A military doctor salary can depend on many different factors, including where you rank and the branch you enlist in. This noble profession will have you helping those who are in need on the battlefield, their families, and also others around the world through humanitarian efforts. But while serving is rewarding in and of itself, we all have bills to pay. Here’s a breakdown of the amount of money you can expect to receive while serving as a military doctor.

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Military Doctor Salary Overview

What is the salary of a military doctor? The amount a military doctor makes will change depending on branch, rank, time in the service, and even your career in the medical field as a civilian may come into play. This means pinpointing an exact amount that works across the board is a bit tricky. Here’s a breakdown to help guide you through it:

• Army doctor salaries range from $41,724 to $158,196 per year.
• A military doctor looking to join the U.S. Air Force can also expect to get paid around $41,724 to $158,196 per year.
• In the Navy, military doctors can earn around $55,644 to $88,632 per year.

To determine the military doctor salary per month, you’ll simply need to divide the figures above by 12. This means that if you're in the Army or Air Force, your monthly payment will range from $3,477 to $13,183. Navy doctors can receive around $4,637 to $7,386 per month in pay. For more information, you can always check your pay rate according to the current military pay chart available online. The key to remember is that the military pay scale is based on each branch’s ranking system. For example, the Army and Air Force pay range is higher because doctors start off as a captain or major (O-3 or O-4), whereas in the Navy, doctors begin with the rank of lieutenant or lieutenant commander (O-3 or O-4). However, the amount of experience you have and the amount of time you’ve served will also affect your pay.

Military Doctor Salary vs. Civilian

It’s no comparison; civilian doctors make more than military doctors, but there’s more to the story than meets the eye. While you may earn less, you’ll gain much more than your agreed-upon salary:

• One of the many benefits of working as a military doctor is tuition reimbursement. This can be tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on your place of education and career path.
• Serving the United States and gaining meaningful life and military experience is another perk beyond the military doctor salary.
• The travel opportunities that are provided by military service are another huge draw for those in the medical field.

When it comes to how military doctors get paid, information is important. Everyone has their own goals and life paths, but being a physician in the military can be a rewarding experience beyond the monetary gains that provides you a path to practicing medicine without medical school debt.

Military Doctor Requirements

As with any other doctor, military doctors must attend medical school. In other words, they must receive their bachelor's degree, apply for medical school, and be accepted, completing seven to eight years of postsecondary education total. In order to gain insight into their specialty, new doctors must complete a residency after graduating from medical school. Residency can last three to six years. This is the only point at which military service will actually begin. In addition, military doctors must complete two years of active duty. You’ll also need to be a United States citizen between the ages of 21 and 64. Your military doctor salary aside, this is a great opportunity for anyone looking for a challenge. The perks can be great, such as reimbursement for education, but you’ll also be pushed to better yourself as a person while defending freedom and further serving your fellow human.

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The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. | Photo by Airman 1st Class Quion Lowe