Lowest paid in military receive bumper pay rise

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt has announced an above inflation pay rise for the armed forces, with the lowest paid soldiers, sailors and airmen and women receiving a 6% increase to ensure they receive a living wage.

The Ministry of Defence has accepted in full the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body’s recommendations for a 2.9% pay rise this financial year. This pay rise – the highest since 2007 – represents an annual increase of £995 in the average salary for personnel.

A separate pay rise has also been awarded to the lowest paid personnel, with the basic pay for newly trained sailors, soldiers, and airmen and women, rising by £1,140. This increase means that after basic training, new and junior personnel will receive an annual salary of £20,000 a year.

This represents an above inflation 6% pay rise for the most junior service personnel and delivers on the Defence Secretary’s recent commitment to introduce a living wage for the lowest-paid military personnel.

Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:

No soldier, sailor, airman or woman should be asked to serve our country and not be properly rewarded, which is why I’m pleased we have accepted the pay review body’s recommendation for an above-inflation rise this year.

But in order to attract and retain the best talent, we need to make sure even the lowest paid members of the armed forces receive an acceptable salary to live on. Today’s 6% pay rise for junior personnel will ensure they receive a living wage and show the armed forces is an attractive career option.

The annual pay award will be implemented in September’s salaries and will be backdated from April.

In June, the Defence Secretary announced that the MOD would work on providing a living wage to those lowest paid personnel in the armed forces. While the military do not work contracted hours, the 6% pay rise ensures that the lowest paid will receive a living wage. Personnel also have access to subsided accommodation and non-contributory pensions.