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United States Marine Corps - E-8 Master Sergeant

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 Master Sergeant - Rank Details


Master Sergeant (MSgt)

Classification Staff Noncommissioned Officer
Abbreviation MSgt
NATO Code OR-8
Service United States Marine Corps
Address Master Sergeant (last name) Informal: Top
What are a Master Sergeant's Responsibilities?

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

Master Sergeants may serve on Battalion, Regiment, or Brigade level staffs, advising Majors or Lieutenant Colonels of the readiness of their units with respect to equipment and programs.

What is a Master Sergeant's Paygrade?

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

Seal of the Marine Corps Marine Corps Master Sergeant Pay Calculator

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


Basic Pay:

Drill Pay:

n/a Learn more
For an E-8 Master Sergeant with
years of experience.

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

Over 8 years

Over 40 years


Equivalent Ranks to a Marine Corps Master Sergeant

A Master Sergeant is a Staff Noncommissioned Officer, 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 Master Sergeant, 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/master-sergeant