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E-3 pay lookup
Monthly E-3 basic pay for any year of service, 2026 and projected 2027.
E-3 basic pay, 2 years
$3,015.00
a month in 2026 · $36,180 a year
- Per paycheck (twice a month)
- $1,507.50
- Per hour (2,080-hour year)
- $17.39
- 2027 with a 7% raise (projected)
- $3,226.05
- Monthly increase
- $211.05
Basic pay only: BAH, BAS and special pays are on top. 2027 figures apply the January 1, 2027 raise in the President’s alternative pay plan; DFAS publishes the final table in December.
Independent estimate tool. Not affiliated with DoD, DFAS or VA. Your LES, finance office or VA decision letter is the official amount.
E-3 pay chart 2026
E-3 pay has three steps: under 2 years, over 2 and over 3. After that it stays flat, so the next real raise is promotion to E-4.[em]
| Years of service | Monthly | Yearly | Projected Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $2,836.80 | $34,042 | $3,035.38 |
| Over 2 | $3,015.00 | $36,180 | $3,226.05 |
| Over 3 | $3,198.00 | $38,376 | $3,421.86 |
E-3 BAH at major bases
Housing allowance often adds as much as basic pay. 2026 BAH for an E-3 at a sample of installations[bah]:
| Housing area | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Hood, TX | $1,662 | $1,374 |
| Fort Campbell, KY | $1,743 | $1,470 |
| Fort Stewart, GA | $2,175 | $1,791 |
| Fort Drum/Watertown, NY | $1,569 | $1,356 |
| Fort Riley, KS | $1,272 | $1,050 |
| Fort Polk, LA | $1,206 | $1,026 |
| El Paso, TX | $1,665 | $1,302 |
| Anchorage, AK | $2,277 | $1,707 |
Any other duty station: BAH calculator.
E3 take-home pay with a family
A married E-3 over 2 at Fort Hood (married filing jointly, no TSP) takes home about $4,859.14 a month. The breakdown: $3,015.00 basic pay, $1,662 BAH, $476.95 BAS, minus $33.17 federal tax, $230.65 FICA and $31 SGLI. Change any input in the military pay estimator.
E3 pay vs E4 pay
Promotion from E-3 to E-4 is worth $284.40 a month in basic pay at 3 years, plus a higher BAH in many areas. In most services E-3 to E-4 depends on time in service, time in grade and your command’s recommendation. Single E-3s usually live in the barracks; if your command authorizes off-base housing, you draw the without-dependents rate (for example $1,374 at Fort Hood).
Compare the next grade on the E4 pay page.
E-3 rank titles by branch
| Service | Title |
|---|---|
| Army | Private First Class |
| Navy / Coast Guard | Seaman |
| Air Force / Space Force | Airman First Class |
| Marine Corps | Lance Corporal |
All of them earn the same pay; see which branch pays the most for where the differences come from, and the full 2026 military pay chart for every grade.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an E3 make?
$2,836.80 a month in basic pay with under 2 years and $3,198.00 after 3 years in 2026, before BAH and BAS.
How much is E3 pay a year?
$34,042 to $38,376 in basic pay, plus about $5,723 of tax-free BAS.
Is E3 pay the same in the Army and Marines?
Yes. A Private First Class and a Lance Corporal (both E-3) are paid from the same table.
Sources
- Basic Pay – Enlisted, effective January 1, 2026
- BAH Rate Lookup and 2026 BAH rate files (all locations, all pay grades, ASCII)
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) rates
- H. Doc. 119-189, Alternative Plan for Pay Adjustments … for Members of the Armed Forces in January 2027
- Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods