Same Degree, Same Pay???

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 09:33:14 -0500

One one of the several discussions about pay disparity someone mentioned being enlisted and having the same degree as their PL. The individual seemed to feel that this entitled them to the same pay as their LT. Nowhere is this the case. Not in the Military, not in the Private sector, not in other parts of the Public(Governenment) sector. By that logic my MBA means I should be getting paid what a MAJ or LTC makes... Which is laughable. Military pay is based on basic expected responsibility at the grade held. IE you are paid to do your job, not based on what degree you have.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2013 9:33 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 09:33:57 -0500

*Government

Sometimes my education fails me.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Nov 25 at 2013 1:09 PM

CMC Robert Young — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 13:09:55 -0500

Sir, I concur with your observation about position being the driving issue in your pay check. It's not enough to sit through class; take the tests, and collect a diploma with the expectation that you'll get a bump on pay. If you are unhappy with you position, there are vehicles in the military world for improving your situation. The benefit to additional education is that it does open more possibilities (advancements in pay grade and responsibilities) to you in an ever increasingly complex world, but you must maximize those opportunities to reap the benefits. That said it doesn't bother me too much to needle the O6 about the fact that he has only one master's degree, and I have two.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 12:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:31:00 -0400

While I do agree that we should bridge the Officer-Enlisted pay gap, I don't agree with this logic either. Having a degree doesn't automatically mean you are in positions of higher responsibility, so I don't think this comparison makes sense. I could see the argument of having a pay increase for having a degree, as in the civilian job market, but I don't think a PVT with a degree should make the same as a LT with the same degree. The LT is in a position of higher authority and responsibility, and everyone knows the boss gets paid more than the workers. Just my $.02.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 12:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:33:29 -0400

If this was an education organization, it would make sense.

I said education not educated. Lol

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2014 9:46 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 May 2014 21:46:47 -0400

Agreed. Concurrently in the private sector your education, while it can make you more competitive for better paying jobs, the pay is (generally) related to performance and position, and education doesn't guarantee the job. When I talk to students, one of my pieces of advice is to perform and perfect a trade or industry, versus spending consecutive years in school. Schooling looks good on resume, but these days employers are more and more looking for experience and "game changers" versus how many degrees you have.

In the military, pay-scales are pay-scales. Pay-scales are directly related to responsibility and accountability levels.

Almost ANYONE can go to school for years and get multiple degrees... but not everyone can handle responsibility and innovation.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2014 2:04 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 02:04:13 -0400

Comparing Officers and Enlisted personnel based solely on their educational background isn't fair. The expectations and responsibilities between the two people vary greatly. A PFC with a business degree may be proficient in their job, but will mainly be responsible for only their personal actions and their assigned gear. A 2LT with the same business degree will be held accountable for the actions of an entire platoon and can be held financially liable for the full amount of any equipment lost or damaged due to neglect; they are not limited in liability like an Enlisted person. The pay diference is based on the level of responsibility and not the education level of the person.

I speak from personal experience on this topic; I enlisted as a SPC when I already had a Bachelor's degree.

Response by COL Anthony Scotto made Mar 15 at 2015 10:26 PM

COL Anthony Scotto — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 22:26:38 -0400

I can only speak for the military contracting world.... but degrees matter. Both area of concentration and level of degree are the absolute primary basis for qualification for any contracting position/level of pay. I know several computer scientist who are former enlisted members who make significantly more than Field Grade Officers with a business degree. And by the way.... experience only counts after you qualify for the minimum requirements for the position. Hiring managers on established contracts can almost never substitute "experience" for "education"... but can almost always substitute "education" for "experience". Additionally, when given the opportunity to choose between a candidate with a higher level of education and a candidate with more experience, education is usually the safest fallback.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2016 9:43 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 09:43:39 -0500

My degrees would have had me outrank my LTC in Afghanistan.