Title: Are Military Personnel Paid Less Than Minimum Wage? | Fiscal Tiger
Headings: Are Active Military Personnel Paid Less than Minimum Wage?
Are Active Military Personnel Paid Less than Minimum Wage?
Chelsy Meyer
Table of Contents
The Big Picture of Military Pay
Salary vs. Hourly Pay
Comparing the Advantages
Understanding the Disadvantages
Keep Learning
Chelsy Meyer

Content: There are benefits of different kinds for different types of military members. Understanding the big picture of military pay begins with understanding that pay doesn’t start and stop with salary and/or hours worked. Pay is designed for each individual, and bonuses and allowances are still an aspect of the big picture even if they aren’t an aspect of base salary. Joining the military tends to cause a positive trajectory in finances that can help credit and overall spending power as a result of a pay system designed for each situation. The different levels of pay depend on various aspects of a soldier’s life from credit history to having children. Some aspects aren’t added to a salary or hourly rate, but do make a difference in an active service member’s net income each year. Some of those levels include: Base Pay: Not to be confused with a military base, this is a foundational level of compensation, or starting point. Everyone on active duty receives a base pay, determined mostly by rank and how long you’ve served in the military.