What do you guys think about the pay gap between officers and enlisted, given a lot of enlisted personnel now have a 4 year degree?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 23:17:55 -0400

Answers, I always get is that they are officers, and they have a 4 year degree.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 4 at 2016 11:21 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 23:21:31 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member its getting better. Generals have a lot of responsibility and IMO they hold their weight. The DOD needs to up the pay for the Enlisted members dramatically, they give their all every day.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 12:56 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 00:56:31 -0400

Different job, different level of responsibility and requirements, different paycheck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 3:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:00:43 -0400

I should clarify what I meant by enlisted personnel now having a 4 year degree was supposed to mean, When I proposed the argument to SGMs, they will give me the same answer without any thought and says if you don't like it, go to college and become an officers. My argument is to help enlisted get paid a little better, I am not trying to take anything away from the Officers.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 3:38 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:38:56 -0400

The enlisted group should get paid more however officers will always receive a higher pay. There shouldn't be different pay for different jobs everybody should be paid the same no matter the job.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jun 5 at 2016 8:50 AM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 08:50:03 -0400

They should have gone through a MA, OCS, ROTC, field commission first before expecting more pay.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 5 at 2016 10:00 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 10:00:53 -0400

I don't recall any business paying more for someone who's overqualified. When the work is very specific, other qualifications are irrelevant. The thing you need to take a look at is what doorways are opened by it. You take one or you don't. But thinking there's an entitlement for more because your have something can bite you big time. That means you think more of it than everyone else.

That said, obtaining a college degree is usually an indicator of a SM with intelligence, drive, and fortitude. That can get noticed.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 11:05 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 11:05:16 -0400

A lot of enlisted have four year degrees? Define "a lot". Also, please define what their degrees are in and how they pertain to their current military profession and how they prepare a standard college E-4 to assume command at the platoon level. Sure, enlisted are generally higher educated today than their WWII or Vietnam predecessors, but so what? ROTC and the academies have specified degree programs and extracurricular activities that prepare people to assume command at the basic level. A college E-4, or even an E-7 with an online degree, doesn't merit the same pay as a commissioned officer who attended college classes that are specific to assuming military command.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 7:41 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 07:41:53 -0400

Different MOS/AFSC/Rate does have a pay difference in the form of bonus, pro pay, and haz duty pay. The pay gap is much smaller than you think, remember enlisted members get a different BAS rate and clothing allowance. They don't have unwritten political requirements on the scale of officers. I think the biggest reason behind the pay gap is the "unlimited liability clause" officers have to take on.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 9:54 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 09:54:05 -0400

Pay for any job is based upon the knowledge and ability to do that job. Extra education usually does not translate into doing more within a job class.

To carry you suggestion to the extreme, should a custodian make more because he/she has a PhD? The answer to that is also the answer to your question.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 6 at 2016 9:58 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 09:58:39 -0400

Should enlisted, particularly NCOs, receive better pay? I don't think you'd find anyone against that idea. However, a degree is not and should not be the deciding factor. The military pays you according to your paygrade. Paygrade corresponds to your experience, expertise and level of responsibilities. The reasons why officer get paid more is they have more responsibilities.

BTW a degree is a MINIMUM requirement for a commission. People always forget the years pre-commissioning training that is also required.

Response by Maj John Johnston made Dec 5 at 2018 10:10 PM

Maj John Johnston — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 22:10:23 -0500

If you have a degree and can get through OCS do it. Officers have more responsibility in the long run. They are paid to undertake responsibility.