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Armed Forces (Officer) Salary in South East

The South East consistently ranks as the UK's second-highest paying region, benefiting from proximity to London, strong transport links and a concentration of technology, pharmaceutical and financial services employers along corridors such as the M4 and M3.

Housing costs are above the national average, particularly in commuter towns. Some employers offer London-adjacent salary packages.

Entry Salary
£32,860
Peak Salary
£127,200
Growth
+287%
Lifetime (25yr)
£2.0m

Salary Trajectory

Stage Years Exp P25 Median P75 P90
Officer Cadet / 2nd Lieutenant 0+ £28,620 £32,860 £35,510 £37,100
Lieutenant / Captain 3+ £37,100 £42,400 £47,700 £50,880
Major 8+ £53,000 £58,300 £63,600 £68,900
Lieutenant Colonel 14+ £68,900 £76,320 £84,800 £93,280
Colonel 20+ £84,800 £97,520 £111,300 £121,900
Brigadier / General 25+ £111,300 £127,200 £148,400 £180,200

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How South East Compares

Mid-career Armed Forces (Officer) median salary by region

Compare with Other Careers in South East

Armed Forces (Officer) in Other Regions

Based on ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) via NOMIS. Regional salary adjustments derived from ONS regional pay differentials. Career progression timelines based on industry research. All figures are gross annual pay estimates for full-time workers.