Annual Salary
£19,000 to £36,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(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
Soldiers take part in peacekeeping missions, support disaster relief operations and fight in combat zones around the world.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
0.2% fewer Soldier jobs in 2027.
As a soldier, your duties will depend on your unit. You could:
You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.
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 can get into this job through:
You can apply to join the army through an HM Forces Serviceperson Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
You apply directly to the army to find the best apprenticeship route for you. This will depend on your qualifications and which service role you're interested in, for example, engineering, health or logistics.
You can join the Army Reserve to get 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 to join the army. You do not need any specific qualifications unless you're applying for a technical role like engineering or communications.
You'll also need to be:
If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local army careers centre about the opportunities available to you. You'll then attend a 2-day assessment, which includes medical and fitness tests.
You'll need to:
You'll find more information about becoming a soldier from Army Careers.
When you join the army, you sign up for 4 years. You can leave at any time after this as long as you give 12 months' notice. If you want to stay longer you can extend your contract.
Throughout your army career, you'll have the opportunity to gain qualifications in your chosen field. With experience you could move up through the ranks or into a specialist unit like the commandos or paratroopers. You could also train to become an officer.
You can move into a wide range of careers after leaving the army. You'll find details about support and opportunities from:Quest; Career Transition Partnership; Forces Employment Charity; Get Into Teaching
You'll need: