What are the main factors that influence an Active Military's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Active Military's salary?

An Active Military's salary grows with experience: starting around $62,324 for beginners, reaching about $96,677 at mid-level, and approach $131,875 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for an Active Military?

Active Military salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Active Military roles are District of Columbia $88,133, California $87,799, Massachusetts $86,628. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Active Military roles make?

Salaries for Active Military level roles vary by specialization: Military Officer: $102,720; Military Analyst: $93,785; Military Pilot: $90,147; Military Contractor: $83,662; Military Personnel: $82,927.

Active Military Salary in the United States

How much does an Active Military make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Active Military in the United States is $79,600 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): $96,193
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,204 to $88,285
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,561

10% $63,561

50% (Median) $79,600

90% $96,193

Active Military Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$88,285	$7,357	$1,698	$42
Average	$79,600	$6,633	$1,531	$38
25th Percentile	$71,204	$5,934	$1,369	$34

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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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): $62,324
Early Career (1-2 years): $77,790
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,677
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,797
Expert (over 8 years): $131,875

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Technical Librarian I	less than 1 year	$62,324
Active Military	1-2 years	$77,790
Technical Librarian III	2-4 years	$96,677
Technical Librarian IV	5-8 years	$117,797
Library Technical Services Manager	over 8 years	$131,875

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: $88,133.
California: $87,799.
Massachusetts: $86,628.

District of Columbia $88,133 California $87,799 Massachusetts $86,628 Washington $86,310 New Jersey $86,278 Alaska $86,167 Connecticut $85,068 New York $84,623

Hawaii $83,198 Rhode Island $82,529 Maryland $82,075 Minnesota $81,454 Colorado $81,216 Illinois $81,136 Oregon $80,834 Delaware $80,611

New Hampshire $80,471 Virginia $80,157 Pennsylvania $79,242 Nevada $78,780 North Dakota $78,629 Michigan $78,390 Wisconsin $78,302 Vermont $78,127

Texas $77,642 Maine $77,610 Arizona $77,562 Ohio $77,506 Georgia $76,774 Indiana $76,408 Wyoming $76,336 Utah $76,225

Iowa $76,177 Kansas $75,795 Louisiana $75,683 North Carolina $75,644 Missouri $75,628 Florida $75,317 Montana $75,150 Nebraska $74,991

Kentucky $74,903 South Carolina $74,585 Tennessee $74,386 Idaho $74,306 New Mexico $73,725 Oklahoma $73,598 Alabama $73,128 South Dakota $72,340

Arkansas $71,910 West Virginia $71,680 Mississippi $70,987

Top Paying Cities for Active Military

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: $100,399
San Francisco: $99,300
Oakland: $97,207

San Jose, CA $100,399

San Francisco, CA $99,300

Oakland, CA $97,207

New York, NY $91,650

Paramus, NJ $90,536

Queens Village, NY $90,532

Passaic, NJ $90,456

Bergenfield, NJ $90,449

Stamford, CT $90,274

Huntington, NY $90,241

Newark, NJ $89,653

Bridgeport, CT $89,485

Vallejo, CA $89,327

New Brunswick, NJ $89,295

Petaluma, CA $89,247

Middlesex, NJ $89,096

Somerset, NJ $89,040

Santa Cruz, CA $88,937

Boston, MA $88,451

Monterey, CA $88,172

Seattle, WA $87,990

Santa Rosa, CA $87,974

Los Angeles, CA $87,950

Juneau, AK $87,743

Washington, DC $87,655

Orange, CA $87,372

Santa Ana, CA $87,162

Long Beach, CA $87,082

Anaheim, CA $87,066

Anchorage, AK $87,026

Santa Maria, CA $86,788

Everett, WA $86,772

Danbury, CT $86,492

Bremerton, WA $86,382

Tacoma, WA $86,095

New Suffolk, NY $86,094

Sacramento, CA $86,071

Santa Barbara, CA $85,984

San Diego, CA $85,896

Trenton, NJ $85,896

Brockton, MA $85,809

Fairbanks, AK $85,614

Lompoc, CA $85,411

Lowell, MA $85,346

Ventura, CA $85,331

Nashua, NH $85,315

Stockton, CA $85,307

Modesto, CA $84,726

Poughkeepsie, NY $84,551

Olympia, WA $84,400

Kennewick, WA $84,400

New Haven, CT $84,368

Lawrence, MA $84,081

Hartford, CT $84,002

Riverside, CA $83,986

New Bedford, MA $83,906

Richland, WA $83,906

Bakersfield, CA $83,795

San Bernardino, CA $83,763

New Britain, CT $83,755

Atlantic City, NJ $83,755

New London, CT $83,723

Norwich, CT $83,699

Portsmouth, NH $83,683

Boulder, CO $83,515

Portland, OR $83,405

Worcester, MA $83,397

Minneapolis, MN $83,150

Philadelphia, PA $83,039

Honolulu, HI $82,776

Saint Paul, MN $82,738

Vineland, NJ $82,720

Providence, RI $82,489

Chicago, IL $82,258

Bellingham, WA $82,163

Springfield, MA $82,099

Baltimore, MD $82,075

Chico, CA $81,876

Pittsfield, MA $81,661

Manchester, NH $81,510

Spokane, WA $81,160

Denver, CO $81,152

Albany, NY $80,778

Troy, NY $80,746

Nassau, NY $80,661

Schenectady, NY $80,579

Wilmington, DE $80,515

Burlington, VT $80,404

Salem, OR $80,372

Portland, ME $80,125

Yakima, WA $80,046

Rochester, MN $79,799

Reno, NV $79,759

Fresno, CA $79,759

Milwaukee, WI $79,687

Detroit, MI $79,608

Ann Arbor, MI $79,594

Allentown, PA $79,584

Colorado Springs, CO $79,449

Syracuse, NY $79,409

Carson City, NV $79,409

Houston, TX $79,297

Eugene, OR $79,258

Gary, IN $79,162

Springfield, OR $79,098

Bismarck, ND $79,082

Galveston, TX $79,027

Medford, OR $78,907

Fort Collins, CO $78,875

Concord, NH $78,836

Austin, TX $78,812

Mesa, AZ $78,645

Reading, PA $78,637

Phoenix, AZ $78,629

Dallas, TX $78,605

Saint Cloud, MN $78,528

Madison, WI $78,422

Utica, NY $78,207

Rochester, NY $78,079

Des Moines, IA $78,071

Raleigh, NC $78,064

Atlanta, GA $77,944

Battle Creek, MI $77,920

Salt Lake City, UT $77,896

Lancaster, PA $77,777

Harrisburg, PA $77,666

Kansas City, MO $77,586

Kansas City, KS $77,570

Champaign, IL $77,570

Fort Worth, TX $77,562

Columbus, OH $77,549

Boca Raton, FL $77,530

Pittsburgh, PA $77,498

Richmond, VA $77,467

Indianapolis, IN $77,451

Cleveland, OH $77,443

Las Vegas, NV $77,347

Cincinnati, OH $77,347

Petersburg, VA $77,228

Huntsville, AL $77,108

Lansing, MI $77,055

Lebanon, PA $77,045

Pueblo, CO $77,037

Appleton, WI $77,013

Buffalo, NY $76,981

Dayton, OH $76,957

Racine, WI $76,941

Charlotte, NC $76,933

Saint Louis, MO $76,909

York, PA $76,862

Elkhart, IN $76,862

Gastonia, NC $76,846

Billings, MT $76,827

Beaumont, TX $76,806

Lorain, OH $76,790

Benton Harbor, MI $76,774

Toledo, OH $76,758

Binghamton, NY $76,718

Rock Hill, SC $76,710

Rockford, IL $76,671

Springfield, IL $76,639

Elyria, OH $76,631

Fargo, ND $76,631

Flagstaff, AZ $76,575

Fort Lauderdale, FL $76,527

Duluth, MN $76,479

Miami, FL $76,479

Grand Forks, ND $76,424

Cheyenne, WY $76,424

Bangor, ME $76,249

Cedar Rapids, IA $76,161

Durham, NC $76,128

Louisville, KY $76,121

Grand Rapids, MI $76,105

Hialeah, FL $76,097

Casper, WY $75,986

Scranton, PA $75,890

New Orleans, LA $75,867

Virginia Beach, VA $75,859

Akron, OH $75,819

Peoria, IL $75,715

Sarasota, FL $75,699

Nashville, TN $75,644

Omaha, NE $75,644

Green Bay, WI $75,644

Baton Rouge, LA $75,604

Charleston, SC $75,588

Davenport, IA $75,548

Jamestown, NY $75,548

Tucson, AZ $75,508

Saint Petersburg, FL $75,461

Tampa, FL $75,445

Evansville, IN $75,397

Port Arthur, TX $75,397

Bradenton, FL $75,365

Santa Fe, NM $75,222

Orlando, FL $75,079

Clearwater, FL $75,055

La Crosse, WI $74,887

Canton, OH $74,887

Albuquerque, NM $74,840

Newport News, VA $74,832

High Point, NC $74,808

Ogden, UT $74,776

Corpus Christi, TX $74,712

Norfolk, VA $74,665

Laramie, WY $74,665

Rock Island, IL $74,617

Saginaw, MI $74,601

Jacksonville, FL $74,593

Salisbury, NC $74,577

Boise, ID $74,561

Moline, IL $74,521

Fort Myers, FL $74,497

Memphis, TN $74,482

Tulsa, OK $74,442

Waterloo, IA $74,394

Spartanburg, SC $74,314

Lincoln, NE $74,275

Fort Wayne, IN $74,259

Provo, UT $74,251

Cedar Falls, IA $74,155

San Antonio, TX $74,123

Greensboro, NC $74,091

South Bend, IN $74,084

Savannah, GA $73,996

Muskegon, MI $73,964

Birmingham, AL $73,956

Winston Salem, NC $73,917

Lake Charles, LA $73,725

Anderson, IN $73,709

Lexington, KY $73,686

Augusta, GA $73,662

Greenville, SC $73,662

Lima, OH $73,598

Wichita, KS $73,590

Tuscaloosa, AL $73,590

Columbia, SC $73,518

Springfield, OH $73,502

Asheville, NC $73,375

Bloomington, IN $73,319

Knoxville, TN $73,033

Shreveport, LA $73,025

Wilmington, NC $72,921

Roanoke, VA $72,921

Topeka, KS $72,778

Frankfort, KY $72,769

Oklahoma City, OK $72,714

Chillicothe, OH $72,683

Longview, TX $72,675

Melbourne, FL $72,667

Sioux Falls, SD $72,539

Mobile, AL $72,531

Terre Haute, IN $72,499

Altoona, PA $72,452

Amarillo, TX $72,396

Killeen, TX $72,372

Fayetteville, AR $72,308

Chattanooga, TN $72,285

Sioux City, IA $72,213

Idaho Falls, ID $72,197

Lynchburg, VA $72,133

Gainesville, FL $72,030

Portsmouth, OH $71,990

Little Rock, AR $71,974

Lafayette, LA $71,942

Youngstown, OH $71,942

Daytona Beach, FL $71,895

Clarksville, TN $71,887

Pensacola, FL $71,879

Temple, TX $71,873

Hopkinsville, KY $71,640

Erie, PA $71,624

Florence, SC $71,592

Charleston, WV $71,465

Great Falls, MT $71,425

Macon, GA $71,313

Tallahassee, FL $71,306

Fayetteville, NC $71,290

Waco, TX $71,274

Helena, MT $71,218

Pine Bluff, AR $71,188

Vincennes, IN $71,091

Lubbock, TX $71,059

Alamogordo, NM $71,011

Twin Falls, ID $70,939

Rapid City, SD $70,915

Jackson, MS $70,772

Huntington, WV $70,767

Greenville, MS $70,764

Parkersburg, WV $70,683

Montgomery, AL $70,669

Wichita Falls, TX $70,589

Springfield, MO $70,589

Biloxi, MS $70,549

Monroe, LA $70,470

Johnstown, PA $70,414

Sumter, SC $70,382

Columbus, GA $70,374

Pascagoula, MS $70,223

Abilene, TX $70,223

Kingsport, TN $70,016

Albany, GA $70,016

Gulfport, MS $69,992

Alexandria, LA $69,729

Fort Smith, AR $69,530

El Paso, TX $69,316

Las Cruces, NM $68,957

Harlingen, TX $68,755

Pocatello, ID $68,742

Florence, AL $68,639

Brownsville, TX $68,623

Mcallen, TX $68,456

Dothan, AL $68,344

Columbus, MS $67,872

Altus, OK $67,501

Lawton, OK $67,349

Pierre, SD $67,063

Active Military Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Active Military roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 43% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Active Military positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Active Military as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Active Military

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$95,520	$46.0	20%
Energy & Utilities	$91,540	$44.0	15%
Pharmaceuticals	$91,540	$44.0	15%
Aerospace & Defense	$87,560	$42.0	10%
Biotechnology	$87,560	$42.0	10%

How Education impacts an Active Military's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Active Military professionals enter the field with a Associate's 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 is between $76,000 and $81,454.

Active Military Salaries by Degree Level

$83,100
$82,100
$81,100
$80,100
$79,100
$78,100
$77,100
$76,100

Typical Education for Active Military
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Degree	14.3%
High School	71.4%
Associate's Degree	14.3%
Bachelor's Degree	14.3%
Master's Degree or MBA	71.4%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent	14.3%

View as Graph

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.

$71,204

Average $79,600/year

$88,285

$5,934

Average $6,633/month

$7,357

$1,369

Average $1,531/week

$1,698

$34

Average $38/hour

$42

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$88,285	$7,357	$1,698	$42
Average	$79,600	$6,633	$1,531	$38
25th Percentile	$71,204	$5,934	$1,369	$34

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, click here.

Average Annual Salary of Active Military Over Time

$???
$62,920
$62,598
$62,133
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$62,920
2024	$62,598
2025	$62,133

Most common benefits for Active Military

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Active Military

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

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology United States

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FAQ about Active Military

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Active Military?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Active Military roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.)

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Active Military Salary in the United States

Check out Active Military Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Active Military Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Active Military Salaries?

How Do Active Military Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Active Military

Active Military Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Active Military

How Education impacts an Active Military's Salary?

Active Military Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Active Military

Active Military Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for Active Military

Average Annual Salary of Active Military Over Time

Most common benefits for Active Military

Common company salaries for Active Military

Find Your Next Active Military Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Active Military

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Active Military?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Active Military Salary in the United States

Check out Active Military Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Active Military Salaries

How Experience Level Affects Active Military Salaries?

How Do Active Military Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for Active Military

Active Military Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industries for an Active Military

How Education impacts an Active Military's Salary?

Active Military Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Active Military

Active Military Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to Active Military

Salary Trends for Active Military

Average Annual Salary of Active Military Over Time

Most common benefits for Active Military

Common company salaries for Active Military

Find Your Next Active Military Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about Active Military

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Active Military?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?