United States Army - O-10 General
Yearly Base Pay $221,900
|
Monthly Base Pay $18,491.70
|
Hourly Base Pay *
$115.57
|
Army General - Rank Details

General (GEN)
Classification | General Officer |
---|---|
Abbreviation | GEN |
NATO Code | OF-9 |
Service | United States Army |
Address | General (last name) |
What are a General's Responsibilities?
A General is a commissioned officer in the United States Army. They receive their commission upon appointment by President of the United States by recommendation of the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Army.
Generals, distinct in their own right as the rank of General and separate from the other grades of general despite each being addressed as general, serve in the grade of O-10.
Generals are often referred to as “four-stars,†the number of stars worn on their uniform to signify their rank, in order to make clarify from the start the type of general officer being referred to.
The grade and rank of General is the highest-ranking position an Army officer can achieve while serving since the rank of General of the Army is reserved for total war situations (i.e. World War II).
Generals hold commands at the highest levels of the Army, such as in TRADOC or Forces Command; in addition, they can serve as the Chief of Staff of the Army or as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
No officer in the Army, and no soldier save Command Sergeants Major, have more experience, technical or tactical competence, or leadership capability than Generals.
What is a General's Paygrade?
A General is considered a General Officer, with a paygrade of O-10. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.
On this page you can learn more about a General's payscale, the process of becoming a General, and the history of the rank in the United States Army.
Army General Pay Calculator
Starting pay for a General is $18,491.70 per month. You can use the simple calculator below to see basic and drill pay for a General, or visit our Army pay calculator for a more detailed salary estimate.
Use the slider below to calculate the basic pay and drill pay for an O-10 General at varying years in his or her military career.
Over 20 years
Over 40 years
Equivalent Ranks to an Army General
A General is a General Officer, with a military paygrade of O-10. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.
The table below lists the equivalent ranks of an Army General, and their insignia, in the other four branches of the United States' Armed Services.