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United States Marine Corps - E-4 Corporal

Yearly Base Pay

$31,604 - $38,369

Monthly Base Pay

$2,633.70 - $3,197.40

Hourly Base Pay *

$16.46 - $19.98

Marine Corps Corporal - Rank Details


Corporal (Cpl)

Classification Noncommissioned Officer
Abbreviation Cpl
NATO Code OR-4
Service United States Marine Corps
Address Corporal (last name)
What are a Corporal's Responsibilities?

Corporal is the fourth among Enlisted ranks in the USMC. It is the first Non-Commissioned Officer rank, with the expectations of leading and setting expectations for junior Enlisted Marines. It is rare to see a group of junior Enlisted Marines without a Corporal or higher ranking Marine to supervise them.

Corporals are often Squad Leaders, leading two Fire Teams of four Marines each. Corporals continue developing their own skills through schools, self-education, strict self-discipline, and mentorship from higher-ranking Marines. Learning never stops, especially if Marines are intent on making the military a career.

What is a Corporal's Paygrade?

A Corporal is considered a Noncommissioned Officer, 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 Corporal's payscale, the process of becoming a Corporal, and the history of the rank in the United States Marine Corps.

Seal of the Marine Corps Marine Corps Corporal Pay Calculator

Starting pay for a Corporal 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 Corporal, or visit our Marine Corps pay calculator for a more detailed salary estimate.


Basic Pay:

Drill Pay:

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

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

2 or less years

Over 40 years


Equivalent Ranks to a Marine Corps Corporal

A Corporal is a Noncommissioned Officer, 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 a Marine Corps Corporal, 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/marine-corps/corporal