Military compensation

Military pay or military compensation is the pay system by which members of the military are compensated for their participation in the military.

As parts of government pay systems, military pay typically does not compete with private military compensation.

Because military service requires fit soldiers and commitments that might reach well beyond civilian employment, governments typically provided additional health care, military housing and retirement or veteran's benefits.

International pay differences
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and the United States form the G8. Canada has the highest paid military of the G8 countries.

Pay ranking from highest paid military to lowest paid military:
 * 1) Canada
 * 2) United Kingdom
 * 3) United States
 * 4) France
 * 5) Germany
 * 6) Japan
 * 7) Russia
 * 8) Italy

Ranking was based on Lieutenant's and Captain's pay. Exchange rates used were accurate as of 8 April 2010.

Pay ranking does not include additional benefits such as medical, pension, living expenses and bonuses (for example, hazard pay, hardship allowance, field allowance, etc.)