Master sergeant - Definition and Overview

A Master Sergeant is:

• the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above Technical Sergeant and below Senior Master Sergeant. It is abbreviated as "MSgt." Advancement to Master Sergeant is one the most significant promotions within the enlisted Air Force. At the rank of Master Sergeant, the airman takes on more administrative duties.
• the eighth enlisted rank in the United States Army, just above Sergeant First Class and below Sergeant Major. It is abbreviated as "MSG."
• the eighth enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Gunnery Sergeant, below Master Gunnery Sergeant, and equal in grade to First Sergeant. It is abbreviated as "MSgt." Master Sergeants in the U.S. Marine Corps provide technical leadership as occupational specialists at the E-8 level. General command leadership at this paygrade is provided by the separate rank of First Sergeant.

All Master Sergeants are non-commissioned officers.

Related topics

• Comparative military ranks
• Military rank
• Sergeant
• U.S. Air Force enlisted rank insignia
• U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia
• U.S. Marine Corps enlisted rank insignia
• U.S. military ranks

U.S. military enlisted ranks
	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	E-5	E-6	E-7	E-8	E-9
Air Force:	AB	Amn	A1C	SRA	SSgt	TSgt	MSgt	SMSgt	CMSgt - CCM - CMSAF
Army:	PV1	PV2	PFC	SPC - CPL	SGT	SSG	SFC	MSG - 1SG	SGM - CSM - SMA
Marine Corps:	Pvt	PFC	LCpl	Cpl	Sgt	SSgt	GySgt	MSgt - 1st Sgt	MGySgt - SgtMaj - SMOMC
Navy:	SR	SA	SN	PO3	PO2	PO1	CPO	SCPO	MCPO - CMCPO - MCPON