The Navy Compensation Package: Few things can compare

Pay & Health Care

When it comes to financial benefits, the Navy amounts to much more than a competitive paycheck. Like significant tax incentives. Retirement income. And, of course, comprehensive health-care coverage. When you add it all up, the entire package is tough to beat – from nearly every angle.

Pay

Enlisted Pay

In the Navy and all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, pay is dependent upon rank (known as rate for Enlisted personnel in the Navy) and years in service (see the chart below). Promotions depend on performance and time in service, and an Enlisted Sailor has to earn an increase in rate. In general, you will be eligible for advancement from E-1 to E-2 after nine months, E-2 to E-3 after another nine months, and from E-3 to E-4 after a subsequent six months.

click here for Enlisted Pay chart
This graph shows the monthly salary for each of the Enlisted ranks commonly reached in the first four years of enlistment. This graph is based on the pay scale effective January 1, 2010.

Numbers shown are monthly pretax earnings and do NOT include the value of housing or other allowances or benefits.

Taxes can vary; you will be taxed at the rate of your official state of residence, and some states offer special tax rates to military personnel. Housing and food allowances are not taxed.

In certain circumstances, promotions up to E-3 can come faster. One way to accelerate your Navy career is to get others to join. If you refer friends or other acquaintances to join the Navy, you can be eligible for advancement up to E-3. Contact a recruiter for more details.

Officer Pay

Officer salaries are based on rank and years in service. The monthly pay for an Ensign (O-1) upon receiving commission is $2,745.60 plus allowances and benefits. This graph shows the monthly salary for typical Officers based on rank and years in service.

click here for Officer Pay chart
When considering salary, be sure to take into account the value of housing and other allowances – plus outstanding Navy health-care benefits – which adds thousands of dollars to the value of your compensation.

In addition, Congress generally authorizes a military pay raise every year to reflect cost-of-living increases.

Vacation

Sailors and Officers enjoy generous vacation time (in the Navy it’s called leave). You can earn up to 30 paid days each year. If you don’t take all 30 days in one year, you can bank up to 60 days to use in the future.

Housing, Meal and Tax Benefits

Many states offer significant tax breaks to Navy personnel. In addition, each service member receives a monthly allowance for housing and food – completely tax-free.

What’s more, in the Navy you may qualify for a VA (Veterans Affairs) home loan, which typically offers better interest rates and qualification requirements than you’ll find as a civilian. Find more information at the VA web site.

Health Care

These days, a good health plan is increasingly rare. Rising medical costs and skyrocketing insurance premiums can make it difficult to afford quality medical care. In America’s Navy, we pride ourselves in providing world-class medical care to each and every Active Duty Sailor and Officer – as well as their families.

This full, comprehensive coverage is available at all military hospitals and dental facilities.

And if any one kind of specific service is unavailable, Navy service members receive referrals to necessary providers. This also is covered by the Navy health-care plan.

In the case of a medical emergency or concern, visiting your local medical facility is also covered.

This level of high-quality health-care coverage is getting harder and harder to find in the civilian sector. In the Navy, it remains standard issue.

Get more detailed information about Navy health-care coverage.

Life Insurance

The Navy provides all its service members with superior life insurance coverage. A $250,000 life insurance policy costs only $16 a month. A $400,000 life policy is only $26 a month.

source: navy.com

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Career of the Week: Computer Network Engineer

A computer network engineer maintains and administers computer systems and all of their related components, including computer hardware, systems software and applications software. Educational requirements for a career in computer network engineering usually requires a four-year bachelor’s degree combined with work experience and top candidates generally possess advanced training.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Computer Network Engineer

A computer network engineer operates the master consoles that monitor the performance of computer systems and coordinates computer network access and use. Network engineers design, configure and test computer hardware and networking and operating system software. They are responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing network security measures for the protection of data, software and hardware. Computer engineers recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, determining the hardware or software requirements that may be related to such changes. There is some overlap with computer network administrators at the transport level, including the management of the linking and networking protocols that allow data to be transferred. Here are some examples of job duties from Monster.com:

Computer Network Engineer Job Requirements

Knowledge of electronic equipment, circuit boards, chips, processors and related equipment is essential for a computer network engineer. Employers usually look for at least a bachelor’s degree although an MBA with technology as a core component is often preferred. Currently, 60% working in computing started out with non-IT degrees. Employers will often consider other areas of expertise that more precisely fit the job and recommend additional training. Engineering science and technology play a key role in a computer developer career. Critical thinking, logic, communication and problem solving are skills present in a quality computer network engineer. Here are some requirement excerpts from CareerBuilder.com:

Computer Network Engineer Job and Career Outlook

Computer networking is one of the top five fastest-growing occupations today, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (www.bls.gov). The last decade saw remarkable growth in computer system design and related industries. Corporations and business both large and small depend on network engineers to design, install, maintain and protect their computer systems. Additional network engineers will be required to keep up with the demand created by strong competition among businesses and increasingly sophisticated technological innovations. A posting on,www.salary.com, stated the average earnings of a computer network technician was between $44,141 and $66,185. New technologies such as the Internet and wireless mobile devices will create new job opportunities as network engineers will be needed to provide support and implement changes into existing systems. An increased reliance on computer systems has also created a greater need for security, which can be provided by those holding proper training or a degree in computer network engineering.

source: diplomaguide.com

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The 10 Least Stressful Jobs of 2010

Imagine that you were given the chance to cut your amount of job-related stress in half – would you do it?

It’s doubtful many employees would refuse such an opportunity, especially at a time when the economy is causing heightened workplace anxiety. But while embracing a stress-free lifestyle may sound like a wonderful idea, for some it might not be worth the cost. Would you be willing to sacrifice a career with growth potential for less anxiety? How about a good salary, or a job with high levels of satisfaction? Examining the 10 least stressful jobs for 2010, this is a choice many job seekers have to make if they want less tension in their work lives.

This year’s least stressful job, Musical Instrument Repairer, ranks well in the three stress “Mega Factors” (work environment, job competitiveness and risk) used to measure tension levels, but offers little earning potential or opportunity for advancement. The same deficits apply to several other jobs on the list, such as Appliance Repairer, Piano Tuner and Janitor, which are unlikely to cause tension headaches, but also have relatively low median incomes and (with the exception of Janitor) poor employment prospects.

Of course, everyone’s desire to climb the corporate ladder is different, and for some the relatively low stress of being a Librarian is more appealing than the potential of a high risk, high reward career like Senior Corporate Executive. Similarly, Surgeons work long hours and have little room for error, but are paid exceptionally well for their efforts. Whether this is enough to ease the pain of such a high-pressure career, however, depends largely on the job seeker.

Think it’s time to ditch the rat race and find a job that won’t cause indigestion? Check out one of the 10 Least Stressful Jobs for 2010:

1. Musical Instrument Repairer

Maintains and repairs band and orchestral instruments of all kinds.

2. Medical Records Technician

Maintains complete, accurate, and up-to-date medical records for use in treatment, billing, and statistical surveys.

3. Actuary

Interprets statistics to determine probabilities of accidents, sickness, and death, and loss of property from theft and natural disasters.

4. Forklift Operator

Operates industrial trucks and tractors to move products and raw materials for manufacturing firms.

5. Appliance Repairer

Performs major and routine maintenance on a variety of electrical home appliances.

6. Medical Secretary

Transcribes dictations, prepares correspondence, and assists physicians and other medical scientists in compiling reports, articles, speeches and conference proceedings.

7. Librarian

Selects and organizes materials to make information available to the public.

8. Bookkeeper

Maintains financial records and prepares statements of a company’s income and daily operating expenses.

9. Piano Tuner

Adjusts piano strings to achieve proper musical pitch.

10. Janitor

Cleans offices and other spaces within buildings, and keeps areas in good condition.

While the majority of jobs on this list offer little growth potential or income, there are some exceptions. Actuaries enjoy relatively stress-free workplaces thanks to an excellent work environment and little risk of serious injury or death. However, the salary and employment prospects for Actuaries are also very good, thanks in part to the rigorous testing required to become licensed. This makes Actuary stand out among the least stressful jobs, and is a major reason that the profession also ranks as the best overall job for 2010.

source: careercast

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