United States Marine Corps - E-8 First Sergeant

Master Sergeant (E-8)

E-8 First Sergeant

Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9)

Yearly Base Pay

$62,579 - $89,248

Monthly Base Pay

$5,214.90 - $7,437.30

Hourly Base Pay *

$32.59 - $46.48

Marine Corps First Sergeant - Rank Details

First Sergeant (1stSg)

Classification	Senior Enlisted Advisor
Abbreviation	1stSg
NATO Code	OR-8
Service	United States Marine Corps
Address	First Sergeant (last name)

What are a First Sergeant's Responsibilities?

First Sergeant is the eighth among Enlisted ranks in the USMC, equal in rank but different in responsibilities than a Master Sergeant. Master Sergeants are technical managers, while First Sergeants are personnel managers.

First Sergeants typically lead at the Company level, advising Captains or Majors of the readiness of their units with respect to personnel.

What is a First Sergeant's Paygrade?

A First Sergeant is considered a Senior Enlisted Advisor, with a paygrade of E-8. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-6 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

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

Marine Corps First Sergeant Pay Calculator

Starting pay for a First Sergeant is $5,214.90 per month, with raises for experience resulting in a maximum base pay of $7,437.30 per month. You can use the simple calculator below to see basic and drill pay for a First Sergeant, or visit our Marine Corps pay calculator for a more detailed salary estimate.

Basic Pay:

Drill Pay:

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For an E-8 First Sergeant with
years of experience.

Use the slider below to calculate the basic pay and drill pay for an E-8 First Sergeant at varying years in his or her military career.

Over 8 years

Over 40 years

Equivalent Ranks to a Marine Corps First Sergeant

A First Sergeant is a Senior Enlisted Advisor, with a military paygrade of E-8. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-6 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

The table below lists the equivalent ranks of a Marine Corps First Sergeant, and their insignia, in the other four branches of the United States' Armed Services.