devices.

Military internist 

Median annual salary: $133,955 [2]

Requirements: Officer status, four-year degree, plus relevant training

As an internist in the US military, you might work on land or ships performing patient examinations, testing and interpreting the results, and creating treatment plans. You will also coordinate with other medical professionals.

Your path depends on whether you enter the military after completing your bachelor’s degree or earn your degree while serving and working up to an officer position. You may be eligible for medical training scholarships and other on-the-job training opportunities.

Military surgeon

Median annual salary: $134,481 [3]

Requirements: College degree, officer status, managerial/professional experience, completion of medical school

As a military surgeon, you will assess, diagnose, and treat illnesses with a combination of non-invasive, minimally invasive, and invasive methods. You will oversee preoperative and postoperative care, including wound care and medication. Your training will consist mainly of on-the-job experience. Similarly to other military officers in health care, you will undergo extensive training programs to familiarize yourself with military structure health care and develop leadership skills.

Military data analyst

Median annual salary: $136,710 [4]

Requirements: Officer status, four-year degree, relevant on-the-job training

As a military data analyst, you’ll leverage data and various analytic measures to support military activities like combat operations, logistics, and acquisitions. You may incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced technologies to simulate combat scenarios and solve complex challenges. Military data analysts typically work in offices, though they may occasionally find themselves outdoors conducting field studies or overseeing equipment.

This officer-level position requires a college degree and relevant training in operations research, organizational planning, systems and data analysis, and mathematical modeling.

Military physicist

Median annual salary: $110,021 [5]

Requirements: Officer status, four-year degree, job training

As a physicist, you may work in a lab or office or spend time outside in the field. In this position, you will collect, test, and analyze the physical properties of materials to create solutions to various challenges and problems. From here, you may also work on product performance improvements based on your findings. To attain an officer role, you can enter after completing your degree or earn a degree while serving as an enlisted military member and progressing to officer status.

Military nuclear engineer

Median annual salary: $129,295 [6]

Requirements: Officer status, four-year degree, job training

In this officer-level role, you’ll oversee nuclear technology-related products for power plants and weaponry and ensure the safety of everyone working with nuclear materials. You will also help maintain weapon security. 

You’ll need a degree to qualify for this position. Job training includes comprehensive leadership and military training and learning nuclear propulsion, thermodynamics, advanced mathematics, and nuclear plant systems and components.

Military chemist

Median annual salary: $117,365 [7]

Requirements: Officer status; four-year degree; PhD, doctoral, or medical degree; professional experience

In this role, you may work in various settings to conduct or oversee research with military and medical applications. You may perform experiments, create techniques to improve testing processes, analyze data, and collect samples. You must advance to a PhD, doctoral, or medical degree. Additionally, you will need training in military processes and procedures as well as scientific and technical work.

Military professor or instructor

Median annual salary: $83,617 [8]

Requirements: Officer status, four-year degree at a minimum, professional experience

You will primarily work as a military professor or instructor in lecture halls and classrooms. You may work in the US. However, the possibility exists to work on military bases worldwide, including countries like Bahrain, Spain, Italy, Guam, South Korea, and the Netherlands. You’ll conduct research and instruct learners in various subjects related to military occupations, such as the positions listed above. 

Many military professors and instructors have a master’s or doctoral degree. 

Enlisted personnel vs. officers

Two terms to familiarize yourself include “enlisted” and “officer.” Understanding the difference between the two can help illuminate how potential earnings differ. Below, take a closer look at each member's military salary and more information about their status. 

Enlisted personnel

Annual salary range: $20,340 to $112,824 [9]

Enlisted personnel typically do a few key tasks, including entering into combat or military operations or helping support humanitarian and disaster relief efforts around the globe. As an enlisted military service member, you will also look out for, mentor, and supervise the efforts of junior personnel under your rank. Additionally, you may operate, repair, and maintain machinery and equipment.

The average pay you can expect to earn depends on your rank and years of experience. You’ll receive basic pay twice a month, which doesn’t include the housing allowance and other additional compensation that factors into the total salary. 

Officers

Annual salary range: $42,660 to $213,069 [9]

Officers have different responsibilities than enlisted personnel, including planning and organizing military operations and leading troops into different combat areas. You’ll ensure that service members who need medical help or any other kind of service receive it—including legal, medical, and engineering assistance.

Enlisted personnel must follow officers' directions due to their rank differences. Like enlisted officers, the average pay depends on rank and years of service. Basic pay doesn’t include the housing allowance and other additional compensation that factors into your total salary. 

Move toward the highest-paying military jobs: Build skills and knowledge on Coursera 

The US Armed Forces offers a diverse selection of high-paying career options. To qualify, you will need a high school diploma, which is essential to achieving your goal. You may opt to get a college degree, which will assist you in obtaining higher-paying jobs in the military. Understanding the options available to you and the qualifications you need can help you discover your path to a lucrative career.

If you’re still deciding on the path you want to pursue or wish to gain advanced training to qualify for some of the highest-paying military jobs, you can take an online course to add credentials to your resume. On Coursera, you may explore data analysis with the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.