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United States Army - E-4 Specialist

Yearly Base Pay

$31,604 - $38,369

Monthly Base Pay

$2,633.70 - $3,197.40

Hourly Base Pay *

$16.46 - $19.98

Army Specialist - Rank Details


Specialist (SPC)

Classification Enlisted Soldier
Abbreviation SPC
NATO Code OR-4
Service United States Army
Address Specialist (last name)
What are a Specialist's Responsibilities?

A soldier in the Army holding the rank of Specialist holds the first rank with leadership responsibilities. Unofficially known as a team leader, Specialists manage a small number of other soldiers of lower rank, privates of all class.

Officially, the job of a specialist is to ensure soldiers under their charge are experts in the their individual responsibilities and duties. Specialists themselves are recognized experts in the specialized knowledge of individual soldiers in all capacities; it is from this qualification that the name and title of specialists arises.

Specialist is a common rank in the Army, achieved after a minimum of two years of service and after consistently demonstrated good performance of individual duties and responsibilities.

What is a Specialist's Paygrade?

A Specialist is considered an Enlisted Soldier, with a paygrade of E-4. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-4 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

On this page you can learn more about a Specialist's payscale, the process of becoming a Specialist, and the history of the rank in the United States Army.

Seal of the Army Army Specialist Pay Calculator

Starting pay for a Specialist is $2,633.70 per month, with raises for experience resulting in a maximum base pay of $3,197.40 per month. You can use the simple calculator below to see basic and drill pay for a Specialist, or visit our Army pay calculator for a more detailed salary estimate.


Basic Pay:

Drill Pay:

n/a Learn more
For an E-4 Specialist with
years of experience.

Use the slider below to calculate the basic pay and drill pay for an E-4 Specialist at varying years in his or her military career.

2 or less years

Over 40 years


Equivalent Ranks to an Army Specialist

A Specialist is an Enlisted Soldier, with a military paygrade of E-4. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-4 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

The table below lists the equivalent ranks of an Army Specialist, and their insignia, in the other four branches of the United States' Armed Services.


** This Document Provided By www.FederalPay.org - The Civil Employee's Resource **
Source: www.federalpay.org/military/army/specialist