If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of being a military police officer, one of the first questions you’ve probably asked is how much you can make on a military police salary. On average, you’ll likely be looking at around $42,000.  However, you’ll be paid according to your rank and experience, not job title alone. Starting out as an enlistee at E-1, the lowest-ranking military police officer can expect to make around $1,680 per month.

What Is the Military Police Officer Salary?

When you’re in the military, you don’t get paid based on your job title but according to your rank and years of experience.  That being said, the Army generally promotes its service members at a faster rate than other branches, so they would be the go-to branch for rising a little more quickly in rank (and pay). Keep in mind, though, that the Army military police salary won’t differ from the pay you’d get as a police officer in other branches.  The most amount of money you can make on a military police officer salary is just over $16,900 per month, but don’t get ahead of yourself. That pay is for the highest-level officers (O-10) with 40 years of service. Let’s get down to some real numbers – ones you can actually plan on achieving. What is the salary of a military police officer? Though it can vary widely, the military police annual salary for the majority of police officers falls between $39,000 and $45,000.  That equates to approximately $3,200-$3,750 a month. This also means that the bulk of military police officers fall somewhere between the ranks of E-5 to W-1, depending on their years of experience.  Everyone has to start somewhere, though. The military police starting salary at rank E-1 for less than four months of experience is just $1,694 per month, meaning that the average salary for military police of the lowest rank is just around $20,000 per year. 

Military Police Job Description

If you want to get the military police salary, you have to be willing to take charge of the fast-paced career of a military police officer. Just like civilian police, the military police work in all kinds of spheres, from the mundane – like traffic management – to the more dangerous – like anti-terrorism operations.   The Army’s official page explains the military police officer job description:

“As a Military Police, you’ll protect peoples’ lives and property on Army installations by enforcing military laws and regulations. You’ll also control traffic, prevent crime, and respond to all emergencies. You’ll conduct force protection, anti-terrorism, area security, and police intelligence operations. You’ll also train in corrections and detention, investigations and mobility, and security around the world.”

Related read: How the Military Pay Raise 2022 Affects Your Salary

Military Police Requirements

There are several requirements you must meet and a number of certifications available that will make getting a good position as a military police officer easier. Here are the basics:

• You must have a high school diploma.
• You must pass 10 weeks of Basic Training corresponding to your branch.
• You must complete 20 weeks of One Station Unit Training alongside on-the-job instruction before you’re off on your own. 
• You must score a 91 (Skilled Technical) on your Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.

Many people go into training to become military police officers and worry about the ASVAB test.  However, you’ll be happy to know that plenty of service members who have passed the ASVAB have remarked on how easy it is, especially with the plethora of study resources available to up-and-coming military members.  Just like all military occupations, you’re going to have to work exceptionally hard for a long time if you want a higher-paying military police salary. But it’s all worth it in service to your country (and a few extra dollars in your pocket).  Learn more about Basic Training for your chosen branch:

• Air Force Basic Training: Everything You Need To Know
• Marine Basic Training: Everything You Need To Know
• Army Basic Training: Everything You Need To Know
• Navy Basic Training: Everything You Need To Know