English 
Spanish 
4 min read
0 comments
In Brazil, the pay gap in security forces goes far beyond rank. Colonels earn more than four times what soldiers earn, while members of the Armed Forces earn less than state military police officers. Experts discuss the impact of these differences and the future of a possible single career path.
The salaries of Brazilian security forces intrigue experts and divide opinions. In a context of increasing professional appreciation, many question how salary and progression differences directly impact the performance and motivation of military police officers and members of the Armed Forces.
The disparity between the incomes of the rank and file of the security forces is astonishing, and, furthermore, the difference between the salaries of state and federal military personnel raises heated debates about the real value of the public security service in the country.
The recent report of the Brazilian Public Security Forum provides a detailed portrait of the salary structure of security forces in Brazil.
- Earn in dollars working from home: discover how to achieve financial freedom with remote jobs and 5x2 flexibility
- Read the 132-year-old message in a bottle found hidden in the walls of an ancient lighthouse
- 300 euros: New discovery in northern Luxembourg reveals Roman treasure with 141 gold coins, dated between 364 and 408 AD, and a fortification from the Late Roman Empire
- New FBI chief vows to expose 2 secret lists and change fate of 7.000 agents in radical reform plan
According to the study, the average gross salary of Military Police officers and enlisted men is around R$ 8.628,87, while the net average reaches R$ 6.139,07.
However, remuneration can vary significantly between patents and in each Brazilian state.
The difference in ranks and salaries
The relationship between ranks and pay in the Brazilian Military Police is notable.
A soldier, at the bottom of the hierarchy, receives an average net salary of R$ 4.784,85, while a colonel, top of the hierarchical ladder, can reach R$ 20.284,12 net a difference of more than four times. This data highlights the inequality in the amounts paid between the lowest and highest positions within the corporation itself.
In the officers’ careers, the numbers also attract attention. Lieutenants, which represent the first position in the category, have an average net salary of R$ 9.789,91.
In contrast, a warrant officer, which is the highest rank of enlisted personnel, receives an average of R$ 7.423,39.
This reveals a curious dynamic: even at the top of his career, a private still earns less than an officer at the beginning of his career.
This disparity generates discussions about the progression model adopted, and the single career debate, which advocates the unification of functions and a more continuous progression between different positions, has gained ground.
According to the study, this restructuring could encourage police officers, creating a fairer progression system that places greater value on length of service.
Comparison with the Armed Forces
Another controversial point in the survey is the comparison between the Armed Forces salaries (Army, Navy and Air Force) and those of the Military Police.
The disparities between federal military personnel and state military police are notorious, even though, constitutionally, both are part of the country's defense and security forces.
The data shows that a soldier in the Armed Forces earns, on average, 231% less than his equivalent in the Military Police.
This percentage highlights a gap in appreciation that is reflected in cases where Armed Forces sergeants leave their posts to join the Military Police as soldiers in search of better salary conditions.
Hierarchical progression and impact on motivation
In the structure of the Armed Forces, progression to the top is extremely restricted. General officers, such as generals, admirals and brigadiers, represent less than 1% of the total force, and only 0,002% of lieutenants manage to reach the rank of lieutenant-brigadier.
According to the portal Military Society These high positions inflate salary averages and create a distorted view of what most military personnel actually earn.
Furthermore, according to expert analysis, the average income of military of the Armed Forces correspond to approximately 43% of the average remuneration of military police officers of the same rank.
This contrast raises questions about how federal military service is valued and why, in practice, a military service member earns less than a military police, even though the Military Police is subordinate to the Army in constitutional terms.
The consequences and future of military careers
These salary disparities and difficulties in hierarchical progression directly impact the work and satisfaction of professionals, with significant repercussions on public safety.
The Brazilian Public Security Forum argues that the debate on appreciation should not be limited to salary adjustments, but that ways of restructuring, qualifying and simplifying careers should be considered, allowing fairer mobility between positions and hierarchies.
The need to rethink the structure of security careers in Brazil it is an increasingly urgent issue, especially in a scenario of increasing social demands for security.
For experts, the creation of a single career path, which simplifies hierarchical steps and values length of service, would be an alternative to keep professionals more motivated and engaged.
What changes could really bring a balance between salary appreciation and professional progression within the security forces?
Be the first to react!