US Marines Pay Chart 2012

The United States Marine Corps was established on November 10th, 1775 in time for the American Revolutionary War against Great Britain. The soldiers were then known as “naval infantry” and charged with projecting America’s military power “from the sea”. While it proved common practice for global navies to field soldiers on military vessels for some time, it was not until the 20th Century that America’s version of the “marine” began development of specific tactics involving amphibious operations – that is to go from sea to land and bring the fight to the enemy. Their quick-strike, no nonsense approach won them world acclaim during World War 2 where amphibious operations throughout the Pacific Campaign attributed largely to the downfall of the Japanese Empire as each island holding was retaken in bloody weeks-long fighting. While currently one of the smallest of America’s fighting forces, the USMC is among the toughest and respected of all service personnel, having seen combat actions in all major and minor struggles involving America including World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and – more recently – Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The USMC maintains its own inventory of vehicles, armored vehicles, tanks, aircraft, support weapons, equipment, ocean-based vessels and helicopters making them highly independent of the other branches. The USMC has also worked in close conjunction with the United States Navy for both interests lie with power from the sea. USMC elements have also provided ship-borne security for USN vessels such as battleships in the past. Today, the modernized USMC represents America’s “muscle” when attacking her enemies from the sea.

US Marines Pay Scale by Rank

Enlisted Personnel and Officers

Insignia Title Abbr. Pay Grade Salary Range
Private Pvt E-1 $1491.00 - $1491.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Private First Class PFC E-2 $1671.30 - $1671.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Lance Corporal LCpl E-3 $1757.40 - $1981.20
pay per month
(based on experience)
Corporal Cpl E-4 $1946.70 - $2363.10
pay per month
(based on experience)
Sergeant Sgt E-5 $2123.40 - $3012.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Staff Sergeant SSgt E-6 $2317.80 - $3589.80
pay per month
(based on experience)
Gunnery Sergeant GySgt E-7 $2679.60 - $4815.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Master Sergeant MSgt E-8 $3854.70 - $5497.80
pay per month
(based on experience)
First Sergeant 1stSgt E-8 $3854.70 - $5497.80
pay per month
(based on experience)
Master Gunnery Sergeant MGySgt E-9 $4708.80 - $7311.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Sergeant Major SgtMaj E-9 $4708.80 - $7311.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps SgtMajMarCor E-9 $4708.80 - $7311.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Warrant Officer 1 W1 W-1 $2764.50 - $4776.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 2 W2 W-2 $3149.40 - $5256.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 3 W3 W-3 $3558.90 - $6243.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 4 W4 W-4 $3897.60 - $7260.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 5 W5 W-5 $6930.00 - $9068.70
pay per month
(based on experience)
Second Lieutenant 2ndLt O-1 $2828.40 - $3558.60
pay per month
(based on experience)
First Lieutenant 1stLt O-2 $3258.60 - $4509.60
pay per month
(based on experience)
Captain Capt O-3 $3771.30 - $6135.60
pay per month
(based on experience)
Major Maj O-4 $4289.40 - $7161.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Lieutenant Colonel LtCol O-5 $4971.30 - $8446.20
pay per month
(based on experience)
Colonel Col O-6 $5963.40 - $10557.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Brigadier General BGen O-7 $8045.70 - $12021.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Major General MajGen O-8 $9683.10 - $13959.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Lieutenant General LtGen O-9 $13685.10 - $16975.80
pay per month
(based on experience)
General Gen O-10 $15647.10 - $19239.90
pay per month
(based on experience)