Are people in the RAF satisfied with their pay?

RAF recruits tend to be slightly less satisfied with their pay than civilians. Surveys have found that 42% of RAF recruits (2008) and 48% of civilians (2006) said they were satisfied with their pay.

What is the rate of pay?

From spring 2010, the rate of pay for new RAF recruits is £13,644 (about £260 per week before tax), rising to £17,014 (about £325 per week before tax) once trained.

It typically requires about 12 years' service to reach the rank of Sergeant, at which point you would earn £32,000-£36,000 in today's money, although most recruits leave sooner than this.

Is this a good rate of pay?

Those who say this is not a good rate of pay point out:

• The average (median) pay in the UK jobs market in 2009 was £25,428 - much higher than what most enlisted personnel earn in the armed forces.
• The armed forces do a dangerous job and have restricted freedoms so they ought to be paid a lot more than they are at the moment

Those who say it is a good rate of pay point out:

• Many people who join the armed forces come from poorer backgrounds and as civilians would be earning less than the national average.
• There are other perks involved in an armed forces career (cheaper travel, good pension, fewer living costs), which help you to get by.

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