Sotilasmestari (militärmästare in Swedish, chief warrant officer or sergeant major in English) is a Finnish military rank above ylivääpeli (överfältväbel) and below vänrikki (fänrik).

Early in the history of independent Finland's armed forces, graduates of the professional NCO school (see Maanpuolustusopisto) were promoted to vääpeli (sergeant first class) upon graduation, but could not be promoted further, which led to frustration among outstandingly competent NCOs.

Because of this, the erikoismestari rank was made available to all branches, and renamed sotilasmestari (sergeant major, 'master soldier' directly translated from Finnish).

That was because sotilasmestari was a professional soldier with decades of experience, but vänrikki (second lieutenant) was a young reservist or a fresh graduate of the Cadet School.

The old NCOs with these ranks in active service were automatically promoted to officers overnight in August 1994.