A newly graduated officer from Chile's Military School, with the rank of second lieutenant (alférez), earns CLP 1,199,153 gross a month, and the commander in chief, with the rank of General of the Army, CLP 6,609,364, according to the Chilean Army's 2025 pay scale obtained by [Meganoticias](https://www.meganoticias.cl/dato-util/499268-sueldos-ejercito-cuanto-gana-un-oficial-recien-egresado-pdp-17-9-2025.html) through a transparency request. With the public-sector pay adjustment of 2.0% in December 2025 and 1.4% in June 2026, those amounts would now be about 3.4% higher (our estimate).
Armed forces pay depends on rank, years of service, regional allowances and specialty, so two people of the same rank can earn different amounts. This guide brings together the public figures available and explains where each one comes from.
How much a soldier earns in Chile: army officers
| Rank | Gross monthly pay 2025 | 2026 estimate (+3.43%) |
|---|---|---|
| Second lieutenant (alférez) | CLP 1,199,153 | CLP 1,240,260 |
| Sub-lieutenant (subteniente) | CLP 1,518,515 | CLP 1,570,570 |
| Lieutenant | CLP 1,993,896 | CLP 2,062,247 |
| Captain | CLP 2,802,324 | CLP 2,898,388 |
| Major | CLP 3,208,297 | CLP 3,318,277 |
| Lieutenant colonel | CLP 4,210,178 | CLP 4,354,503 |
| Colonel | CLP 5,067,803 | CLP 5,241,527 |
| Brigadier general | CLP 5,956,986 | CLP 6,161,191 |
| Major general (general de división) | CLP 6,331,768 | CLP 6,548,821 |
| General of the Army | CLP 6,609,364 | CLP 6,835,933 |
Source for the 2025 column: Chilean Army scale obtained through a transparency request and published by Meganoticias in September 2025. The 2026 estimate is our own calculation applying both stages of the public-sector adjustment in Law 21,806 (2.0% from December 1, 2025, and 1.4% from June 1, 2026; Finance Ministry). Law 21,806 applies to the public sector in general; the exact amount for each rank should be checked in the Army's active transparency section.
Figures vary between sources. In November 2024, BioBioChile reported a base salary of CLP 431,711 for a second lieutenant, which reached CLP 1,144,331 with bonuses. A January 2025 Meganoticias report put the General of the Army at CLP 6,226,008. The difference reflects the year of each scale and which allowances each one includes.
What a soldier's pay includes
A soldier's gross pay is not just the base salary. For a second lieutenant, BioBioChile reported in 2024 a base salary of CLP 431,711 that reached CLP 1,144,331 with bonuses: the base was less than 40% of the total (our calculation).
- Base salary: set by the scale for each rank.
- Allowances and bonuses: depend on rank, years of service, specialty and duties.
- Regional allowance: added for postings in remote or isolated areas.
- Deductions: health and pension contributions and taxes are deducted from gross pay, so net pay is lower.
That is why the tables in this article are a reference: they show the gross pay for a rank, not one person's payslip.
How much NCOs earn in the armed forces
The Army did not publish a table for non-commissioned officers in the sources reviewed. The closest public reference is the Air Force (FACh), which released through a transparency request the gross pay of its permanent staff in the first year of each rank, for the Santiago Metropolitan Region, between January and May 2025 (Meganoticias).
| Rank (Air Force) | Gross monthly pay 2025 | 2026 estimate (+3.43%) |
|---|---|---|
| Corporal (cabo) | CLP 902,238 | CLP 933,167 |
| Corporal second class | CLP 1,086,816 | CLP 1,124,072 |
| Corporal first class | CLP 1,178,691 | CLP 1,219,097 |
| Sergeant second class | CLP 1,538,175 | CLP 1,590,904 |
| Sergeant first class | CLP 1,839,443 | CLP 1,902,499 |
| Warrant officer (suboficial) | CLP 2,242,527 | CLP 2,319,401 |
| Chief warrant officer | CLP 2,592,270 | CLP 2,681,133 |
In the same response, the Air Force said a professional enlisted soldier earns CLP 633,492 gross a month in the first year. Army NCO ranks have the same names, but the Army's table may differ; we use it as a reference, not as official Army data.
How much a conscript earns in 2026
Military Service saw one of the largest increases: conscripts received a 75% raise under the "New Phase" of Military Service, approved by law at the end of 2024, according to 13.cl.
| Conscript | Base amount | With regional allowance (maximum) |
|---|---|---|
| First-year soldier | CLP 230,165 | CLP 394,611 |
| Second-year soldier | CLP 242,496 | CLP 415,707 |
The regional allowance is paid for postings in the south or in isolated areas. On top of the pay, those who complete service get 20 extra points for the DS1 housing subsidy, free medical and dental care, and extra points to apply to the armed forces' academies (13.cl).
A soldier's pay compared with other public careers
| Entry-level post | Reference gross monthly pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Army second lieutenant (2025) | CLP 1,199,153 | Meganoticias / transparency request |
| Air Force corporal second class (2025) | CLP 1,086,816 | Meganoticias / transparency request |
| Air Force professional enlisted soldier (2025) | CLP 633,492 | Meganoticias / transparency request |
| First-year conscript (2026) | CLP 230,165 | 13.cl |
| Minimum monthly wage (2026) | CLP 553,553 | Minimum wage law |
To compare with other uniformed services, see how much a Carabineros officer earns, how much a PDI detective earns and how much a prison officer earns. At the top of the state, the president's salary and a minister's pay serve as a reference ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a newly graduated officer earn in Chile?
An army second lieutenant earns CLP 1,199,153 gross on the 2025 scale; with the public-sector adjustment, about CLP 1.24 million in 2026 (our estimate).
What is the highest salary in the Chilean Army?
That of the General of the Army (commander in chief): CLP 6,609,364 gross a month on the 2025 scale.
How much does a conscript earn in 2026?
CLP 230,165 in the first year and CLP 242,496 in the second, and up to CLP 394,611 and CLP 415,707 with the regional allowance.
Do military salaries include bonuses?
Yes. Gross pay adds the base salary and allowances such as regional or specialty pay. That is why the same rank can have different amounts.
Where are Army salaries published?
In the Chilean Army's active transparency section. They can also be requested under the Transparency Law.
