Military base pay 2026: yearly salary by rank
Military base pay 2026 is the monthly rate on the DFAS pay table times 12. The table shows yearly base pay at seven points in a career; a dash means the grade is not normally held at that length of service[em][co].
| Grade | Under 2 yrs | Over 4 | Over 8 | Over 12 | Over 16 | Over 20 | Over 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $28,886 | $28,886 | $28,886 | $28,886 | $28,886 | $28,886 | $28,886 |
| E-2 | $32,375 | $32,375 | $32,375 | $32,375 | $32,375 | $32,375 | $32,375 |
| E-3 | $34,042 | $38,376 | $38,376 | $38,376 | $38,376 | $38,376 | $38,376 |
| E-4 | $37,706 | $43,902 | $45,785 | $45,785 | $45,785 | $45,785 | $45,785 |
| E-5 | $40,115 | $47,362 | $51,599 | $53,060 | $53,060 | $53,060 | $53,060 |
| E-6 | $40,813 | $48,827 | $55,354 | $60,520 | $62,323 | $63,212 | $63,212 |
| E-7 | $47,185 | $56,077 | $61,628 | $67,100 | $72,011 | $74,948 | $84,809 |
| E-8 | – | – | $67,878 | $72,742 | $77,378 | $83,945 | $94,907 |
| E-9 | – | – | – | $84,798 | $89,953 | $97,261 | $111,215 |
| W-1 | $48,679 | $58,309 | $67,010 | $72,832 | $78,779 | $84,121 | $84,121 |
| W-2 | $55,462 | $63,432 | $72,612 | $78,113 | $84,060 | $89,244 | $92,570 |
| W-3 | $62,680 | $68,843 | $77,173 | $85,637 | $91,991 | $101,718 | $109,951 |
| W-4 | $68,638 | $78,026 | $85,176 | $94,180 | $103,439 | $110,747 | $125,345 |
| W-5 | – | – | – | – | – | $122,036 | $137,941 |
| O-1 | $49,802 | $62,669 | $62,669 | $62,669 | $62,669 | $62,669 | $62,669 |
| O-2 | $57,384 | $77,814 | $79,412 | $79,412 | $79,412 | $79,412 | $79,412 |
| O-3 | $66,409 | $88,592 | $97,506 | $105,458 | $108,050 | $108,050 | $108,050 |
| O-4 | $75,535 | $94,572 | $105,797 | $118,660 | $124,819 | $126,119 | $126,119 |
| O-5 | $87,545 | $106,729 | $113,537 | $123,260 | $136,696 | $144,392 | $148,738 |
| O-6 | $105,016 | $122,940 | $128,700 | $129,402 | $149,756 | $165,013 | $182,264 |
General and flag officers (O-7 to O-10) reach the 2026 cap of $18,999.90 a month, or $227,999 a year, at the top of the chart. The full monthly grid, including O-1E to O-3E, is on the military pay chart 2026; single-grade pages cover E-1, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6 and O-1.
Rank titles by branch
Pay depends on grade, not on title, so a Navy Petty Officer Second Class and an Army Sergeant (both E-5) earn exactly the same base pay.
| Grade | Army | Navy / Coast Guard | Air Force / Space Force | Marine Corps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Private (PV1) | Seaman Recruit | Airman Basic | Private |
| E-2 | Private (PV2) | Seaman Apprentice | Airman | Private First Class |
| E-3 | Private First Class | Seaman | Airman First Class | Lance Corporal |
| E-4 | Specialist / Corporal | Petty Officer Third Class | Senior Airman | Corporal |
| E-5 | Sergeant | Petty Officer Second Class | Staff Sergeant | Sergeant |
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant | Petty Officer First Class | Technical Sergeant | Staff Sergeant |
| E-7 | Sergeant First Class | Chief Petty Officer | Master Sergeant | Gunnery Sergeant |
| E-8 | Master Sergeant / First Sergeant | Senior Chief Petty Officer | Senior Master Sergeant | Master Sergeant / First Sergeant |
| E-9 | Sergeant Major | Master Chief Petty Officer | Chief Master Sergeant | Sergeant Major / Master Gunnery Sergeant |
| W-1 | Warrant Officer 1 | Warrant Officer 1 | Warrant Officer 1 | Warrant Officer 1 |
| W-2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 |
| W-3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 |
| W-4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 |
| W-5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 |
| O-1 | Second Lieutenant | Ensign | Second Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant |
| O-2 | First Lieutenant | Lieutenant Junior Grade | First Lieutenant | First Lieutenant |
| O-3 | Captain | Lieutenant | Captain | Captain |
| O-4 | Major | Lieutenant Commander | Major | Major |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel |
| O-6 | Colonel | Captain | Colonel | Colonel |
Base pay military 2026 per hour and per paycheck
Service members are salaried and are not paid overtime, but an hourly equivalent helps compare offers. On a 2,080-hour year (40 hours × 52 weeks):
- E-1 (under 2 years): $13.89 an hour; $1,203.60 per paycheck.
- E-4 over 2: $19.06 an hour; $1,651.50 per paycheck.
- E-6 over 10: $27.46 an hour; $2,379.75 per paycheck.
- O-3 over 6: $44.64 an hour; $3,868.50 per paycheck.
Pay arrives twice a month; see the military pay dates for the exact days.
What BAH and BAS add to the pay scale
The pay scale understates what service members receive, because housing and food allowances are paid on top and are not taxed. Across all 338 military housing areas in the 2026 BAH tables, the median BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $2,061 a month ($1,670 without), and for an O-3 with dependents $2,540[bah]. BAS adds $476.95 for enlisted members and $328.48 for officers[bas].
| Grade | With dependents | Without dependents | Base pay + median BAH + BAS, yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 (over 0) | $1,920 | $1,520 | $57,650 |
| E-4 (over 0) | $1,920 | $1,520 | $66,470 |
| E-5 (over 4) | $2,061 | $1,670 | $77,817 |
| E-6 (over 8) | $2,375 | $1,809 | $89,571 |
| E-7 (over 12) | $2,439 | $1,938 | $102,092 |
| E-8 (over 8) | $2,487 | $2,135 | $103,445 |
| W-2 (over 0) | $2,453 | $2,132 | $88,833 |
| O-1 (over 0) | $2,103 | $1,752 | $78,980 |
| O-2 (over 0) | $2,372 | $2,022 | $89,784 |
| O-3 (over 0) | $2,540 | $2,253 | $100,825 |
| O-4 (over 12) | $2,831 | $2,424 | $156,567 |
| O-5 (over 16) | $3,017 | $2,453 | $176,835 |
Your own number depends on your duty station: look it up in the BAH calculator or see the BAH rates for major bases. For taxes and take-home, run the military pay estimator.
How the 2026 pay scale was set
Basic pay rose 3.8% on January 1, 2026, the increase in private-sector wages measured by the Employment Cost Index, which is the default formula in 37 U.S.C. 1009[crsraise]. Junior enlisted members also kept the extra 10% (E-1 to E-4) and the average 7% (E-5 with under 10 years) added in April 2025. For 2027, the President set a tiered 7%, 6% and 5% raise; see the military pay raise page.
Common mistakes when comparing military and civilian pay
- Comparing base pay to a civilian salary. Add BAH, BAS and the tax savings on them; the estimator shows the civilian salary with the same take-home.
- Using rank instead of grade. Titles differ by branch; the pay grade (E-5, O-3) is what sets pay.
- Ignoring longevity. Pay steps up at 2, 3, 4, 6 years and every two years after, even without a promotion, until the grade’s ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the military pay scale for 2026?
It is the DFAS basic pay table effective January 1, 2026, 3.8% higher than 2025. Yearly base pay runs from about $28,900 for a new E-1 to $185,000 for an O-6 with long service, and up to $228,000 for generals.
How much is military base pay 2026 for an E-5?
$3,342.90 a month ($40,115 a year) with under 2 years, rising to $4,421.70 ($53,060) after 12 years.
Is base pay military 2026 the same in every branch?
Yes. All six armed forces use the same basic pay table; titles differ but grade E-5 pays the same in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard.
Does the military pay scale include BAH?
No. BAH and BAS are separate allowances paid on top of basic pay and depend on your duty station and dependents.