Which military branch has the lowest pay rate?

I've been looking into joining the military after I graduate, but I'm curious as to which branch tends to provide the least compensation. It's important for me to have a sense of what to expect financially.

All branches of the United States military maintain the same pay scale, which is based on the Defense Finance and Accounting Service's Military Pay Tables. This means that the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force all provide the same base pay for their servicemen and servicewomen at each rank.

The variation in pay comes from other factors like benefits, bonuses, housing, and cost-of-living adjustments. These vary depending on the branch and its specific duties, location, and other factors. For example, certain special duty assignments may come with additional compensation or bonuses and servicemen and servicewomen living in areas with a higher cost of living may receive additional compensation to offset these costs.

Ultimately, the financial package one receives can be quite individual and highly dependent on one's specific circumstances, including rank, role, length of service, location, and more. I encourage you to look closely at each branch's specific perks and benefits, in addition to base pay, when making your decision.