Military compensation
Military pay or military compensation is the pay system whereby members of the military are compensated for their participation in the military.
As parts of government pay systems, military pay typically does not compete with private military compensation.
Because military service requires fit soldiers and commitments that might reach well beyond civilian employment, governments typically provided additional health care, military housing and retirement or veteran's benefits.
International pay differences
Basic annual pay to rank in US dollars for the minimum per rank excluding all additional allowances, bonuses and benefits:| Country | Private | Sergeant | Lieutenant |
| Australia | $32,820 | $43,971 | $36,332 |
| Canada | $31,604 | $61,598 | $41,772 |
| France | |||
| Germany | $33,600 | ||
| Greece | $9,250 | $11,000 | $13,500 |
| Italy | |||
| Ireland | $30,600 | $41,200 | $37,200 |
| Japan | |||
| Malta | $24,100 | ||
| New Zealand | $35,956 | $48,200 | $42,000 |
| Poland | $11,300 | $13,800 | $16,400 |
| Russia | |||
| United Kingdom | $26,000 | $47,000 | $43,900 |
| United States | $23,100 | $28,000 | $41,727 |
- Australia
- Canada
- United States
- France
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Japan
- Russia
- Italy
Pay ranking does not include additional benefits such as medical, pension, living expenses and bonuses
Overall, Australia’s military personnel are paid the highest salaries, based on the fact that their Private and Corporal pay scale goes up to 10 Pay incentives. A Private in the Australian military will make $88,748 AUD without any bonuses after 10 years. When comparing the top countries, Canada came in second place.