Are you considering becoming a military recruiter? Aside from information about requirements and qualifications, you may want to know the monetary benefits of being a military recruiter. So, how much do military recruiters make?
For more details and useful information on this matter, keep reading. We will also explore:
Table of Contents
Military Recruiters
What does a military recruiter do?
First, let’s briefly revisit what it means to be a military recruiter!
Military recruiters, also commonly referred to as recruiting specialists, provide information on the service and training opportunities for prospective military recruits. In doing this, they may present at career programs and job fairs. Other than that, military recruits do the interviewing, testing, screening, and counseling for recruits. Essentially, recruiters filter and select qualified candidates to enlist in the U.S Armed Forces.
The specific tasks a military recruiter takes on depend on his/her skill level. There are 3 levels:
Skill Level 3
Recruiters in this skill level work directly with prospective personnel. Their main duties are:
- Interviewing candidates
- Providing counseling and guidance
- Passing out informational brochures
- Deciding if a candidate meets eligibility requirements
Skill Level 4
Level 4 recruiters work primarily with level 3 recruiters and not so much with the candidates. Their duties are:
- Training level 3 recruiters
- Examining level 3 recruiters’ performance
- Offering counseling to level 3 recruiters
- Assisting level 3 recruiters in working with civilians
Skill Level 5
These are the senior recruiters, also called recruiter managers, that concentrate on development and management instead of working directly with civilians. They are in charge of:
- Developing training programs, which includes:
- Arranging recruitment programs
- Planning community outreach
- Examining recruitment statistics
- Assessing recruiter performance reports
Military recruiters can promote to recruiter managers, whose job is to craft recruiting programs and prepare reports about recruiting programs, in addition to directing military recruiters.
There are military recruiters in every branch: the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, & Coast Guard. Non-active duty and retired personnel can pursue a career as a military recruiter as well.
Where does a military recruiter work?
This goes hand-in-hand with, “What is the work environment for military recruiters like?” The short answer is an office setting. Military recruiters will spend much of their time in the office, waiting for people who are interested in enlisting to contact and come in for counseling.
Yet, this is not to say that their job entails no traveling. They will have to go to different places from time to time, like high school campuses, college campuses, and local job fairs, to deliver presentations. However, do note that military recruiters may sometimes have to accommodate their candidates’ needs and work evening or weekend hours.
- Army recruiters usually work in big metropolitan areas. They represent the U.S Army & the Active Guard Reserve program.
Now that you have an idea of the military recruiter job description and work environment, let’s look at the military recruiter salary.
How to become a military recruiter?
Before you can be a recruiter, you have to be a soldier. To enlist in the force:
- be a U.S citizen
- be older than 17 years old (and under some age)
- the age cap differs for each branch; read about the branches’ max age here
- have a high school diploma or GED
- pass the military physical exam
After enlisting, you will need to complete basic training and become well-versed in the U.S Armed Forces value and skilled at marksmanship and physical conditioning.
Then, you will need to finish advanced individual training with a specialization in recruitment to become a recruiter candidate. Afterward, you must take the Basic Leader Course, which lasts for one month, and pass all the necessary tests.
The eligibility requirements to become a recruiter are:
For the Army
- Be older than 21 years old and younger than 35
- Hold a valid driver’s license
- Rank as a specialist, corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, or 1st class sergeant
- Previously served < 9 years as an active sergeant
- Previously served < 15 years as an active staff sergeant
- Previously served < 16 years as an active 1st class sergeant
- Pass the necessary tests
- medical fitness standard and drug test
- physical fitness test (within the past 6 months)
- pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
- Have a clean military and civilian disciplinary profile
If you meet the requirements, file for application by
- submitting interview worksheets (three in total)
- two of which are filled out by your battalion and company commander
- submitting secondary materials
- a photo ID
- personal finances form
- a mental health evaluation report
- a writeup of preferred work locations
Usually, you will get your application results within 4 to 6 months.
Sometimes, you can be nominated to become a recruiter without applying for it. This is based on the soldiers’ records that assignment managers examine.
After your application is accepted, you need to complete the ARC – Army Recruiting Course and ATP – Advanced Training Program. You will acquire the knowledge and skills needed regarding
- enlistment standards & recruiting policies
- interpersonal communication
- technology systems
Finally, you commit to three years of your recruitment assignment.
What Are Some Qualities of a Military Recruiter?
Military recruits are the first people potential personnel meet. So, they have an important duty to represent the U.S Armed Forces and their particular branch well. The impression and image that they showcase can easily become what people think of that branch and of the Forces as a whole. Some typical qualities that military recruiters possess are:
1. Adaptability
Recruiters need to make sharp decisions on their feet all the time. In addition, they often have to travel to other settings to recruit candidates. Thus, adaptability is a quality that they cannot do without.
2. Communication
Recruiters’ work primarily involves talking to recruits and making presentations. Hence, it is not a surprise that they need good communication skills. They have to provide adequate info and impress at the same time.
3. Organization
Military recruiters work with paper, presentations, and go out at the same time. They need to have excellent organizational skills to manage their tasks and time well. Managing schedules and travel appointments are a common part of their everyday duties.
4. Professionalism
Military recruiters need to be professional and demonstrate their professionalism clearly to set examples for incoming recruits. Their professional image will also uphold the Armed Forces’ professionalism.
5. Leadership
Especially in the higher level recruiters, leadership is expected to work across many locations and provide the guidance potential recruits need.
How Much Does a Military Recruiter Make?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for a recruiter is $84,827 (as of Jan. 8, 2022). It is equivalent to $40.78 an hour, $1,631 a week, and $7,069 a month.
Although the pay can be as high as $341,500 and as low as $22,500, the bulk of recruiters makes between $40,500 and $80,500. Salaries can vary depending on many factors, such as a recruiter’s location, experience level, and skill level.
How Much Do Army Recruiters Make?
According to Indeed, Army recruiters can expect an average of $68,544 annually. But, again, it can vary by recruiter’s location, experience level, and skill level.
While on Glassdoor, the average Army recruiter salary is $76,759 a year.
And on CHRON, an example of a 2020 Army recruiter pay chart is as follows:
| monthly | yearly | |
| Sergeant (With 4 – 9 service years) | $2,761 to $3,306 |
$33,132 to $39,672 |
|
Staff Sergeant (With 4 – 9 service years) |
$3,095 to $3,653 | $37,140 to $43,836 |
| 1st Class Sergeant (With 4 – 9 service years) | $3,530 to $4,067 |
$42,360 to $48,804 |
Conclusion
Congrats! You now know the answer to, “How much do military recruiters make?” and other essential information on military recruiters in general. We hope that you have found this both interesting and informative. If you have any thoughts or questions, please comment below! We would also really appreciate it if you could share this article with other readers like your fellows considering becoming a military recruiter!
Read more: Reasons why military recruiters lie.
I am Everett Bledsoe, taking on the responsibility of content producer for The Soldiers Project. My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. Of course, you cannot go wrong when checking out our package of information and guide, too, as they come from reliable sources and years of experience.