What can you earn in non-combat military jobs?

I'm curious about the salary expectations for non-combat military roles. How does the pay vary compared to combat positions, and do benefits and advancement opportunities differ?

Pay in the military is based on rank and time served, not the nature of the job—whether it's a combat role or a non-combat one like engineering, healthcare, or administration. This means you earn the same base salary as someone with the same rank and years of service, regardless of your specific job. These salaries are public information, and the U.S. Department of Defense publishes them yearly.

Aside from the base pay, there are numerous other benefits that can significantly increase your overall compensation. All military personnel get allowances for housing, food, and uniforms. Organizing your salary this way helps because these allowances are not taxable, increasing your take-home pay. Moreover, healthcare and retirement benefits are fairly comprehensive.

When it comes to career advancement, it largely follows a predictable and structured path determined by time in service and performance evaluations. Promotions to higher ranks come with pay increases, so your salary will generally grow the longer you stay in the military.

There's also the G.I. Bill, a program that covers most or all of the tuition costs for education during or after military service.

Nonetheless, the non-monetary rewards can be equally appealing. Non-combat roles often provide specialized training and skill development that can translate to civilian jobs after service. You might become a highly skilled engineer, nurse, interpreter, or cybersecurity expert. These experiences could lead to high-paying jobs if you decide to leave the military.

In short, non-combat jobs in the military can offer competitive pay, extensive benefits and solid future career prospects, very similarly to what combat positions offer.