Which Airforce Jobs Pay the Most - Highest Paying Careers What are the Air Force's Highest Paying Careers? Do you think fighter pilots make the best money? How about military air traffic controllers? Although the Air Force is home to many high tech careers, its unique method of determining salary and benefits might surprise you. If you want to know which Air Force jobs pay the most, you must first understand how one enters the air force, how their various qualifications determine their salaries and benefits, and how the airmen and airwomen of the armed forces ascend throughout the course of their military careers. Air Force Careers - Differences in Pay for Enlisted Men and Officers: When you sign up to join the air force, there are two major paths open to you. Those who have earned a high school diploma, but have not attended or completed college, are eligible to join the air force as enlisted level recruits. Enlisted opportunities span an entire employment spectrum ranging from mechanical, administrative and electrical jobs including general positions such as ground equipment apprentices or airfield management apprentices. People enlisting for mechanical jobs might be trained as air force mechanics or re-fuelers, while those enlisting for electrical positions might end up as missile systems maintenance technicians or aerial gunners, depending upon their qualifications, achievements and success in training.
Alternatively, those who have completed college degrees may join the air force as Officers in training. This is the route that leads to some of the air force's most coveted and iconic jobs, such as fighter pilot. Although only 4% of those in the air force are actually pilots, there are several other demanding and high profile jobs open only to cadets who successfully complete their officer training requirements. These include: bomber and stealth pilots, in-flight refueling pilots, transport pilots, civil engineers, weather officers, judge advocate officers, aircraft maintenance officers, logistics officers and even public affairs officers. How Do Air Force Career Pay Scales Work? Which are the Highest Paying Jobs? Actually, the air force uses two separate pay scales for enlisted servicemen and officers, both of which are calculated via a matrix that takes into account rank and time served. Enlisted men, who are beginning their military careers without any prior service record can expect to be placed in the first pay rung, known as E-1.