How does the US military pay work—based on job or rank?

I'm curious how pay works in the US military. Is it more influenced by your specific job or by your rank? Trying to understand how salary progression might look like if I enlist.

In the U.S. military, basic pay is primarily based on your rank and the length of your service. As you rise in rank and accrue more years of service, your base pay increases. This holds true across all branches of the military (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force). When you're starting out, your pay may seem minimal, but remember this base pay is supplemented by allowances for cost of living, housing, food, and other benefits.

Specialized roles or skills can also warrant additional pay. Specialty pays include bonuses for duties involving certain risks or hardships, or for possessing certain skills, like being bilingual. Hazardous duty pay, submarine duty pay, medical officer pay, and flight pay are examples of this. In these cases, what you do can increase your take-home pay.

As for salary progression, it would generally follow your rise in rank and years of service. However, career advancement and pay could be influenced by other factors such as your chosen career within the military, performance reviews, and the completion of certain trainings or education programs.

And finally, the GI Bill provides educational benefits for service members. This could help you acquire additional skills and degrees that could potentially open doors to higher-paying jobs later on, both within and outside military service. Overall, if you plan strategically and take advantage of the opportunities presented to you, there can be a solid and steady progression in pay during, and potentially after, your military career.