UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / June 08, 2021 / Research from Ezra, the leading provider of digital coaching, has shown which armed forces currently account for the largest percentage of the workforce, which have seen the biggest increase in the last five years and which takes home the biggest paycheck.

Largest US Armed Forces

With an estimated 216,000 enrolled in the US Army, it’s by far the biggest employer in the United States Armed Forces accounting for 41% of the total workforce. The US Navy and the US Airforce account for an estimated 22% of the total workforce each, while the smallest employer is the National Guard (1.7%).

However, in the last five years, the National Guard has seen the biggest increase where recruitment levels are concerned, with the total number increasing by 74%. This is by far the highest increase with the Air Force seeing the next biggest jump at 38%. The US Marines are the only area of the US Armed Forces to see the workforce decline in number in the last five years, down by -8%.

US Armed Forces Income Potential

Although the US Coast Guard does not fall under the Department of Defence, it is considered military service as its assets can be transferred to the navy in times of conflict. 

The US Coast Guard also plays a pivotal role in America’s war against crime, protecting sea borders from illegal activity such as drugs or people smuggling, a task that has grown more prominent and more dangerous in recent years. This is no doubt a driving factor behind the fact that the US Coast Guard not only offers the highest average salary of all US Armed Forces at $68,222 per year but it’s also seen the largest five-year growth at 49%.

The US Navy is home to the second-highest level of income at $53,363 per year on average, having increased by 23% in the last five years. The US Airforce has seen the smallest increase in earnings during this time at 3.6%, while the National Guard earns the least at $41,216 having seen a decline of -14% in the last five years.

Founder of Ezra, Nick Goldberg, commented:

“A career in the US Armed Forces offers the purest form of professional progression available, providing the training and guidance required to push yourself to be the best on a daily basis.

As a result, career progression is built on this desire to improve and those who prove themselves are able to climb the ranks based on these merits. While this progression also yields a higher rate of income, this is far from the motivating factor and this is certainly a lesson that many other businesses could learn from when hoping to improve and perfect their own workforce.”