Military salary: how the amount is determined

The official salary is one of the three main types of remuneration for servicemen. Its amount depends on the position held and the specific tariff category.

The rules for calculating the official salary are regulated by Section II of the Procedure for Payment of Remuneration to Servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Certain Other Persons, approved by Order of the Ministry of Defense No. 260 dated 07.06.2018.

Base salaries are paid in the amounts specified in the following four regulatory documents:

• The tariff scale of grades and coefficients of official salaries of servicemen from among the privates, sergeants and officers, officers (except for servicemen in regular military service), privates and commanders
• Scheme of tariff grades for the main typical positions of officers of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and the State Special Transport Service
• Tariff scale of grades and coefficients of official salaries of servicemen in regular military service
• The scheme of tariff coefficients for the positions of cadets of higher military educational institutions (higher education institutions with specific conditions of study) and military educational units of higher education institutions, institutions of professional pre-higher military education, higher education institutions of the Ministry of Finance, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, the State Emergency Service, the State Criminal Executive Service, lyceum students of military lyceums, naval lyceums, boarding lyceums, civil defense lyceums, lyceums.

These documents are set out in the annexes to the Cabinet of Ministers' Resolution No. 704 of 30.08.2017 «On the Remuneration of Military Personnel, Ranks and Commanders and Some Other Persons».

Official salaries are paid depending on the positions held and the tariff categories provided for in the military unit's staffing.

For the purpose of establishing the official salary, the tariff categories of servicemen (except for servicemen in regular military service) are indicated in the staffing of the military unit by a fraction in the numerator. For the purpose of determining the official salary, the tariff categories of servicemen in regular military service are indicated in the staffing table of a military unit by a fraction in the denominator.

Official salaries (except for students, adjuncts, doctoral students, servicemen in regular military service, cadets, lyceum students) are paid from the day of assuming duties in the position (but not earlier than the day of issuing an order on the personnel on appointment to the position) until the day of resignation inclusive. The date of commencement of the performance of duties in the position (resignation) and the amount of the official salary in accordance with the tariff category are determined by the order of the commander of the military unit.

The salaries of officers who are enlisted for military service under a contract from the reserve or for military service by conscription of persons from among reservists during a special period (if conscription and notification were carried out by commanders of military units) are paid in the amount provided for in the 12th tariff category of the Tariff Schedule of Categories and Coefficients (Annex 1 to Resolution No. 704), from the date of enrollment in the lists of personnel of the military unit until the date of assumption of duties in the position.

The salaries of officers called up for military service are paid in the amount stipulated in the 12th tariff category of the Tariff Schedule of categories and coefficients (Annex 1 to Resolution No. 704) from the date of departure from the district (city) military commissariat (territorial center for recruitment and social support) to the military unit until the day of assuming duties.

The salaries of privates, sergeants and officers (except for servicemen in regular military service) are paid in the amount stipulated by the 1st tariff category of the Tariff Schedule of categories and coefficients (Annex 1 to Resolution No. 704), until the day of assuming the duties of the position:

• from the day of departure from the district (city) territorial center of recruitment and social support to the military unit - for those called up for military service during mobilization, for a special period or for military service for persons from among reservists during a special period
• from the date of enrollment in the lists of personnel of a military unit - for military service under a contract or for military service under a call-up of persons from among the reservists during a special period (if the call-up and notification were carried out by commanders of military units).

Servicemen who are enlisted for military service on a contract basis during their regular military service, from the date of signing the contract until the day of assuming their duties, are paid salaries in accordance with the tariff category of a serviceman on a contract basis for the position held as of the date of signing the contract.

Salaries are maintained in accordance with the tariff category of the previous position in accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine, as indicated in the orders on appointment of personnel.

The material of the section «Protection of the Military» was prepared by Victoria Polishchuk, a member of the Center for Coordination of Volunteer Assistance to Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Bar Association.