The information requested is provided in the table.
The figures include all regular officers and other ranks on the main pay scales. Regular officers and other ranks who are on separate bespoke pay spines, e.g. chaplains, medical and dental officers, professional aviators, officers promoted from the ranks, as well as reservists, are excluded. While Army ranks are shown, the figures also incorporate their equivalent ranks in the RN and RAF.
The averages are based on pay rates for 2008-09 and numbers as at January 2009.
Other ranks are allocated to either the higher or lower pay spines in accordance with their trade.
Rank Average pay (£) Officers Chief of the Defence Staff 231,342.48 General 164,280.65 Lieutenant General 122,404.37 Major General 101,444.98 Brigadier 94,466.91 Colonel 80,381.43 Lieutenant Colonel 68,230.61 Major 50,487.64 Captain 39,433.73 Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant 26,987.44 Other ranks—higher pay spine Warrant Officer 1 42,882.83 Warrant Officer 2 and Staff Sergeant 39,175.30 Sergeant 33,609.32 Corporal 29,836.48 Lance Corporal and Private 25,335.81 Other ranks—lower pay spine Warrant Officer 1 40,576.11 Warrant Officer 2 and Staff Sergeant 35,723.78 Sergeant 31,086.91 Corporal 27,421.40 Lance Corporal and Private 18,652.27 Other ranks—personnel under training New Entrant 13,012.80
The minimum pay range for a trained service person serving in Iraq or Afghanistan is currently £16,227 to £27,599 depending on service, rank, length of service and trade. Details of this and other pay ranges for all service personnel up to the rank of Brigadier and equivalent are contained in the 37th- Report—2008 of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
In addition to basic pay, service personnel deployed on a six month operational tour in Iraq or Afghanistan will receive a tax free operational allowance of £2,380 plus a longer separation allowance worth a minimum of £1,161.