1908-1919 U.S. Military Pay Charts
President Theodore Roosevelt, on May 11, 1909, signed, "An act Making appropriation for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and nine.", and on, May 13, 1908, signed, "An act Making appropriations for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and nine, and for other purposes." providing a pay raise for each member of the active military.
1893 Pay | 1920 Pay | Pay Raises
The pay rates remained in effect from June 14, 1908 through December 31, 1919.
1908-1919 Military Pay Chart
| Rank note 1 | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | Over 5 | Over 10 | Over 15 | Over 20 | |
| 9th | 1125.00 | 1125.00 | 1125.00 | 1125.00 | 1125.00 |
| 8th | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 |
| 7th | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 6th | 333.33 | 366.67 | 400.00 | 416.67 | 416.67 |
| 5th | 291.67 | 320.83 | 350.00 | 375.00 | 375.00 |
| 4th | 250.00 | 275.00 | 300.00 | 325.00 | 333.33 |
| 3rd | 200.00 | 220.00 | 240.00 | 260.00 | 280.00 |
| 2nd | 166.67 | 183.33 | 200.00 | 216.67 | 233.33 |
| 1st | 141.67 | 155.83 | 170.00 | 184.17 | 198.33 |
| Rank note 1 | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | Over 5 | Over 10 | Over 15 | Over 20 | |
| 9th | 1125.00 | 1125.00 | 1125.00 | 1125.00 | 1125.00 |
| 8th | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 |
| 7th | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 6th | 366.67 | 403.33 | 400.00 | 416.67 | 416.67 |
| 5th | 320.83 | 352.92 | 385.00 | 375.00 | 375.00 |
| 4th | 275.00 | 302.50 | 330.00 | 325.00 | 333.33 |
| 3rd | 220.00 | 242.00 | 264.00 | 260.00 | 280.00 |
| 2nd | 183.33 | 201.67 | 220.00 | 216.67 | 233.33 |
| 1st | 155.83 | 171.42 | 187.00 | 184.17 | 198.33 |
Note 1: 9th rank is Navy Admiral and Army General; 8th rank is Navy Rear-Admiral and Army Major-General; 7th rank is Navy Commodore and Army Brigadier-General; 6th rank is Navy Captain, and Army and Marine Corps Colonel; 5th rank is Navy Commander, and Army and Marine Corps Lieutenant-Colonel; 4th rank is Navy Lieutenant-Commander, and Army and Marine Corps Major; 3rd rank is Navy Lieutenant, and Army and Marine Corps Captain; 2nd rank is Navy Lieutenant (junior-grade), and Army and Marine Corps First Lieutenant; 1st rank is Navy Ensign, and Army and Marine Corps Second Lieutenant.
Effective June 14, 1908 through December 31, 1919.
Pay During World War I
During the Great War, now known as World War I, on May 22, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed, "An act to temporarily increase the commissioned and warrant and enlisted strength of the Navy and Marine Corps, and for other purposes." The act provided for a temporary increase in pay for those enlisted in active service while also prescribing the pay of the Navy and Coast Guard enlisted men be the same.
Section 15 of the act reads, "That commencing June first, nineteen hundred and seventeen, and continuing until not later than six months after the termination of the present war, all enlisted men of the Navy of the United States in active service whose base pay does not exceed $21 per month shall receive an increase of $15 per month; those whose base pay is over $21 and does not exceed $24 per month, an increase of $12 per month; those whose base pay is over $24 and less than $45 per month, an increase of $8 per month; and those whose base pay is $45 or more per month, an increase of $6 per month: Provided, That the increases of pay herein authorized shall not enter into the computation of continuous-service pay: Provided, That during the continuance of the present war, warrant officers, petty officers and enlisted men of the United States Coast Guard shall receive the same rates of pay as are or may hereafter be prescribed for corresponding grades or ratings and length of service in the Navy."
Additionally, Section 18 of the Act directed that in time of peace that although the ranks of Admiral and Vice-Admiral remain, the pay rate for those ranks will be that of a Rear-Admiral.
On July 11, 1919, President Wilson signed, "An act Making appropriations for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920, and for other purposes." which made permanent the pay raise indicated in Section 15 of "An act to temporarily increase the commissioned and warrant and enlisted strength of the Navy and Marine Corps, and for other purposes.", and amounts remained in effect until December 31, 1919.
