When the military needs to handle internal legal matters, it turns to a a group of specially trained lawyers, called the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

The general base pay for these positions is similar among the various branches.

When compared to the average salaries of private practice attorneys, JAG officer salaries generally fall below the average.

Salary details:

Rank and Pay

Marine JAG members have the lowest starting salary.
They are commissioned as 2nd lieutenants, with an annual salary in the high 30s.

The highest starting salary is earned by Army JAG officers, with a yearly salary of $44,000 per year at the rank of captain.

The salary for this rank caps at $72,000 per year after 14 years of service.

All other branches typically start at about $40,000 per year and in all branches, rank and salaries increase with years of continued service.

Private Sector Comparison:

The average salary of a private practice attorney was $113,310, ranging from $54,000 at the low end to $187,000 at the high end.

The average salary of a JAG officer is $65,000 per year.

Promotions detail:

Promotion to Years of Service Promotion Opportunity
Captain 6 months 100%
Major 6-7 years 95%
Lieutenant Colonel 13 years 85%
Colonel 18 years 60%