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Marine Corps Sergeant MajorE-9 Senior Enlisted Advisor, U.S. Marine Corps |
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Marine Corps Ranks » Sergeant Major Rank • SgtMa Pay • SgtMa Rank History • Promotion Information
E-9 Sergeant Major -
Senior Enlisted Advisor -
U.S. Marine Corps Ranks
Sergeant Major Marine Corps Military Ranks
| Class | Senior Enlisted Advisor |
| Abbr. | SgtMa |
| Title | Sergeant Major (last name) |
| Paygrade |
E-9 (DoD Paygrade) OR-9 (NATO Code) |
| Basic Pay | $6,371/mo |
Sergeant Major is the highest enlisted rank in the Marine Corps, and is equivalent in paygrade (but not in responsibility) to Master Gunnery Sergeant.
A Sergeant Major serves as the billeted senior enlisted advisor for the Marine Corps' largest units, including battalions and squadrons. As the senior enlisted member of their unit, Sergeant Majors serve as a bridge between the enlisted Marines and their commanders and assist in unit logistics, drilling, and disciplinary actions among their Marines.
Sergeant Major is the highest enlisted rank available to non-commissioned officers following the command career path. Most Sergeant Majors are promoted from the ranks of qualifying First Sergeants, who serve a similar purpose in smaller units such as companies and platoons.
Sergeant Major is the 11th rank in the United States Marine Corps , ranking above Master Gunnery Sergeant and directly below Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps. A sergeant major is a Senior Enlisted Advisor at DoD paygrade E-9, with a starting monthly pay of $6,371.
How do you become a Sergeant Major?
A Sergeant Major is most often promoted from Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySg), although promotion from lower paygrades may occur with sufficient display of leadership and experience. Click here to learn more about promotion to Sergeant Major.
What is the proper way to address a Sergeant Major?
The correct way to address a Sergeant Major named Mr. Weber is "Sergeant Major Weber", or written as SgtMa Weber. In formal situations, a Sergeant Major should always be addressed by their full rank.
How much does a Sergeant Major earn?
Basic pay for an entry-level Sergeant Major with Over 10 years of experience is $6,370.50 per month.
A Sergeant Major receives an automatic raise to their basic pay every one to two years. Basic pay is only a small percentage of a Sergeant Major's final compensation package.
In addition to a monthly basic pay salary, a Marine Corps Sergeant Major may be eligible for multiple types of allowances and bonus pay including personal money allowance, education allowance, and more.
For full details on the Marine Corps' Sergeant Major compensation and retirement plan, visit the 2024 Marine Corps Sergeant Major 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' E-9 Sergeant Major
To learn more about the Marine Corps' rank structure, see our complete list of Marine Corps ranks.
The Government civilian-employee equivalent of a Sergeant Major 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.