With a starting net salary below the €1,000 threshold, uniformed personnel take up service, both in the Armed Forces and the Security Forces.

The unified special payroll system defines their compensation in terms of the basic salary and core allowances, which essentially apply across the entire public sector.

Announcements about raises in the Armed Forces sparked a storm of reactions, leading to internal government turmoil and eventually a commitment from the Prime Minister that the Security Forces of Greece and correctional officers would not be excluded from the raises — even though the argument was made that, for the Armed Forces, savings and budget cuts had already preceded these increases within the Ministry of Defense.

The announcements regarding the raises will be made at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), once the fiscal leeway is clear. However, all uniformed personnel have already been receiving a flat €30 increase from April 1, applicable across the public sector and tied to the increase in the minimum wage. Starting July 1, they will all receive the hazard allowance, with a “nominal value” of €100, which translates to a net amount of €55 to €64 in their pockets.

The Allowances

In attempting to outline the pay structure for uniformed personnel, the basic assumption is that it is uniform for everyone — a foundation for the intense reactions from those serving in the Security Corps following the Defense Minister Nikos Dendias’s announcements about salary increases for Armed Forces personnel. However, the recognition of different working conditions from one service to another has led to a series of allowances that differentiate earnings accordingly.

Thus, it is possible for two police (or army) officers who graduated on the same day from their respective academies and share the exact same family situation to receive different salaries depending on their assignment or even the location of their service.

Therefore, when asked how much a police officer, firefighter, or captain earns, no one can answer with certainty or pinpoint a specific amount.

Starting from €859

Those graduating from academies or completing their training without being ranked officers receive starting net salaries as follows:
– €859 for professional soldiers (EPOP) in the Army
– €894 for a permanent sergeant
– €904 for new Coast Guard officers
– €985 for new firefighters
– €990 for new police officers

An example of the complexity of the pay system is that a new police officer will earn €990 as a first salary if assigned to the pension fund of the former City Police. If assigned to the fund of the former Gendarmerie, the starting salary is €30 more. The two forces were unified over 40 years ago, but their pension funds were not.

The same individuals, shortly before retirement, having married and had two children (provided they are minors or in school), would earn — as non-ranking officers —
– €1,638 as second lieutenant
– €1,835 as fire sergeant
– €1,791 as coast guard sub-lieutenant
– €1,848 as police sub-lieutenant (with the former City Police fund)

Working a Second Job

Police and firefighters have publicly stated many times that their salaries are not enough to meet their families’ basic needs, while also pointing out that they work under special conditions with heightened risk. “You can’t make it without a second job,” many openly admit. These concerns, along with the fact that there is a legislated unified special payroll system for uniformed personnel, form the core of their argument in demanding — and having received a promise for — salary increases, similar to those of Armed Forces personnel, who also work under special conditions and must contend with frequent relocations, which directly impact not only them but also their families.

Staff Exodus

In contrast to the early 2010s and the entire period of the financial crisis—when academies for both the Armed Forces and the Security Corps were highly sought-after due to the job security they offered even with meager salaries—nowadays, there are recorded departures from these schools, a reluctance to enroll, and over the past two years, there has been a notable increase in mass resignations from Armed Forces personnel. The most acute issue is seen in the Navy.

According to military sources, trained Navy personnel face two major issues:

• Prolonged absences from home, sometimes reaching up to 250 days at sea per year

• Low compensation compared to what is offered in the commercial shipping industry

As a result, despite the state investing heavily in their training, it ultimately fails to retain them.

In an effort to stem the exodus, a special Fleet Compensation was established for Navy personnel serving on warships. This compensation is determined:

• According to the type of warship

• Based on the rank and duties of the personnel onboard

As a result, net monthly salaries for personnel serving on warships will see increases ranging from 15% to 25%, starting June 1, 2024.

Indicative monthly increases for personnel in Category A (e.g., frigates, submarines), which represent around 75% of the Navy fleet crew, are as follows:

• Commander (Captain): approximately €460

• Lieutenant Commander: approximately €380

• Ensign: approximately €250

• Petty Officer: approximately €220

• Professional Soldier (EPOP) / Contracted Volunteer (OBA): approximately €210

Flight Allowances

Along similar lines, flight allowances have been established for the Air Force and Army Aviation. This is a semiannual allowance, with 12 levels ranging from €548 to €13,000. A similar allowance is also granted to personnel serving on airborne units of the Hellenic Police, also paid semiannually, ranging from €1,973 to €9,865.

There are also special allowances for those serving in border areas (€130 across all three branches), as well as for paratroopers, members of the Underwater Demolition Unit (MYK), and divers.

In the Police, a €150 allowance is paid to those serving in the riot police (MAT), and the same goes for the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (EKAM), who also receive an additional €141.

All uniformed personnel also receive:

• Night shift allowances, capped at 64 hours per month regardless of whether more hours were worked

• The so-called “five-day” — compensation for working beyond the standard five-day work week

Basic Allowances (Translation)

All personnel serving in the Armed Forces and Security Forces receive:

• Special Conditions Allowance: Determined based on rank and years of service.
• Five-Day Workweek Compensation: Payment for work beyond the five-day workweek, €46 per extra day (4 or 5 days per month).
• Night Work Compensation: Up to 64 hours of night shifts are compensated per month. The calculation is based on €2.77 per hour.

1. All personnel serving in border areas receive a border allowance of €130.
2. Starting from July 1st, all will receive a hazard allowance amounting to €100 per month, which averages to about €60 net.

Armed Forces

Additionally, those serving in the Armed Forces receive:

• Fleet Allowance (Navy): Ranges from 15% to 20% of net earnings, depending on the tier.
• Flight Allowance (Air Force, Army Aviation): 12 tiers, semi-annual allowance ranging from €548 to €13,000.
• Paratrooper Allowance (Army): 3 tiers, semi-annual allowance from €1,575.82 to €2,382.89.
• Submarine Demolitions Allowance: 3 tiers, semi-annual allowance from €2,101.12 to €3,249.41.
• Diver Allowance: €13.55 per hour of diving.
• Mine Clearance Allowance (Army): Monthly allowance ranging from €800 to €900.
• Special Compensation for TENC (Army): €90 per day.
• Special Compensation for Explosive Ordnance Technicians (Army): 2 tiers, ranging from €15 to €90.