Job responsibilities
The responsibilities of military personnel are determined by the Charter of the Armed Forces, as well as the Constitution and laws of the Russian Federation. The soldier protects territory, equipment and human resources. Depending on his rank, he can supervise his subordinates, make decisions and give orders.
Before this, the serviceman analyzes the available facts and predicts possible danger. His responsibilities include not only physical training and studying the regulations, but also drawing up documentation about the operations or events carried out. A serviceman can also work in educational military institutions and perform the functions of a teacher.
Responsibilities of the contractor and his duties
The list of job responsibilities varies depending on the position held and the rank of the contractor. However, every military man has general regulations and rules that he must follow:
- to be faithful to the oath;
- serve the people selflessly;
- defend one's home country;
- strictly comply with the Constitution and laws of the Russian Federation;
- take into account the requirements of general military regulations;
- follow orders from commanders;
- improve combat skills;
- maintain weapons and equipment in constant readiness for use.
It is necessary to protect state property. I wonder if the salaries of contract workers in the USA will depend on these parameters? It is known that incomes average $1,500 per month (for privates) and $2,300 for officers.
What does the military salary consist of?
Military salaries are one of the most difficult in terms of formation, as they depend on many factors. Only officers and privates receive two salaries: for the position they hold and for the assigned rank.
A particular situation with real figures: the earnings of a warrant officer (according to the anonymous author T-Zh - a contract soldier in the Primorsky Territory) with a regional coefficient of 1.2, with access to state secrets and less than 5 years of service - 44,000 after deducting personal income tax and other mandatory deductions.
In addition to the salary, the following are provided:
- additional payments;
- social package.
How much military personnel earn depends on length of service, access to military secrets, region of service, complexity of tasks, etc. All the features of calculating salaries and allowances are prescribed in legislative acts:
- Federal Law No. 306 of November 7, 2011 “On monetary allowances for military personnel and the provision of individual payments to them.”
- Government Decree No. 992, as amended on August 6, 2020, “On the establishment of salaries for contract military personnel.”
- Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 2700 of December 30, 2011 “On approval of the Procedure for providing monetary allowances to military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”
Military salary structure
Although military personnel do not receive wages in the literal sense of the word, since they are paid by the state not for work, but for service, in everyday life we talk about the increase in salaries for military personnel in 2021, planned by legislators. To find out how much more the military will receive, you need to understand the components of their earnings.
The salary (salary) of military personnel under a contract includes:
- monthly salary according to military rank;
- monthly salary for a military position of a serviceman;
- monthly allowances;
- other additional payments.
What influences an increase or decrease in salary?
There are several factors influencing the salary of a military personnel:
- Rank and position. To increase your monetary payment, you must obtain a higher rank or position. If you are deprived of your rank, your salary is reduced.
- Location . Units located in the north have higher salaries.
- Secrecy . By transferring to a secret unit, you can receive an increase of half the salary.
- Awards for excellent service.
- Compensation for rental housing and one-time payments.
- Risky conditions. Service in hot spots has a monetary reward.
- Bonuses for personal achievements.
- Qualifying exams . Passing them increases the premium.
As we can see, there are many opportunities to increase your salary, the main thing is to work conscientiously.
The influence of title on salary
Also, the rank of military personnel serving under contract has a significant impact on wages.
For military personnel occupying first-rank positions, the salary ranges from 30 thousand rubles and above, for officers - from 60 thousand rubles, senior officers receive by law from 100 thousand rubles.
The influence of the type of military service on wages
The salaries of military personnel depend on the type of military service.
In 2021, employees on nuclear submarines can receive the most - 50 thousand rubles.
Employees of the Navy (Navy) of the Russian Federation earn 22 thousand rubles. About 20 thousand rubles are paid to contract soldiers of the ground service and air force.
How much do officers earn?
Private people earn little.
The salary of a private in the ground and air forces is only 20,000 rubles. In the navy they earn 22,000 rubles. Those who serve on nuclear submarines receive significantly more - 50,000 rubles.
The salary increases with the rank - we present the salaries of officers and commanders without allowances (with allowances the salaries look much more impressive):
- Platoon commander - 20,000 rubles
- Company commander - 22,000 rubles
- Battalion commander - 24,000 rubles
- Regiment commander - 26,500 rubles
- Division commander - 30,500 rubles
- Army commander - 33,500 rubles
- First Deputy Minister - 45,000 rubles
By the way, to occupy a high position, you need a higher education.
In the USSR, the salary of a military man was 270 rubles - now this amount would correspond to 60,000 rubles.
By the way, the prestige of the profession was higher in the past. And the attitude towards military service was completely different.
Earnings of military personnel in 2021
Issues of monetary support for the military are regulated by Federal Law No. 306. The main part of the salary is determined by rank (according to Order of the Ministry of Defense No. 2700):
- a private receives - 5,000 rubles;
- corporal - 5,500;
- junior sergeant - 6,000;
- sergeant - 6.5 thousand;
- senior sergeant - 7,000;
- foreman - 7.5 thousand;
- ensign - 8,000;
- senior warrant officer - 8,500;
- junior lieutenant - 9,500;
- lieutenant - 10,000;
- senior lieutenant - 10,500;
- captain - 11,000;
- major - 11,500;
- lieutenant colonel - 12,000;
- colonel - 13,000;
- major general - 20,000;
- lieutenant general - 22,000;
- Army general earns - 27,000;
- marshal - 30,000.
Cadets and contract soldiers in Russia have the right to a salary according to their position and specialization. Additionally, military personnel receive allowances:
- qualification class category - +5-20% salary;
- special conditions of service - +70-100%;
- risk to life and health (in peacetime) - +50-100%;
- secrecy - up to +25%.
Contract employees can count on the following allowances (in addition to those already listed above):
- length of service - +10-40% of salary;
- secrecy - up to +65%;
- special achievements - +100%.
A bonus (up to three salaries) and financial assistance (at least one monthly salary) are paid annually. There are increasing coefficients for serving in emergencies, abroad, in the Far North and areas with similar living conditions.
How much do privates and sergeants earn?
In July of this year, the President of the Russian Federation approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defense to “significantly” increase payments to cadets, privates and sergeants. From October 1, 2021, compensation for rental housing and salaries for military personnel and law enforcement officers will be increased by 4.3%. The increase will be made taking into account inflation.
The changes scheduled for October 1 will affect only salaries. Various allowances will remain at the same level. All salary-related increases will automatically increase. In some cases, this component of earnings reaches 60% of the starting salary.
In addition, Vladimir Putin confirmed that a program of social guarantees for the military is being developed.
Thus, there will be an opportunity for employment for their relatives (in settlements where military personnel live, there are usually no places for civilians), medical care and living conditions will improve.
Officers' salaries
Officers receive 2.5-3.1 times more than privates and sergeants. From October 1, 2021, officers will receive an average of 90,000.
The author T-Zh, who wished to remain anonymous, says that in a small urban village he earns 100,000. His work is related to communications. Officers with higher military education in his unit receive about 130 thousand. There are several ways to increase your salary: pass physical standards (+5000), upgrade your class (+4000), pass a foreign language test (increase from 800 to 4200 rubles per month).
How much do contract workers get?
The decision of the President of the Russian Federation, adopted in July 2021, also applies to contract soldiers. The Ministry of Defense plans to compensate for the cost of travel to the place of duty, compensate for rent, and partially finance the mortgage.
Now contract soldiers receive a salary from 7,000 (cadets) to 26,000 rubles (officer positions in strategic command and strategic management). Salaries for management positions are higher. Contract workers (like conscripts) have the right to receive bonuses.
How to become a contract soldier in the Russian Army
To become a contract soldier of the Russian Army, a serviceman must meet certain criteria:
- Age must be at least 18 and not more than 40 years old;
- Have at least secondary education, higher education is not necessary;
- Be in good physical condition and pass a test of strength, speed and endurance;
- Complete conscription service;
- Successfully pass a medical examination;
- Receive the first, second or third category of the assignment conclusion during the professional aptitude test.
A citizen who has decided to serve in the Russian Army under a contract must first contact the local selection point, where they will answer all his questions and explain what needs to be done.
After this, you need to submit an application to the VK department. Anyone wishing to become a contract soldier will be checked to see if he or she meets the criteria described above. If he is approved and a contract is concluded with him, all that remains is to undergo intensive training, after which the contract soldier will be sent to his duty station.
Payments to pilots
Pilots receive the highest salary for their service. A specialist without experience earns at least 100,000 rubles, and with experience – about 200,000 rubles per month.
They are also the first among all military personnel to receive housing and additional payments for possible risks that threaten life and health.
Payments in the Russian Guard
The Russian Guard is a structure fighting terrorism, separatism and various dangerous groups. The Russian Guard includes police officers and military personnel. The salaries of ordinary employees of this service average from 25 to 35 thousand rubles, and the salaries of officers range from 45 to 60 thousand.
They can also receive various additional bonuses, allowances and cash benefits for the stress associated with the performance of their official duties.
Payments to conscripts
The Russian authorities have established that payments to conscripts in 2021 will be 2,000 rubles monthly, but they may vary depending on the region, rank and length of service.
If a soldier has to perform difficult and dangerous tasks, then the military’s salary can be twice as much. He receives the required salary on a special bank card at the collection point.
What is the income of the military in Sevastopol?
RIA Novosti writes that on average in Sevastopol they receive 20-30 thousand rubles. The income of the military is higher, as are sailors, civil servants, and qualified builders - up to 80 thousand rubles. But these are statistics, real salaries are lower.
Representatives of the central military authorities in Moscow advised Crimean contract servicemen, dissatisfied with their salaries, to apply for service in the Pacific, Northern, Baltic fleets and other distant units.
Military university teachers
The average salary of a teacher at a military university is 25,000 - 50,000 rubles . Low pay awaits army men who have “removed their shoulder straps.”
Additional payments to teachers, as a rule, are not awarded. However, their salary can increase by 40% of the starting salary, while doctors and candidates of military sciences receive an additional 3,000 - 7,000 rubles.
For drivers
Depending on the regional coefficient in different regions, the salary of a military driver starts from 18,000 rubles . Its increase also depends on the working conditions and its importance.
How much do contract soldiers earn in Western armies?
From September 1, by decision of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the salary of contract soldiers in the Russian Army will be significantly increased. Private and non-commissioned officers will receive 30–50 thousand rubles per month. In most countries of the world, the armed forces consist of contract soldiers, since compulsory service has been abolished. News.ru compared the earnings of Russian contract workers with the amounts that their colleagues receive in Europe and America.
The comparison did not turn out in favor of Russia. In the West, the starting salaries of contract service privates are three to four times higher than in our country. Although it is worth noting that, given the average level of wages in Europe and the USA, this is not a lot of money, it is easier for workers at a factory to earn the same amount. Therefore, foreign armies lure recruits with various bonuses and career opportunities.
So, in the Netherlands, a soldier of the lowest, third class, who has just entered service, will receive a little less than €1000 at the end of the month. This amount is approximately equal to unemployment benefits in the kingdom, but next month the young fighter will receive more. At the end of the year his salary will reach €1,858. Then earnings will only increase with promotions.
Foreign contract soldiers are fed and clothed for free, and in some countries they are provided with housing. This compensates for the small nominal salary.
British Armed Forces , for example, attract contract soldiers not so much with high monetary rewards, but with the fact that, thanks to various benefits, more money remains in the soldier’s pocket at the end of the month. Unlike civilians, they do not have to pay for health insurance and utilities, make contributions to the pension fund, and they pay much less for rent - only 77 pounds sterling per month. As a result, according to the calculations of the British Ministry of Defense, after deducting all mandatory expenses, a contractor has 1,232 pounds left in his pocket, while a mere mortal has 486.
However, the rosy picture presented on the Ministry of Defense website is happily debunked by the British media. “British soldiers are underpaid, overworked and taken for granted by politicians,” reads a headline in The Telegraph.
The famous French Foreign Legion pays less than the regular army. If a citizen of the republic with the rank of private receives €1,522 per month, then employees of the legion are forced to be content with €1,280. However, they can send almost all this money to their homeland with peace of mind: there is no need to spend money on housing, food and clothing in the legion.
, the United States Armed Forces offer other bonuses that are very attractive to young Americans. It is widely known how expensive higher education and health insurance are in the United States. The latter is provided automatically to American military personnel and includes the services of dentists - some of the most expensive doctors in the United States. Regarding education, contract soldiers have several options: get a degree in a military college, where they can be enrolled immediately after entering service, or obtain a grant from the armed forces to study at another college while serving. If a serviceman already has a university degree, the army can help him pay off his student loan. Depending on specific cases and the type of military service, all or part of the debt may be written off. Therefore, for many Americans from poor families, service becomes a rare chance to obtain a higher education - the key to a successful career in the United States.
In Germany, private soldiers receive some of the highest salaries in Europe - almost €2,000, but the country still has difficulty finding people willing to step into army boots. Compulsory service was abolished in Germany only in 2011, and since then disputes about the correctness of this decision have not subsided. Conservative politicians periodically propose the return of military service, and army commanders suggest solving the problem by attracting recruits from other EU countries. This proposal was made by General Eberhard Zorn at the end of last year. According to him, Germany should recruit soldiers from the European Union only under the terms of bilateral agreements with states in order to avoid accusations of poaching military personnel. Anyway, according to statistics, about 13% of German contract workers are people with a migrant background or have dual citizenship.
Table of tariff categories and tariff schedule
In Russia there is a single tariff schedule for all tariff categories. Each category has its own position. There are 50 of them in total, ranging from the smallest positions to the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Rank 1-9 are positions that can be filled by soldiers, sailors, petty officers, sergeants, warrant officers and midshipmen. These are contract soldiers. Grades 10-50 are positions that can only be filled by officers.
The first category includes soldiers, sailors (their primary positions, such as shooters, road workers and camouflage workers). The amount of their salaries for 2018-2020. is 10,400 rubles. From October 2021 it will increase to 10800.
The second category is machine gunners and snipers. They can boast of a salary of 11,400 rubles, and from the fall of this year it will be almost 12,000 rubles.
The third is senior sappers and grenade launchers. Their salary level is 12,400 rubles. They promise to increase it to 13,000 rubles.
Salaries for other categories of military personnel increase in approximately the same progression. In order not to describe each one, we present the further grid in the form of a table:
Benefits and pensions for Russian military personnel
To be able to receive a legal military pension, a military member must serve at least 20 years, and the minimum retirement age in 2021 is 45 years.
To receive a pension, a serviceman, if he is of suitable age and has the necessary length of service, must contact the military commissariat where he is registered, with a passport, a military ID, which is issued before concluding a contract, a personal file and an order.
When they are accepted, you will also need to bring SNILS (individual personal account insurance number), a 3 by 4 photo, a work record book, as well as a cash and clothing certificate. Only after this the future pensioner will be given an application form. After a maximum of 3 months he can receive a pension.
Military personnel can also count on the following benefits:
- The right to be provided with a free apartment or the amount for rent. Housing must be provided no later than 3 months after signing the contract. For military personnel from large families, a house or apartment is issued out of turn. If suddenly there is no suitable living space for a contract soldier in the locality where the military unit is located, housing is allocated in the nearest villages or towns.
- Eligibility for subsidy. If the service life has reached 20 years, a citizen can receive free housing or subsidies for the purchase of his own home.
- Right to health care. A contract worker and his family can receive treatment and even undergo any kind of surgery on the territory of the Russian Federation completely free of charge.
- Right to study. Contract workers who have served 3 years can receive secondary and higher education for free in the Russian Federation, enroll without competition and attend preparatory courses for admission to a higher educational institution for free.
- Right of passage. They are provided with free travel during the business trip and en route to the place of duty. Also, residents of the northern regions are provided with a free trip to their summer holiday destination once a year.
- Pension. Contract workers with over 20 years of service can retire at age 45.
- Insurance. If a citizen dies while performing his military duty, then the family is paid 3 million rubles. If a contract soldier is discharged from the army due to an injury received while performing a task, he is provided with an amount of up to 2 million rubles, depending on the severity of the injury.
Awards
Military service involves carrying out command orders in conditions involving risk to life and health in peacetime. Successful completion of the assigned tasks provides for a one-time payment equal to one salary.
For conscientious performance of duties and high quality performance, a serviceman can count on a bonus from 5 to 35% of his salary.
However, for failure to comply with orders, violation of official duties and army discipline, for failure to comply with physical training standards, punishment is provided in the form of deprivation of bonuses to military personnel.
What are the incomes of military personnel in other countries?
Among NATO countries, Germany has the highest military income. Salary depends on length of service and rank.
The allowances are:
- child benefits: $125 (8,310 rubles) for one child, $250 (16,620 rubles) for two, $565 (37,561 rubles) for three, $880 (58,502 rubles) for four, $132 (8 775 rub.) for each subsequent;
- each hour of overtime service - $0.88-3.75 (RUB 58-249);
- additional payments to special forces and combat swimmers - $1,170 (RUB 77,781);
- additional payments to ship personnel - $105, to submariners - $300 (RUB 19,944);
- for skydiving - $150 (9,972 rubles);
- additional payments to flight crews - $611 (RUB 40,619);
- for long hikes - $150 (9,972 rubles);
- allowances for business trips - $33-120 (2,193-7,977 rubles) per day, depending on the region.
Additionally, you can get free education and a civilian specialty.
Officers are the elite of society in India. The military receives $1,000 (66,480 rubles) per month (with the average income of other Indians being $100, or 6,480 rubles), and every officer has the right to hire a servant.
In neighboring countries, salaries are similar to Russian ones. In Azerbaijan, ordinary contract soldiers receive $35-40 (2326-2659 rubles) per month without bonuses, in Uzbekistan - $60 (3,988 rubles), Kyrgyzstan - $65-70 (4321-4653 rubles), in Belarus and Armenia - $200-230 (RUB 13,296-15,290), Ukraine - $240 (RUB 15,955), Kazakhstan - $250-300 (RUB 16,620-19,944).