Air Force Reserve Officer Pay Scale | Sapling

Air Force Reserve Officer Pay Scale

Written By
Danielle Smyth
Danielle Smyth
Mar 20, 2011
3 minute read
Combat fighter jet flies turning maneuver high in the sky above the clouds.
Air force reserve officer salaries vary by experience, rank and drills. Image Credit: aapsky/iStock/GettyImages

The pay for Air Force Reserve officer jobs fluctuates in the same way the pay scale does for enlisted servicemembers and active-duty officers. Starting at a base level, pay increases, depending on the officer's rank and years of service. Officers are paid per month rather than receiving a yearly salary.

Air Force Reserve Officer Pay Scale

According to the United States Air Force's 2022 reserve officer pay scale, the reserve's officer pay grade begins with Second Lieutenants (O-1) with fewer than two years of service who receive ​$3,385.80 per month​. Pay then increases to ​$3,619.50​ for those with over two years of service. The pay is then capped at ​$4,375.50 per month​ for those with over three years of service.

Pay for Majors (O-4) with fewer than two years of service begins at ​$5,273.70 per month​, increasing to ​$6,104.40​ for those with over two years of service. The pay increases further to ​$6,512.40​ for over three years of service. Unlike Second Lieutenants, pay increases to ​$6,602.70​ for over four years of service and ​$6,980.70​ for over six years of service.

At the top of the scale, Major Generals (O-8) with fewer than two years of service receive ​$11,635.50 per month​, which then increases to ​$12,017.10​ for those with over two years of service. The monthly pay then increases to ​$12,270.00​ for those with over three years of service, ​$12,340.50​ for over four years of service and ​$12,656.10​ for over six years of service.

Consider also:How to Get a Military W-2

Air Force Reserves Benefits

In addition to monthly compensation, Air Force reserve officer jobs come with various education and financial benefits. Provided individuals meet the Air Force reserve requirements, reserve service members have the freedom to pursue their education and career while still being a part of the U.S. Air Force.

According to the writers at The Air Force Reserve, there are many educational benefits for reserve service members. Particularly notable benefits include tuition assistance, college credit, access to the Montgomery GI Bill, on-the-job training and student loan repayment. In addition to education benefits, reserve service members receive financial benefits, such as grocery and department store privileges, in which reserve service members can save on low-cost commissaries and tax-free exchanges.

Members of the reserve also receive low-cost medical insurance not only for themselves but also for their dependent family members. Along with this low-cast insurance is access to retirement benefits and inexpensive life insurance.

Consider also:What Is the Pay Scale for the Air Force?

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Air Force Reserve Drill Pay

In addition to monthly pay, air force reserve officers will receive compensation for the time spent training in drills. According to the experts at the U.S. Air Force, drill pay for Second Lieutenants with under two years of service begins at ​$463.64 per month​, then increases to ​$482.60​ for those with over two years of service and ​$583.40​ for over three.

The Majors' drill pay starts at ​$703.16 per month​ for those with fewer than two years of service, which then increases to ​$813.92​ for those with over two. The pay then increases to ​$868.32​ for those with over three years of service, ​$880.36​ for over four and ​$930.76​ for those with over six.

At the top of the scale are Brigadier Generals (O-7), whose drill pay begins at ​$1,289.12 per month​ for those with fewer than two years of service. The pay then increases to ​$1,349.00​ for over two years of service, then to ​$1,376.72​ for those with over three years of service, ​$1,398.76​ for over four and ​$1,438.64​ for over six.

Consider also:How Does Delayed Enlistment Affect Retirement Pay?

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Danielle Smyth

Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. She has been writing on business-related topics for nearly 10 years. She owns her own content marketing agency, Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing, and she helps…

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