Annual Salary
£31,000 to £48,000
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Security or Emergency or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Security or Emergency or go back to all job sectors
Army officers command, manage and motivate teams of soldiers.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
3.4% more Army officer jobs in 2027.
As an army officer, your duties will depend on your unit.
In a combat role you could:
In a medical or healthcare role, you could:
You could also:
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
You could work at a military base, be based overseas or in a warzone.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
You could get into this job through:
You can do a degree course before you apply for officer training although it's not essential.
Most subjects are acceptable.
You can also apply for an army officer internship before, during or after university. This gives you the chance to learn about the officer role and whether it's something you want to do.
You'll usually need:
You could work towards becoming an officer by doing a college course, for example in public services or A levels. You would then apply to the army for officer training.
You could start your army career by doing an HM Forces Serviceperson Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
You would apply directly to the army to find the best apprenticeship route for you.
To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:
You can join the Army Reserve as a part-time officer to get some experience of what life is like in the regular army. You'll also learn new skills at the same time.
You'll need to:
If you're between 12 and 18 years old, you can join the Army Cadet Force.
You can apply directly for officer training.
You'll need to:
You'll also usually need a minimum of:
You'll be invited to talk to someone at your local army careers centre about the opportunities available. You'll then attend a 2-part assessment, which includes medical and fitness tests.
If you're accepted, you'll move onto formal officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in Surrey.
You'll need to:
You'll find more information about becoming an army officer from Army Careers.
Your first command post will usually be for 12 years though you can leave during training or after 3 years' service. With training and experience, you could move up through the ranks from lieutenant to captain, major and beyond.
Throughout your army career, you'll have the opportunity to gain qualifications in your chosen field.
On leaving active service, you could use your skills, qualifications and experience to go into a new career, for example in management, planning or teaching. You can find details about support and opportunities from:Quest; Career Transition Partnership; Forces Employment Charity; | https://www.forcesemployment.org.uk/][Troops to Teachers
You'll need: