August 15, 2007
Summary
Are the members of the U.S. military paid enough? The answer depends in part on the measure used to assess military compensation. In terms of basic cash pay, enlisted personnel fall in the middle of the earnings distribution for civilian workers of similar ages and education levels. With the military’s cash allowances for food and housing included (as well as the tax advantage that service members receive because those allowances are tax-exempt), enlisted personnel earn more than at least 75 percent of comparable civilians, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates. Members of the military also receive more-extensive benefits than most civilian workers do.
More at http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/85xx/doc8550/08-15-MilitaryCompensation_Brief.pdf
