Marine Corps Sergeant MajorE-9 SgtMa (Previous)
Sergeant Major

Marine Corps Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps

E-9 Senior Enlisted Advisor, U.S. Marine Corps
(Next) W-1 WO1Marine Corps Warrant Officer 1
Warrant Officer 1

Marine Corps Ranks » Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps RanksgtMa PaysgtMa Rank History

Rank badge of a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps E-9 Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps - U.S. Marine Corps Ranks

Marine Corps Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps
Marine Corps E-9 Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps 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 $5,789/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 Of The Marine Corps is the 12th rank in the United States Marine Corps , ranking above Sergeant Major and directly below Warrant Officer 1. A sergeant major of the marine corps is a Senior Enlisted Advisor at DoD paygrade E-9, with a starting monthly pay of $5,789.

How do you become a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps?

Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps is a special / ceremonial rank, so promotions don't occur in the same way as with a a traditional Marine Corps rank promotion.

The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is hand-selected by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and typically serves for four years.

What is the proper way to address a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps?

The correct way to address a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps named Mr. Garelick is "Sergeant Major Garelick", or written as sgtMa Garelick. In formal situations, a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps should always be addressed by their full rank.

How much does a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps earn?

Basic pay for an entry-level Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps with Over 10 years of experience is $5,789.10 per month.

A Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps receives an automatic raise to their basic pay every one to two years. Basic pay is only a small percentage of a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps' final compensation package.

In addition to a monthly basic pay salary, a Marine Corps Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps may be eligible for multiple types of allowances and bonus pay including retirement benefits, hazard pay, education allowance, and more.

For full details on the Marine Corps' Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps compensation and retirement plan, visit the 2024 Marine Corps Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps Pay Chart. A full table of the Marine Corps' current paygrades are available at the Marine Corps Pay Chart.

Patch of a Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps Equivalent Ranks to the Marine Corps' E-9 Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps

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 Of The Marine Corps 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.