Military Pay by Rank
What each rank actually earns in 2026 — the full basic pay progression by years of service, plus the housing and food allowances a base-pay chart leaves out.
Pick your grade below, or use the interactive pay charts to look up any grade and year of service.
E-1
Private (PV1) (Army) · Airman Basic (Air Force) · Seaman Recruit (Navy)
Basic pay $2,407–$2,407/month
See E-1 pay & total compensation →
E-2
Private (PV2) (Army) · Airman (Air Force) · Seaman Apprentice (Navy)
Basic pay $2,698–$2,698/month
See E-2 pay & total compensation →
E-3
Private First Class (Army) · Airman First Class (Air Force) · Seaman (Navy)
Basic pay $2,837–$3,198/month
See E-3 pay & total compensation →
E-4
Specialist or Corporal (Army) · Senior Airman (Air Force) · Petty Officer Third Class (Navy)
Basic pay $3,142–$3,815/month
See E-4 pay & total compensation →
E-5
Sergeant (Army) · Staff Sergeant (Air Force) · Petty Officer Second Class (Navy)
Basic pay $3,343–$4,422/month
See E-5 pay & total compensation →
E-6
Staff Sergeant (Army) · Technical Sergeant (Air Force) · Petty Officer First Class (Navy)
Basic pay $3,401–$5,268/month
See E-6 pay & total compensation →
E-7
Sergeant First Class (Army) · Master Sergeant (Air Force) · Chief Petty Officer (Navy)
Basic pay $3,932–$7,067/month
See E-7 pay & total compensation →
E-8
Master Sergeant or First Sergeant (Army) · Senior Master Sergeant (Air Force) · Senior Chief Petty Officer (Navy)
Basic pay $5,657–$8,067/month
See E-8 pay & total compensation →
E-9
Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major (Army) · Chief Master Sergeant (Air Force) · Master Chief Petty Officer (Navy)
Basic pay $6,910–$10,729/month
See E-9 pay & total compensation →
O-1
Second Lieutenant (Army) · Second Lieutenant (Air Force) · Ensign (Navy)
Basic pay $4,150–$5,222/month
See O-1 pay & total compensation →
O-2
First Lieutenant (Army) · First Lieutenant (Air Force) · Lieutenant (Junior Grade) (Navy)
Basic pay $4,782–$6,618/month
See O-2 pay & total compensation →
O-3
Captain (Army) · Captain (Air Force) · Lieutenant (Navy)
Basic pay $5,534–$9,004/month
See O-3 pay & total compensation →
O-4
Major (Army) · Major (Air Force) · Lieutenant Commander (Navy)
Basic pay $6,295–$10,510/month
See O-4 pay & total compensation →
O-5
Lieutenant Colonel (Army) · Lieutenant Colonel (Air Force) · Commander (Navy)
Basic pay $7,295–$12,395/month
See O-5 pay & total compensation →
O-6
Colonel (Army) · Colonel (Air Force) · Captain (Navy)
Basic pay $8,751–$15,408/month
See O-6 pay & total compensation →
Need a grade that isn't listed yet?
The interactive 2026 pay charts cover every grade — E-1 through O-10, warrant officers, and prior-enlisted officers — for every year of service.
Open the 2026 pay charts →