Members of the coast guard in the United States start out making around $20,000 and can make up to $98,571. The average Canadian coast guard Salary is C$62,877.53 ($49,532 USD). This salary can go up to about C$93,515.28 ($73,667 USD) for an engineer in the coast guard. A median salary for someone in the coast guard for the United Kingdom is about £31,074 ($35,598.17 USD). A Deputy Director’s pay can be up around £62,043 ($71,076.06 USD). In Australia, the members of the coast guard are volunteers. The average salary for the Switzerland coast guard is CHF$ 61,645.71 ($63.891 USD). In most countries, the average coast guard member’s salary is close to the same amount.
Coast Guard Salary Influencers
Even though different places have different pay scales for jobs in the coast guard, the most important influencing factors and outlooks are the same for all coast guard members. The following categories are an expansion on each defining characteristic.
1. Industry
When someone first enters the United States coast guard, they tend to start out making a lower amount of around $20,000 a year. This would be about $1,667 a month or $9.62 hourly. A Military Officer of the United States coast guard could make about $98,571 a year, $8,214.25 a month or $47.39 an hour, for 40 hours of work a week. An Operations Specialist in the United States coast guard will generally make $51,636 in a year, $4,303 in a month or $24.83 an hour in a 40 hour work week.
2. Geographical Area
| Coast Guard Salary | Hourly Wage | Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| US | $24.83 | $51,636 |
| Canada | C$ 44.96 ($35) |
C$28 ($73,667) |
| UK | £ 14.94 ($17) |
£31,07 ($35,598) |
| Australia | n/a | n/a |
| Switzerland | CHF64 ($30.72) |
CHF71 ($63,891) |
Coast Guard Salary in the US
In the United States Coast Guard, the amount of money made is really dependent on the position held. An active duty military member will make about $55,132 a year whereas a project manager for the Coast Guard will likely make around $107,548 in a year. Other positions, like a petty officer, can make $59,145 annually, and a commander can make up to about $136,895 in a year. Each position of the United States Coast Guard is paid a different amount, and members must work their way through the rankings to receive a higher pay.
Coast Guard Salary in Canada
The Canadian Coast Guard salary is very similar to that in the United States. Each salary relies on the rank of the member. A mechanical associate is on the lower end of the coast guard pay at about C$57,124.46 ($45,000 USD) a year. A deckhand makes about the average pay of C$62,877.53 ($49,532 USD) and a shipping and receiving clerk will typically make around C$93,515.28 ($73,667 USD) annually. The normal Canadian coast guard salary is C$62,877.53 ($49,532 USD), but this salary can go up to about C$93,515.28 ($73,667 USD) for some members of the coast guard in Canada.
Coast Guard Salary in the UK
The United Kingdom’s Coast Guard pays their members based on rank as well. An operations officer makes about £20,120 ($23,049.34 USD) per year, a senior operations officer makes about £28,265 ($32,380.20 USD) in a year, and a surveyor for the coast guard has a salary of around £33,453 ($38,323.54 USD) annually. A Commander for the United Kingdom’s Coast Guard can earn about £45,717 ($52,373.10 USD) in a year, and the Deputy Director is paid close to £62,043($71,076.06 USD) annually. A median salary for someone in the Coast Guard for the United Kingdom is about £31,074 ($35,598.17 USD).
Coast Guard Salary in Australia
The Coast Guard of Australia is volunteer based. All of the members of the Australian Coast Guard volunteer their time since 1961. The coast guard in Australia is not a branch of the military, but an unpaid helping service that assists with search and rescues. The Australian Navy serves the coast of Australia, instead of a separate coast guard service. The coast guard in Australia has no law enforcement authority; however, it is the most cost-efficient way to help all boat owners off of the coast. The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard currently has more than 2,500 regular members and 9,000 Associate members. Since 90% of Australia’s population lives within 120 km of the coast, this volunteer coast guard service is necessary to protect the Australian people.
Coast Guard Salary in Switzerland
Switzerland is the country known for being neutral in most military matters; however, they do have a small section of Armed Forces. The Swiss Armed Forces operate on land, in the air and throughout international waters. Somewhat unusual for a country surrounded by land, the Swiss do have a branch of their Armed Forces that protects the country in international waters. The average pay for the Switzerland Armed Forces is $61,645.71 Swiss Franc ($63,891 USD) in a year.
3. Experience
A soldier’s pay in most countries military is based off of the position held. Each rank has a different salary and the higher the ranking, the higher the pay, generally. A member of the military can move up in the rankings by receiving promotion points. A soldier receives promotion points for accomplishments like their Physical Fitness Test scores.
Administrative points can be made up of the following, and some categories count for more than others:
- Duty Performance
- Competence
- Military Bearing
- Leadership
- Training
- Responsibility/Accountability
- Awards and Decorations
- Military Education
- Civilian Education
- Military Training
The more experience a coast guard member has, the higher they will be ranked, and the more salary they will earn. In Australia, since coast guard members are volunteers, they do not have to have any experience. To become a volunteer coast guard member, the just have to pass the tests they are given and they are never paid.
Working Hours
One of the biggest commitments to the coast guard is the amount of time that will be put in. Many times, training means that a member will have to move states away from their family. Most coast guard members work 50 to 80 hours a week or more and mentally it is a 24/7 job. Even in Australia, where the members are volunteers, they put in a lot of hours to protect the people of their country.
Bonuses & Benefits Package
Tax-free money for Basic Allowance for Housing is provided if government housing is not available in the area. Also, Basic Allowance for Subsistence is offered, if government dining facilities are not available in the area, and a uniform allowance is available to help maintain the appearance of the uniforms of all enlisted personnel.
While in active duty complete medical, dental and eye coverage is accessible, at no cost. Coast guard members receive 2.5 days paid vacation per month, for a total of 30 days paid vacation a year and all work travel expenses are taken care of. As an active-duty member, life insurance policies are made available for a low cost.
For a volunteer coast guard member, in countries like Australia, there is no bonuses or benefits provided. All of the work is done for free, the only thing that is provided are the rescue vessels and radio bases. The Australian Coast Guard does pay for their members public education courses, boat license, safety courses and training.
Job Outlook
During times of war, coast guard members can be utilized as part of the United States Navy; therefore, they are considered a branch of the military and operates as a service to the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime. Joining the Coast Guard is considered to be a very enduring profession. The coast guard is a physically and mentally challenging occupation; however, being able to serve and protect the people of the United States’ coast is a lifelong choice for many. The Australian Coast Guard members are considered to be very good people because they provide their time for no pay. Until 2010 Swiss men were obligated to serve in some branch of their military, so the Coast Guard was thought of as a debt they owed to their country.
Conclusion
A career as part of any coast guard is an enduring choice because the job requires a lot of service to be put in. The average coast guard member does not make an overwhelming amount of money, and the profession requires a lot of mental and physical energy; still, many people find it gratifying to protect others.
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