E-4 Pay in 2026: Basic Pay, BAH & What It All Adds Up To
The pay chart says an E-4 earns $3,142.20 to $3,815.40 a month — but basic pay is only the taxable slice of the package. This page shows the full 2026 E-4 pay progression by years of service, then adds the parts a base-pay table hides: housing allowance, food allowance, and what they're worth because they're excluded from federal taxable income.
2026 E-4 basic pay by years of service
Monthly basic pay from the 2026 DFAS pay table, effective January 1, 2026 (3.8% raise). Find the row matching your completed years of service — rates repeat between longevity steps, exactly as DFAS publishes them.
| Years of service | Monthly basic pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | $3,142.20 | $37,706 |
| Over 2 years | $3,303.00 | $39,636 |
| Over 3 yearsUsed in example below | $3,482.40 | $41,789 |
| Over 4 years | $3,658.50 | $43,902 |
| Over 6 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 8 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 10 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 12 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 14 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 16 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 18 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 20 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 22 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 24 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 26 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 28 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 30 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 32 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 34 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 36 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 38 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
| Over 40 years | $3,815.40 | $45,785 |
What an E-4 actually receives each month
Worked example: E-4, over 3 years, without dependents, living off-installation. Figures use the national median BAH across all 338 military housing areas — your actual BAH depends on your duty station.
E-4 is often the first grade where living off-installation is authorized for single members — the point where BAH stops being an on-paper figure and starts arriving as monthly cash. Members still in government quarters receive housing and meals in kind instead.
That's about $65,752 per year — and because BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income, this package is worth roughly $2,876 more per year than the same dollars paid as taxable salary. Counting that tax advantage and the value of TRICARE coverage, a civilian job would need to pay about $70,668 to match it.
Tax advantage estimated at a 12% marginal federal rate (single filer) for this base pay; your actual benefit depends on your income, filing status, and state taxes.
What E-4 means — and what changes financially
E-4 is Specialist or Corporal in the Army, Corporal in the Marine Corps, Senior Airman in the Air Force, Petty Officer Third Class in the Navy, and Specialist 4 in the Space Force.
E-4 is the cusp grade — Specialist or Corporal in the Army, Corporal in the Marine Corps, Senior Airman in the Air Force, Petty Officer Third Class in the Navy, and Specialist 4 in the Space Force. In the Marine Corps and for Army Corporals it already carries NCO authority; everywhere else it is the last stop before the NCO track that begins at E-5, with promotion boards, points, or cutting scores ahead.
Most members pin on E-4 somewhere between two and four years of service, varying by branch and career field. The E-4 pay table runs five longevity steps, topping out at over 6 years — members who stay at E-4 past that point see no further increases until promotion.
Financially, E-4 is often the first grade where BAH turns from an on-paper figure into actual cash: single members increasingly become eligible to move out of government quarters, and at that point the housing allowance — excluded from federal taxable income — starts arriving in the bank account every month. How far that allowance stretches depends entirely on duty station, which is why the same grade can feel very different at different installations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an E-4 make in 2026?
E-4 monthly basic pay in 2026 ranges from $3,142.20 to $3,815.40, depending on years of service. An E-4 over 3 years of service earns $3,482.40/month in basic pay. Basic pay is only part of military compensation — most members also receive BAH and BAS on top of it.
What is E-4 total compensation with BAH and BAS?
Using the 2026 national median BAH without dependents ($1,520/month), an E-4 with over 3 years of service and no dependents receives about $5,479/month — $3,482.40 basic pay, $1,520 BAH, and $476.95 BAS — roughly $65,752 per year. Actual totals depend on duty station, since BAH varies by location.
How long does it take to make E-4?
Typically two to four years of service, varying by branch and career field. In the Army, advancement to Specialist is semi-automatic on time in service and time in grade; in other branches E-4 is the last largely time-based advancement before competitive NCO promotion begins.
Is E-4 pay taxable?
Basic pay is subject to federal income tax and, in most states, state income tax. BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income, which is why the real value of an E-4's package is higher than the base-pay number alone suggests. In designated combat zones, enlisted pay is excluded from federal income tax under the Combat Zone Tax Exclusion.
Go deeper
- Total Compensation Calculator — your full package with your actual BAH and TSP match
- 2026 Military Pay Charts — interactive tables for every grade and year of service
- BAH Calculator — 2026 rates for all 40,959 ZIP codes
- What Is BAH? Military Housing Allowance Explained — the full deep dive
- Fort Carson BAH rates — see what an E-4 actually receives at Fort Carson
- Fort Bliss BAH rates — see what an E-4 actually receives at Fort Bliss
- Naval Station San Diego BAH rates — see what an E-4 actually receives at Naval Station San Diego
Disclaimer
MilPayTools calculators use official DoD and VA rate tables (2026) for educational purposes only. Results are estimates and may not reflect your exact situation. Always verify your pay and benefits with your unit's Finance Office, your MyPay account, or an accredited military financial counselor. Tax calculations are illustrative estimates — consult a tax professional for personalized advice. This tool is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, the VA, or any government agency.
Sources: basic pay from the 2026 DFAS military pay tables, effective January 1, 2026. BAH national median computed from the official 2026 DTMO BAH rate data (338 military housing areas). BAS from the 2026 DFAS published rates. Basic pay is taxable income; verify your own pay on your LES via myPay. Last updated June 10, 2026.