The Department of Defense (DOD) has released its 14th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC), a comprehensive evaluation of military pay and benefits conducted every four years.
The report, unveiled Wednesday, concludes that military pay remains highly competitive compared to civilian salaries but recommends minor adjustments to sustain recruitment and retention.
According to the QRMC, enlisted military members earn salaries at the 83rd percentile of what civilians with similar education levels make in the private sector, while officers stand at the 76th percentile.
After a 10% pay raise for junior enlisted troops (ranked E-4 and below) takes effect in April, the percentile for junior troops will rise to 95%. This increase is part of broader changes, including a 4.5% across-the-board pay hike for all service members in January 2025.
While the report found that “the department’s compensation package is strongly competitive with the civilian labor market,” the authors recommended improving non-pay benefits for troops. Proposed changes include expanded childcare programs, updates to housing stipend methodologies, and improvements in cost-of-living adjustments for both stateside and overseas service members.
Additionally, the QRMC recommends periodic quality-of-life reviews to address concerns like healthcare, childcare, and other family-oriented issues.
The QRMC’s findings arrived shortly after Congress enacted a substantial pay raise for junior enlisted members, a move lawmakers deemed necessary to alleviate financial hardships among lower-ranking service members.
The DOD has expressed support for the QRMC’s recommendations, and an implementation plan is expected to be developed later this spring, following the release of the full report.
