What are the main factors that influence a First Sergeant's salary?

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

How does experience change A First Sergeant's salary?

A First Sergeant's salary grows with experience: starting around $63,706 for beginners, reaching about $64,722 at mid-level, and approach $70,277 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a First Sergeant?

First Sergeant salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for First Sergeant roles are District of Columbia $75,766, California $75,478, Massachusetts $74,472. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of First Sergeant roles make?

Salaries for First Sergeant level roles vary by specialization: Security Sergeant: $249,061; Sergeant Nypd: $88,276; Desk Sergeant: $86,889; Sergeant: $84,743; Sergeant Major: $83,648.

First Sergeant Salary in the United States

How much does a First Sergeant make in the United States? As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a First Sergeant in the United States is $68,430 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a First Sergeant's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,837
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,831 to $81,729
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,823

10% $55,823

50% (Median) $68,430

90% $93,837

First Sergeant Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$81,729	$6,811	$1,572	$39
Average	$68,430	$5,703	$1,316	$33
25th Percentile	$61,831	$5,153	$1,189	$30

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 First Sergeant Salaries

A First Sergeant'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects First Sergeant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a First Sergeant'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): $63,706
Early Career (1-2 years): $63,941
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $64,722
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,876
Expert (over 8 years): $70,277

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Entry Level First Sergeant	less than 1 year	$63,706
Early Career Level First Sergeant	1-2 years	$63,941
Mid-Level Level First Sergeant	2-4 years	$64,722
Senior-Level Level First Sergeant	5-8 years	$67,876
Expert Level First Sergeant	over 8 years	$70,277

How Do First Sergeant 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 First Sergeants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $75,766.
California: $75,478.
Massachusetts: $74,472.

District of Columbia $75,766 California $75,478 Massachusetts $74,472 Washington $74,199 New Jersey $74,171 Alaska $74,076 Connecticut $73,131 New York $72,748

Hawaii $71,523 Rhode Island $70,948 Maryland $70,558 Minnesota $70,025 Colorado $69,819 Illinois $69,751 Oregon $69,491 Delaware $69,299

New Hampshire $69,179 Virginia $68,909 Pennsylvania $68,122 Nevada $67,725 North Dakota $67,595 Michigan $67,390 Wisconsin $67,315 Vermont $67,164

Texas $66,747 Maine $66,719 Arizona $66,678 Ohio $66,630 Georgia $66,001 Indiana $65,686 Wyoming $65,624 Utah $65,529

Iowa $65,488 Kansas $65,159 Louisiana $65,063 North Carolina $65,029 Missouri $65,015 Florida $64,749 Montana $64,605 Nebraska $64,468

Kentucky $64,393 South Carolina $64,119 Tennessee $63,948 Idaho $63,879 New Mexico $63,380 Oklahoma $63,270 Alabama $62,867 South Dakota $62,189

Arkansas $61,820 West Virginia $61,621 Mississippi $61,026

Top Paying Cities for First Sergeant

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: $86,311
San Francisco: $85,366
Oakland: $83,567

San Jose, CA $86,311

San Francisco, CA $85,366

Oakland, CA $83,567

New York, NY $78,790

Paramus, NJ $77,832

Queens Village, NY $77,828

Passaic, NJ $77,763

Bergenfield, NJ $77,757

Stamford, CT $77,607

Huntington, NY $77,579

Newark, NJ $77,073

Bridgeport, CT $76,928

Vallejo, CA $76,792

New Brunswick, NJ $76,765

Petaluma, CA $76,724

Middlesex, NJ $76,594

Somerset, NJ $76,546

Santa Cruz, CA $76,457

Boston, MA $76,040

Monterey, CA $75,799

Seattle, WA $75,643

Santa Rosa, CA $75,629

Los Angeles, CA $75,608

Juneau, AK $75,430

Washington, DC $75,355

Orange, CA $75,112

Santa Ana, CA $74,931

Long Beach, CA $74,863

Anaheim, CA $74,849

Anchorage, AK $74,815

Santa Maria, CA $74,609

Everett, WA $74,596

Danbury, CT $74,355

Bremerton, WA $74,260

Tacoma, WA $74,014

New Suffolk, NY $74,013

Sacramento, CA $73,993

Santa Barbara, CA $73,918

San Diego, CA $73,843

Trenton, NJ $73,843

Brockton, MA $73,768

Fairbanks, AK $73,600

Lompoc, CA $73,425

Lowell, MA $73,370

Ventura, CA $73,357

Nashua, NH $73,343

Stockton, CA $73,337

Modesto, CA $72,837

Poughkeepsie, NY $72,686

Olympia, WA $72,556

Kennewick, WA $72,556

New Haven, CT $72,529

Lawrence, MA $72,283

Hartford, CT $72,214

Riverside, CA $72,201

New Bedford, MA $72,132

Richland, WA $72,132

Bakersfield, CA $72,036

San Bernardino, CA $72,009

New Britain, CT $72,002

Atlantic City, NJ $72,002

New London, CT $71,975

Norwich, CT $71,954

Portsmouth, NH $71,941

Boulder, CO $71,795

Portland, OR $71,701

Worcester, MA $71,694

Minneapolis, MN $71,482

Philadelphia, PA $71,386

Honolulu, HI $71,160

Saint Paul, MN $71,128

Vineland, NJ $71,113

Providence, RI $70,914

Chicago, IL $70,716

Bellingham, WA $70,634

Springfield, MA $70,579

Baltimore, MD $70,558

Chico, CA $70,387

Pittsfield, MA $70,202

Manchester, NH $70,072

Spokane, WA $69,771

Denver, CO $69,764

Albany, NY $69,443

Troy, NY $69,415

Nassau, NY $69,342

Schenectady, NY $69,272

Wilmington, DE $69,217

Burlington, VT $69,121

Salem, OR $69,094

Portland, ME $68,882

Yakima, WA $68,813

Rochester, MN $68,601

Reno, NV $68,567

Fresno, CA $68,567

Milwaukee, WI $68,505

Detroit, MI $68,437

Ann Arbor, MI $68,425

Allentown, PA $68,416

Colorado Springs, CO $68,300

Syracuse, NY $68,266

Carson City, NV $68,266

Houston, TX $68,170

Eugene, OR $68,136

Gary, IN $68,054

Springfield, OR $67,999

Bismarck, ND $67,985

Galveston, TX $67,937

Medford, OR $67,835

Fort Collins, CO $67,807

Concord, NH $67,773

Austin, TX $67,753

Mesa, AZ $67,609

Reading, PA $67,602

Phoenix, AZ $67,595

Dallas, TX $67,575

Saint Cloud, MN $67,509

Madison, WI $67,417

Utica, NY $67,233

Rochester, NY $67,123

Des Moines, IA $67,116

Raleigh, NC $67,109

Atlanta, GA $67,007

Battle Creek, MI $66,986

Salt Lake City, UT $66,966

Lancaster, PA $66,863

Harrisburg, PA $66,767

Kansas City, MO $66,699

Kansas City, KS $66,685

Champaign, IL $66,685

Fort Worth, TX $66,678

Columbus, OH $66,667

Boca Raton, FL $66,651

Pittsburgh, PA $66,624

Richmond, VA $66,596

Indianapolis, IN $66,582

Cleveland, OH $66,576

Las Vegas, NV $66,494

Cincinnati, OH $66,494

Petersburg, VA $66,391

Huntsville, AL $66,288

Lansing, MI $66,242

Lebanon, PA $66,233

Pueblo, CO $66,227

Appleton, WI $66,206

Buffalo, NY $66,179

Dayton, OH $66,158

Racine, WI $66,145

Charlotte, NC $66,138

Saint Louis, MO $66,117

York, PA $66,076

Elkhart, IN $66,076

Gastonia, NC $66,063

Billings, MT $66,047

Beaumont, TX $66,028

Lorain, OH $66,015

Benton Harbor, MI $66,001

Toledo, OH $65,987

Binghamton, NY $65,953

Rock Hill, SC $65,946

Rockford, IL $65,912

Springfield, IL $65,885

Elyria, OH $65,878

Fargo, ND $65,878

Flagstaff, AZ $65,830

Fort Lauderdale, FL $65,789

Duluth, MN $65,748

Miami, FL $65,748

Grand Forks, ND $65,700

Cheyenne, WY $65,700

Bangor, ME $65,549

Cedar Rapids, IA $65,474

Durham, NC $65,445

Louisville, KY $65,440

Grand Rapids, MI $65,426

Hialeah, FL $65,419

Casper, WY $65,323

Scranton, PA $65,241

New Orleans, LA $65,221

Virginia Beach, VA $65,214

Akron, OH $65,180

Peoria, IL $65,091

Sarasota, FL $65,077

Nashville, TN $65,029

Omaha, NE $65,029

Green Bay, WI $65,029

Baton Rouge, LA $64,995

Charleston, SC $64,981

Davenport, IA $64,947

Jamestown, NY $64,947

Tucson, AZ $64,913

Saint Petersburg, FL $64,872

Tampa, FL $64,858

Evansville, IN $64,817

Port Arthur, TX $64,817

Bradenton, FL $64,790

Santa Fe, NM $64,666

Orlando, FL $64,543

Clearwater, FL $64,523

La Crosse, WI $64,379

Canton, OH $64,379

Albuquerque, NM $64,338

Newport News, VA $64,331

High Point, NC $64,311

Ogden, UT $64,283

Corpus Christi, TX $64,228

Norfolk, VA $64,187

Laramie, WY $64,187

Rock Island, IL $64,146

Saginaw, MI $64,133

Jacksonville, FL $64,126

Salisbury, NC $64,112

Boise, ID $64,098

Moline, IL $64,064

Fort Myers, FL $64,044

Memphis, TN $64,030

Tulsa, OK $63,996

Waterloo, IA $63,955

Spartanburg, SC $63,886

Lincoln, NE $63,852

Fort Wayne, IN $63,838

Provo, UT $63,832

Cedar Falls, IA $63,749

San Antonio, TX $63,722

Greensboro, NC $63,695

South Bend, IN $63,688

Savannah, GA $63,613

Muskegon, MI $63,585

Birmingham, AL $63,578

Winston Salem, NC $63,545

Lake Charles, LA $63,380

Anderson, IN $63,366

Lexington, KY $63,346

Augusta, GA $63,325

Greenville, SC $63,325

Lima, OH $63,270

Wichita, KS $63,264

Tuscaloosa, AL $63,264

Columbia, SC $63,202

Springfield, OH $63,188

Asheville, NC $63,079

Bloomington, IN $63,031

Knoxville, TN $62,785

Shreveport, LA $62,778

Wilmington, NC $62,689

Roanoke, VA $62,689

Topeka, KS $62,566

Frankfort, KY $62,558

Oklahoma City, OK $62,511

Chillicothe, OH $62,484

Longview, TX $62,477

Melbourne, FL $62,470

Sioux Falls, SD $62,360

Mobile, AL $62,354

Terre Haute, IN $62,326

Altoona, PA $62,285

Amarillo, TX $62,237

Killeen, TX $62,217

Fayetteville, AR $62,162

Chattanooga, TN $62,141

Sioux City, IA $62,080

Idaho Falls, ID $62,066

Lynchburg, VA $62,011

Gainesville, FL $61,922

Portsmouth, OH $61,888

Little Rock, AR $61,874

Lafayette, LA $61,847

Youngstown, OH $61,847

Daytona Beach, FL $61,806

Clarksville, TN $61,799

Pensacola, FL $61,792

Temple, TX $61,788

Hopkinsville, KY $61,587

Erie, PA $61,573

Florence, SC $61,546

Charleston, WV $61,437

Great Falls, MT $61,402

Macon, GA $61,307

Tallahassee, FL $61,300

Fayetteville, NC $61,286

Waco, TX $61,272

Helena, MT $61,224

Pine Bluff, AR $61,198

Vincennes, IN $61,115

Lubbock, TX $61,088

Alamogordo, NM $61,046

Twin Falls, ID $60,985

Rapid City, SD $60,964

Jackson, MS $60,841

Huntington, WV $60,836

Greenville, MS $60,834

Parkersburg, WV $60,765

Montgomery, AL $60,752

Wichita Falls, TX $60,684

Springfield, MO $60,684

Biloxi, MS $60,650

Monroe, LA $60,581

Johnstown, PA $60,533

Sumter, SC $60,506

Columbus, GA $60,499

Pascagoula, MS $60,369

Abilene, TX $60,369

Kingsport, TN $60,191

Albany, GA $60,191

Gulfport, MS $60,171

Alexandria, LA $59,945

Fort Smith, AR $59,774

El Paso, TX $59,589

Las Cruces, NM $59,281

Harlingen, TX $59,107

Pocatello, ID $59,096

Florence, AL $59,007

Brownsville, TX $58,994

Mcallen, TX $58,850

Dothan, AL $58,754

Columbus, MS $58,348

Altus, OK $58,029

Lawton, OK $57,899

Pierre, SD $57,652

First Sergeant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For First Sergeant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, MFG Durable, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, First Sergeant positions in Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view First Sergeant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a First Sergeant

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable	$82,116	$39.0	20%

First Sergeant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a First Sergeant'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.

$61,831

Average $68,430/year

$81,729

$5,153

Average $5,703/month

$6,811

$1,189

Average $1,316/week

$1,572

$30

Average $33/hour

$39

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$81,729	$6,811	$1,572	$39
Average	$68,430	$5,703	$1,316	$33
25th Percentile	$61,831	$5,153	$1,189	$30

Salary Trends for First Sergeant

Salaries for a First Sergeant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $70,702 in 2023 to around $69,481 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of First Sergeant salary trends, click here.

Average Annual Salary of First Sergeant Over Time

$???
$70,702
$70,041
$69,481
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$70,702
2024	$70,041
2025	$69,481

Most common benefits for First Sergeant

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

Common company salaries for First Sergeant

Here are companies hiring for First Sergeant and their salaries, click below for more details.

L $106,714/per year

L3 Technologies Inc MFG Durable United States

L $106,353/per year

L-3 Communications Corp MFG Durable United States

C $104,622/per year

Chery Automobile Co.( LLC MFG Durable United States

R $103,889/per year

Raytheon Intelligence & Space MFG Durable United States

S $100,180/per year

Sanyo MFG Durable United States

M $99,945/per year

Motorola Mobility LLC MFG Durable United States

O $98,405/per year

OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc MFG Durable United States

S $95,776/per year

Saras LLC MFG Durable United States

J $93,552/per year

Jsw Steel Inc MFG Durable United States

C $93,115/per year

Collins Aerospace Companies MFG Durable United States

C $92,955/per year

Carrier MFG Durable United States

A $92,540/per year

Alpine Co. Ltd MFG Durable United States

V $92,343/per year

Vanguard National Trailer Corp MFG Durable United States

A $92,265/per year

Asia Pulp & Paper MFG Durable United States

C $91,920/per year

Chrysler MFG Durable United States

D $90,518/per year

Daimler Truck North America LLC MFG Durable United States

S $90,363/per year

Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd (DSBJ) MFG Durable United States

R $89,132/per year

Raytheon Missiles & Defense MFG Durable United States

L $88,262/per year

Louis Poulsen MFG Durable United States

T $88,219/per year

Toyota Boshoku America Inc MFG Durable United States

A $87,299/per year

ABB Installation Products Inc MFG Durable United States

R $86,213/per year

Regal Rexnord MFG Durable United States

T $84,081/per year

Tesla Motors Inc MFG Durable United States

C $83,582/per year

Clarios LLC MFG Durable United States

K $83,024/per year

Kobelco Construction Machinery USA Inc MFG Durable United States

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FAQ about First Sergeant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for First Sergeant?

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for First Sergeant 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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First Sergeant Salary in the United States

Check out First Sergeant Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence First Sergeant Salaries

How Experience Level Affects First Sergeant Salaries?

How Do First Sergeant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for First Sergeant

First Sergeant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a First Sergeant

First Sergeant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salary Trends for First Sergeant

Average Annual Salary of First Sergeant Over Time

Most common benefits for First Sergeant

Common company salaries for First Sergeant

Find Your Next First Sergeant Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about First Sergeant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for First Sergeant?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

First Sergeant Salary in the United States

Check out First Sergeant Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence First Sergeant Salaries

How Experience Level Affects First Sergeant Salaries?

How Do First Sergeant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Top Paying Cities for First Sergeant

First Sergeant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

The top paying industry for a First Sergeant

First Sergeant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Salaries of jobs related to First Sergeant

Salary Trends for First Sergeant

Average Annual Salary of First Sergeant Over Time

Most common benefits for First Sergeant

Common company salaries for First Sergeant

Find Your Next First Sergeant Job

For Employees

For Employers

FAQ about First Sergeant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for First Sergeant?

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?