With the current gender pay gap, women in the U.S. make about 82% of what men make. In the U.S. military, however, this gap does not exist, at least at the basic level. Because basic pay structure is based on pay grade and time in service, service members receive equal base pay regardless of their gender.
Women are, however, vastly underrepresented in the military. While about 46.6% of the total American workforce is made up of women, only 17.3% of active-duty service members are women. This represents the highest share of women that has ever been in the force, and this percentage has been rising steadily in recent years, both in the enlisted and commissioned ranks. (Here are female veterans who changed U.S. history.)
To find how many women serve in the different U.S. military branches and at different pay grades, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Department of Defense report 2021 Demographics, Profile of the Military Community. Pay grades per branch are ranked by the upper pay range and then by the percentage of women serving in that category, both from low to high. All data are from the report. It is important to note that there are no warrant officers in the Air Force and the Space Force, and that pay depends on rank and years of service.
The highest numbers of women are in the junior enlisted ranks (E1-E4) in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, which each employ over 28,000 women and pay an annual salary of $21,276 to $36,472. In terms of share, the highest percentage of women are employed as Air Force company grade officers (O1-O3), which includes ensigns, first and second lieutenants, and captains, and pays an annual salary of $43,646 to $94,687.
The smallest shares of women are in the ranks of warrant officers and commissioned officers in the Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marines in the ranks of major to four star generals. Overall, the Marine Corps has a smaller share of women than any other branch in the military. (Take a look at the countries with the most women serving in the military.)
Click here to see how many women serve in each military pay grade, compared to men.
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
33. Marine Corps E1-E4 – Private to Corporal
> Annual pay range: $21,276 to $36,472
> Female personnel: 9,717 or 9.0% of total
> Male personnel: 97,712 or 91.0% of total
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Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
32. Army E1-E4 – Private to Corporal or Specialist
> Annual pay range: $21,276 to $36,472
> Female personnel: 33,497 or 16.0% of total
> Male personnel: 176,512 or 84.0% of total
Source: MisterClips / Getty Images
31. Air Force E1-E4 – Airman Basic to Senior Airman
> Annual pay range: $21,276 to $36,472
> Female personnel: 28,904 or 23.0% of total
> Male personnel: 96,744 or 77.0% of total
30. Space Force E1-E4 – Specialist 1 to Specialist 4
> Annual pay range: $21,276 to $36,472
> Female personnel: 57 or 23.3% of total
> Male personnel: 188 or 76.7% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
29. Navy E1-E4 – Seaman Recruit to Petty Officer Third Class
> Annual pay range: $21,276 to $36,472
> Female personnel: 30,604 or 23.6% of total
> Male personnel: 99,240 or 76.4% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
28. Marine Corps E5-E6 – Sergeant to Staff Sergeant
> Annual pay range: $32,764 to $55,397
> Female personnel: 3,680 or 10.1% of total
> Male personnel: 32,602 or 89.9% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
27. Army E5-E6 – Sergeant to Staff Sergeant
> Annual pay range: $32,764 to $55,397
> Female personnel: 18,356 or 14.1% of total
> Male personnel: 111,531 or 85.9% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
26. Air Force E5-E6 – Staff Sergeant to Technical Sergeant
> Annual pay range: $32,764 to $55,397
> Female personnel: 19,615 or 18.6% of total
> Male personnel: 85,744 or 81.4% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
25. Navy E5-E6 – Petty Officer Second Class to Petty Officer First Class
> Annual pay range: $32,764 to $55,397
> Female personnel: 23,915 or 19.2% of total
> Male personnel: 100,413 or 80.8% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
24. Space Force E5-E6 – Sergeant to Technical Sergeant
> Annual pay range: $32,764 to $55,397
> Female personnel: 82 or 19.2% of total
> Male personnel: 344 or 80.8% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
23. Marine Corps O1-O3 – Second Lieutenant to Captain
> Annual pay range: $43,646 to $94,687
> Female personnel: 1,438 or 11.3% of total
> Male personnel: 11,320 or 88.7% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
22. Space Force O1-O3 – Second Lieutenant to Captain
> Annual pay range: $43,646 to $94,687
> Female personnel: 116 or 19.5% of total
> Male personnel: 478 or 80.5% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
21. Army O1-O3 – Second Lieutenant to Captain
> Annual pay range: $43,646 to $94,687
> Female personnel: 10,711 or 21.7% of total
> Male personnel: 38,660 or 78.3% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
20. Navy O1-O3 – Ensign to Lieutenant
> Annual pay range: $43,646 to $94,687
> Female personnel: 7,723 or 23.3% of total
> Male personnel: 25,354 or 76.7% of total
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19. Air Force O1-O3 – Second Lieutenant to Captain
> Annual pay range: $43,646 to $94,687
> Female personnel: 9,128 or 25.2% of total
> Male personnel: 27,058 or 74.8% of total
Source: MTMCOINS / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
18. Marine Corps E7-E9 – Gunnery Sergeant to Master Gunnery Sergeant or Sergeant Major
> Annual pay range: $41,350 to $112,828
> Female personnel: 923 or 6.5% of total
> Male personnel: 13,343 or 93.5% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
17. Army E7-E9 – Sergeant First Class to Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major
> Annual pay range: $41,350 to $112,828
> Female personnel: 5,745 or 11.8% of total
> Male personnel: 43,005 or 88.2% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
16. Navy E7-E9 – Chief Petty Officer to Master Chief Petty Officer or Fleet /Command Master Chief Petty Officer
> Annual pay range: $41,350 to $112,828
> Female personnel: 4,289 or 13.0% of total
> Male personnel: 28,718 or 87.0% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
15. Air Force E7-E9 – Master Sergeant or First Sergeant to Chief Master Sergeant or First Sergeant or Command Chief Master Sergeant
> Annual pay range: $41,350 to $112,828
> Female personnel: 6,943 or 20.5% of total
> Male personnel: 26,860 or 79.5% of total
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. Space Force E7-E9 – Master Sergeant to Chief Master Sergeant
> Annual pay range: $41,350 to $112,828
> Female personnel: 43 or 24.4% of total
> Male personnel: 133 or 75.6% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
13. Marine Corps W1-W5 – Warrant Officer 1 to Chief Warrant Officer 5
> Annual pay range: $42,660 to $139,950
> Female personnel: 122 or 5.5% of total
> Male personnel: 2,110 or 94.5% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
12. Navy W1-W5 – USN Warrant Officer 1 to USN Chief Warrant Officer 5
> Annual pay range: $42,660 to $139,950
> Female personnel: 193 or 9.8% of total
> Male personnel: 1,772 or 90.2% of total
24/7 Wall St.
11. Army W1-W5 – Warrant Officer 1 to Chief Warrant Officer 5
> Annual pay range: $42,660 to $139,950
> Female personnel: 1,449 or 9.9% of total
> Male personnel: 13,237 or 90.1% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
10. Marine Corps O4-O6 – Major to Colonel
> Annual pay range: $66,197 to $162,918
> Female personnel: 418 or 6.3% of total
> Male personnel: 6,204 or 93.7% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
9. Space Force O4-O6 – Major to Colonel
> Annual pay range: $66,197 to $162,918
> Female personnel: 25 or 12.8% of total
> Male personnel: 171 or 87.2% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
8. Navy O4-O6 – Lieutenant Commander to Captain
> Annual pay range: $66,197 to $162,918
> Female personnel: 3,501 or 16.9% of total
> Male personnel: 17,255 or 83.1% of total
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Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
7. Army O4-O6 – Major to Colonel
> Annual pay range: $66,197 to $162,918
> Female personnel: 5,091 or 17.3% of total
> Male personnel: 24,319 or 82.7% of total
24/7 Wall St.
Source: choicegraphx / iStock via Getty Images
6. Air Force O4-O6 – Major to Colonel
> Annual pay range: $66,197 to $162,918
> Female personnel: 5,368 or 19.4% of total
> Male personnel: 22,236 or 80.6% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
5. Marine Corps O7-O10 – Brigadier General (1 star) to General (4 star)
> Annual pay range: $121,356 to $212,101
> Female personnel: 3 or 3.4% of total
> Male personnel: 86 or 96.6% of total
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
4. Navy O7-O10 – Rear Admiral Lower Half (1 star) to Admiral (4 star)
> Annual pay range: $121,356 to $212,101
> Female personnel: 15 or 6.8% of total
> Male personnel: 206 or 93.2% of total
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
3. Army O7-O10 – Brigadier General (1 star) to General (4 star)
> Annual pay range: $121,356 to $212,101
> Female personnel: 24 or 7.9% of total
> Male personnel: 279 or 92.1% of total
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
2. Air Force O7-O10 – Brigadier General (1 star) to General (4 star)
> Annual pay range: $121,356 to $212,101
> Female personnel: 33 or 11.5% of total
> Male personnel: 254 or 88.5% of total
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
1. Space Force O7-O10 – Brigadier General (1 star) to General (4 star)
> Annual pay range: $121,356 to $212,101
> Female personnel: 1 or 16.7% of total
> Male personnel: 5 or 83.3% of total
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