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The debate on the military salary in 2026 has become one of the central axes of the agenda of the Ministry of Defense. The government’s commitment appears in the Industrial and Technological Security and Defense Plan, approved by the Council of Ministers, which recognizes the need to strengthen the economic conditions of military personnel.
From Defense they admit that the process continues in the negotiation phase. Official sources indicate that the objective is to adapt remuneration to the responsibility and permanent availability required by a military career, in a context marked by increasing defense spending and Spain’s international commitments.
The government’s plan to improve military salaries
The strategic document approved by the Executive establishes an overall budgetary framework of 10.471 million euros. In this figure, 679 million euros were specifically reserved for improving the remuneration of Armed Forces personnel.
The plan itself emphasizes that Spain needs a high-level army and navy and that this goal is only viable if its members are guaranteed remuneration commensurate with their duties. Salary improvement is also considered a key element to ensure the operation and retention of staff.
Open negotiation with military associations
The Defense Ministry convened the Armed Forces Personnel Council, the body that coordinates dialogue with military professional associations. During these meetings we analyze how to apply the salary increase and which groups should be prioritized.
The associations are demanding a structural change in the remuneration system, not just a specific increase. They believe that current supplements do not adequately reflect the demands of service or the limitations of military life.
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What the military currently earn in Spain
The current figures constitute one of the main arguments of professional associations. According to their data, a soldier or sailor perceives around 1,300 euros net monthlywhile a major corporal with more than three decades of service is around 2,000 euros.
In crude terms, a soldier or sailor from the C2 group can be placed around the 1,800 euros per month before additional incentives. In the case of officers, higher ranks exceed the 30,000 euros per yearto which are added specific supplements.
The impact of the CPI and the loss of purchasing power
Military associations denounce that these amounts have lost weight compared to inflation. They argue that the evolution of the CPI in recent years has considerably reduced the purchasing power of staff, particularly in the lowest jobs.
This context explains the pressure so that the increase planned for 2026 is not limited to a minimum adjustment, but rather represents a real correction of the salary system.
How much could the military earn in January 2026
Even if Defense has not finalized the final figures, the budgetary commitment allows us to anticipate a progressive increase from January 2026. The key is to know how the 679 million allocated will be distributed and what weight the supplements will have in relation to the basic salary.
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, indicated in Parliament that the improvement of salaries is a priority and that the government is working on its execution according to the planned schedule. The final announcement will mark a turning point for thousands of professionals who have been calling for an update on their income for years.
The salary increase of Armed forces in 2026 It thus appears to be one of the most important changes in the personnel policy of the Ministry of Defense, with a direct impact on the stability and future of the military career in Spain.
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