The ranking structure and collar tab insignia of the SS remained fairly consistent throughout its brief history from 1929 to 1945. Minor changes were brought about in the mid 1930's with respect to naming conventions in the lower ranks and again in 1942 with some changes to the collar tabs of General Officers. It is difficult to equate ranks between German and Allied forces especially in the lower ranks. Adding to the confusion is the fact that not all authors equate ranks the same way. Ranks apply to Allgemeine-SS (General SS) as well as Waffen-SS (Armed SS) unless a rank is followed by W-SS which designates Waffen-SS only.

Collar Tab SS Rank German
Army		 Canada
 /Britain		 United
States
 Reichsführer-SS --- --- ---
 SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer 
(Rank created in 1942)		  Generaloberst  ---  General of
 the Army
 (1942-1945)

 SS-Obergruppenführer

 (1929-1942)

  General  General  General
 (1942-1945)

 SS-Gruppenführer

 (1929-1942)

  Generalleutnant   Lieutenant
 General		  Lieutenant
 General
 (1942-1945)

 SS-Brigadeführer

 (1929-1942)

  Generalmajor  Major
 General		  Major
 General
 SS-Oberführer  ---  Brigadier  Brigadier
 General
 SS-Standartenführer   Oberst  Colonel  Colonel
 SS-Obersturmbannführer   Oberstleutnant  Lieutenant 
 Colonel		  Lieutenant 
 Colonel
 SS-Sturmbannführer   Major  Major  Major
 SS-Hauptsturmführer 
 (Originally
 SS-Sturmhauptführer) 		  Hauptman  Captain  Captain
 SS-Obersturmführer   Oberleutnant  Lieutenant  1st
 Lieutenant
 SS-Untersturmführer 
 (Originally
 SS-Sturmführer)		  Leutnant  2nd
 Lieutenant		  2nd
 Lieutenant
 SS-Sturmscharführer   Stabsfeldwebel  ---  ---
 SS-Hauptscharführer 
 (Originally
 SS-Obertruppführer
 then SS-Stabsführer)		  Oberfeldwebel  ---  ---
 SS-Oberscharführer 
 (Originally
 SS-Truppführer)		  Feldwebel  Technical
 Sergeant		  Technical
 Sergeant
 SS-Scharführer 
 (Originally
 SS-Oberscharführer)		  Unterfeldwebel  Staff
 Sergeant		  Staff
 Sergeant
 SS-Unterscharführer 
 (Originally
 SS-Scharführer)		  Unteroffizier  Sergeant  Sergeant
 SS-Rottenführer   Stabsgefreiter 
 Obergefreiter 		  Corporal  Corporal
 SS-Sturmmann   Gefreiter   ---  ---
 SS-Mann
 SS-Oberschütze (W-SS) 		  Oberschütze   Private  Private
 SS-Anwarter
 SS-Schütze (W-SS) 		  Schütze   Recruit  Recruit

Thanks to Marcus Wendel for the collar tab graphics.