A Non-Commissioned Officer is a military rank referring to an officer who has not been promoted to hold high office. NCOs are still leaders, though, the primary ones for most military personnel. They are responsible for executing missions and for providing adequate and specialized training to their subordinates.
NCOs command privates, corporals, and sergeants rank under them. They are trained for combat as well as management and function as a link between enlisted soldiers and commissioned officers. They provide guidance and advice, first and foremost, to junior officers.
The duties of NCOs are varied, and the perks are many. Although they only make 11% more than the average national salary, with a median annual income of around $45,978, they get schooling and training opportunities, with a chance to earn bonuses as well.
What does a non-commissioned officer do?
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is responsible for maintaining peace and order during military operations and training. Non-commissioned officers' duties include leading soldiers' training for military operations, responding to the soldiers' concerns that involve their physical and mental well-being, and utilizing military equipment and tools properly while following strict regulatory procedures. An NCO is in charge of leading unit activities, performing corrective actions as needed, and coordinating closely with the troop members. A non-commissioned officer must display excellent leadership and critical-thinking skills to guide the military troop efficiently.
Learn more about the specifics of what a non-commissioned officer does- Salary$104,839
- Growth Rate3%
- Jobs Number69,414
- Most Common SkillCombat
- Most Common DegreeBachelor's degree
- Best StateVirginia
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Non-Commissioned Officer career paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of team leader you might progress to a role such as manager eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title program manager.
Non-Commissioned Officer
Average non-commissioned officer salary
The average Non-Commissioned Officer salary in the United States is $104,839 per year or $50 per hour. Non-commissioned officer salaries range between $77,000 and $142,000 per year.
Average
Non-Commissioned Officer
Salary
$104,839Yearly
$50.40
hourly
What Am I Worth?
Non-Commissioned Officer skills and job requirements
The most common skills required to be a non-commissioned officer are combat, logistical support, and nco.
Non-Commissioned Officer skills
- Combat
- Logistical Support
- NCO
- Professional Development
- Platoon
- Training Programs
- DOD
- Law Enforcement
- PowerPoint
- Windows
Non-Commissioned Officer requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- U.S. citizen.
- Meet physical fitness standards.
- Meet security clearance level.
- Be between the ages of 18 and 35.
Non-Commissioned Officer responsibilities
The role of a non-commissioned officer includes a wide range of responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary based on an individual's specific job, company, or industry. Here are some general non-commissioned officer responsibilities.
- Ensure assigned equipment are maintained and serviceable for accomplish all combat evacuation during OIF.
- Provide leadership and knowledge of federal shipping and logistics regulations by managing adherence to all policies and procedures from higher headquarters.
- Provide hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response capability for unknown or suspect CBRN incidents.
- Ensure compliance with local state and federal EPA guidelines for hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling and waste disposal.
Non-Commissioned Officer education
If you're interested in becoming a non-commissioned officer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 43.6% of non-commissioned officers have a bachelor's degree.
We found that 6.4% of non-commissioned officers have master's degrees. Even though most non-commissioned officers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
The most common majors for non-commissioned officers are business, criminal justice, and general studies.
Non-Commissioned Officer degrees
Bachelor's
43.6
%
Associate
33.1
%
High School Diploma
Non-Commissioned Officer resume examples
How do non-commissioned officers rate their job?
Best states for a non-commissioned officer
Some states are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a non-commissioned officer. The best states for people in this position are Alaska, Virginia, Washington, and California.
1. Virginia
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 1,224Avg. salary: $136,199Location quotient: 1.392. North Dakota
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 117Avg. salary: $122,958Location quotient: 1.343. Washington
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 699Avg. salary: $135,570Location quotient: 1.024. Nevada
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 293Avg. salary: $110,888Location quotient: 1.55. Maryland
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 655Avg. salary: $124,308Location quotient: 1.16. Rhode Island
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 144Avg. salary: $110,357Location quotient: 1.277. New Mexico
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 200Avg. salary: $110,194Location quotient: 1.098. Oklahoma
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 307Avg. salary: $109,432Location quotient: 1.069. Alaska
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 41Avg. salary: $145,696Location quotient: 0.5210. District of Columbia
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 64Avg. salary: $153,527Location quotient: 0.4111. Connecticut
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 315Avg. salary: $119,112Location quotient: 1.0212. California
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 2,298Avg. salary: $133,864Location quotient: 0.8413. New York
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 1,283Avg. salary: $115,903Location quotient: 1.0714. Illinois
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 985Avg. salary: $115,596Location quotient: 0.8815. Missouri
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 499Avg. salary: $110,383Location quotient: 0.9116. Wisconsin
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 568Avg. salary: $102,582Location quotient: 1.117. Georgia
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 991Avg. salary: $106,504Location quotient: 1.0218. Minnesota
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 699Avg. salary: $104,217Location quotient: 1.1219. Massachusetts
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 880Avg. salary: $108,973Location quotient: 1.0220. Alabama
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 478Avg. salary: $98,784Location quotient: 1.1621. Pennsylvania
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 1,010Avg. salary: $102,497Location quotient: 0.9322. Vermont
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 84Avg. salary: $100,585Location quotient: 1.1723. Wyoming
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 16Avg. salary: $106,301Location quotient: 0.2924. Louisiana
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 273Avg. salary: $103,803Location quotient: 0.9125. Oregon
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 356Avg. salary: $106,484Location quotient: 0.9226. Colorado
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 713Avg. salary: $98,637Location quotient: 1.2827. Arizona
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 789Avg. salary: $94,645Location quotient: 1.4428. Kansas
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 235Avg. salary: $102,130Location quotient: 0.8329. South Dakota
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 99Avg. salary: $96,765Location quotient: 0.9930. Delaware
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 82Avg. salary: $105,577Location quotient: 0.731. Utah
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 189Avg. salary: $101,855Location quotient: 0.6332. Tennessee
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 509Avg. salary: $95,861Location quotient: 0.9333. Maine
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 140Avg. salary: $92,176Location quotient: 1.1334. New Jersey
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 788Avg. salary: $96,968Location quotient: 1.0635. Idaho
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 40Avg. salary: $101,091Location quotient: 0.2636. North Carolina
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 826Avg. salary: $95,584Location quotient: 0.9237. West Virginia
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 146Avg. salary: $89,152Location quotient: 1.0238. Arkansas
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 255Avg. salary: $87,346Location quotient: 1.0439. Nebraska
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 213Avg. salary: $88,665Location quotient: 1.0240. Indiana
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 544Avg. salary: $89,389Location quotient: 0.8841. Mississippi
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 245Avg. salary: $81,227Location quotient: 1.2342. Florida
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 2,045Avg. salary: $70,895Location quotient: 1.443. New Hampshire
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 160Avg. salary: $87,209Location quotient: 0.9844. Ohio
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 826Avg. salary: $86,781Location quotient: 0.8645. Montana
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 26Avg. salary: $93,692Location quotient: 0.2446. Texas
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 1,692Avg. salary: $86,620Location quotient: 0.8947. Iowa
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 344Avg. salary: $81,645Location quotient: 1.0148. Michigan
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 600Avg. salary: $85,422Location quotient: 0.8349. South Carolina
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 409Avg. salary: $80,898Location quotient: 0.9850. Hawaii
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 62Avg. salary: $79,594Location quotient: 0.7951. Kentucky
Total non-commissioned officer jobs: 282Avg. salary: $76,101Location quotient: 0.82Non-Commissioned Officer videos
A Day in the Life of an Infantry Corporal
Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) - Paul's Warrior Leader Course Graduation - 24JAN14
Non-Commissioned Officer FAQs
Commissioned vs. Non-Commissioned Officer
A commissioned officer is an officer of the military who has received rank and commission in the armed services, while a non-commissioned officer is an officer in the military that has not yet earned commission or rank.
Have more questions?
See all answers to common protective service questions.Search for non-commissioned officer jobs
Non-Commissioned Officer Related Careers
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- Non-Commissioned Officer
Updated December 8, 2023
