The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated that the average Active Duty service member received a compensation package worth $99,000. Non-cash compensation represents almost 60 percent of this package. Non-cash compensation includes health care, retirement pay, childcare and free or subsidized food, housing and education. Coupled with regular cash compensation, this adds up to attractive compensation for Soldiers.
CIVILIAN / ARMY COMPENSATION COMPARISON
Compare and contrast the total compensation and expenses for civilians and Soldiers.
Civilian Job
Police Patrol Officer | Army Job*
Military Police Sergeant |
|
|---|---|---|
| Salary | $48,468**
| $26,967
|
| Housing | 0
| $11,700***
|
| Food Allowance | 0
| $3,533
|
| Special Pay | 0
| $1,800
|
| Tax Advantages | 0
| $3,278****
|
| Health Care | - $12,100*****
| Included
|
| Net Income | $36,368
| $47,278
|
Salary and allowances based on 2007 national averages.
* Sample based on a Sergeant (E5) with 4 years service married with dependents. Figures do not include bonuses.
** Civilian salary based on national averages. Source: Salary Wizard® at Salary.com.
*** Housing Allowance rates based off Kansas City, Missouri rates.
**** Tax advantages are an often unseen and overlooked aspect of military pay. Most allowances are tax-exempt.
***** Health care costs based on a report by the National Coalition on Health Care. http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml for a family of four.
Civilian Job
Telecommunications Engineer II | Army Job*
Signal Corps Officer |
|
|---|---|---|
| Salary | $64,752**
| $47,908
|
| Housing | 0
| $13,092***
|
| Food Allowance | 0
| $2,433
|
| Special Pay | 0
| $1,800
|
| Tax Advantages | 0
| $2,916****
|
| Health Care | - $12,100*****
| Included
|
| Net Income | $52,652
| $68,149
|
Salary and allowances based on 2007 national averages.
* Sample based on a Lieutenant (O2) with 4 years service married with dependents. Figures do not include bonuses.
** Civilian salary based on national averages. Source: Salary Wizard® at Salary.com.
*** Housing Allowance rates based off Kansas City, Missouri rates.
**** Tax advantages are an often unseen and overlooked aspect of military pay. Most allowances are tax-exempt.
***** Health care costs based on a report by the National Coalition on Health Care. http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml for a family of four.
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