|
Marine Corps First LieutenantO-2 Commissioned Officer, U.S. Marine Corps |
|
Marine Corps Ranks » First Lieutenant Rank • 1stLt Pay • 1stLt Rank History
O-2 First Lieutenant -
Commissioned Officer -
U.S. Marine Corps Ranks
First Lieutenant Marine Corps Military Ranks
| Class | Commissioned Officer |
| Abbr. | 1stLt |
| Title | Lieutenant (last name) |
| Paygrade |
O-2 (DoD Paygrade) OF-2 (NATO Code) |
| Basic Pay | $4,409/mo |
First Lieutenant is the second junior commissioned officer rank after Second Lieutenant. In the Marine Corps, First Lieutenants lead specialty platoons or serve as executive officer for larger Marine units, such as companies.
Promotion to First Lieutenant is generally automatic for Second Lieutenants who have served for 24 months, and comes with a pay raise and often with a transfer to a higher command position within the Marine Corps. Some officers receiving a promotion to First Lieutenant may receive a further promotion to higher ranks with more leadership responsibility.
First Lieutenant is the 19th rank in the United States Marine Corps , ranking above Second Lieutenant and directly below Captain. A first lieutenant is a Commissioned Officer at DoD paygrade O-2, with a starting monthly pay of $4,409.
How do you become a First Lieutenant?
A First Lieutenant is most often promoted from Second Lieutenant (2ndLt), although promotion from lower paygrades may occur with sufficient display of leadership and experience.
2ndLts are all but guaranteed to promote to 1stLt exactly two years after their commissioning date. Exceptions include officers who have received Non-Judicial Punishment for a serious offense such as a DUI.
Separately, W-5s who become Limited Duty Officers automatically promote to O-2. Prior-Enlisted Officers are ranked O2-E, with higher pay than their counterparts.
What is the proper way to address a First Lieutenant?
The correct way to address a First Lieutenant named Mr. Gutierrez is "Lieutenant Gutierrez", or written as 1stLt Gutierrez. In formal situations, a First Lieutenant should always be addressed by their full rank.
How much does a First Lieutenant earn?
Basic pay for an entry-level First Lieutenant with 2 or less years of experience is $4,408.50 per month.
A First Lieutenant receives an automatic raise to their basic pay every one to two years. Basic pay is only a small percentage of a First Lieutenant's final compensation package.
In addition to a monthly basic pay salary, a Marine Corps First Lieutenant may be eligible for multiple types of allowances and bonus pay including personal money allowance, hostile fire pay, clothing allowance, and more.
For full details on the Marine Corps' First Lieutenant compensation and retirement plan, visit the 2024 Marine Corps First Lieutenant Pay Chart. A full table of the Marine Corps' current paygrades are available at the Marine Corps Pay Chart.
Equivalent Ranks to the Marine Corps' O-2 First Lieutenant
To learn more about the Marine Corps' rank structure, see our complete list of Marine Corps ranks.
The Government civilian-employee equivalent of a First Lieutenant is paid under the General Schedule payscale. For more details, see this Marine Corps rank to GS grade conversion table 
.
To see a list of military medals and decorations that can be earned by servicemembers in the Marine Corps and other branches of the military, see our list of military decorations and medals.