E-5 Pay in 2026: Basic Pay, BAH & What It All Adds Up To
The pay chart says an E-5 earns $3,342.90 to $4,421.70 a month — but basic pay is only the taxable slice of the package. This page shows the full 2026 E-5 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-5 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 | $3,342.90 | $40,115 |
| Over 2 years | $3,598.20 | $43,178 |
| Over 3 years | $3,775.80 | $45,310 |
| Over 4 years | $3,946.80 | $47,362 |
| Over 6 yearsUsed in example below | $4,110.00 | $49,320 |
| Over 8 years | $4,299.90 | $51,599 |
| Over 10 years | $4,395.30 | $52,744 |
| Over 12 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 14 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 16 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 18 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 20 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 22 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 24 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 26 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 28 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 30 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 32 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 34 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 36 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 38 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
| Over 40 years | $4,421.70 | $53,060 |
What an E-5 actually receives each month
Worked example: E-5, over 6 years, with dependents, living off-installation. Figures use the national median BAH across all 338 military housing areas — your actual BAH depends on your duty station.
That's about $79,775 per year — and because BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income, this package is worth roughly $3,655 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 $90,270 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-5 means — and what changes financially
E-5 is Sergeant in the Army, Sergeant in the Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, Petty Officer Second Class in the Navy, and Sergeant in the Space Force.
E-5 is the fifth enlisted pay grade and, in most branches, the first noncommissioned officer rank — Sergeant in the Army, Marine Corps, and Space Force, Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, and Petty Officer Second Class in the Navy. The move from E-4 to E-5 usually marks the shift from junior enlisted to NCO: leading a small team, signing for equipment, and being directly responsible for other service members’ training and development.
Most service members who stay in reach E-5 somewhere between 3 and 6 years of service, though the timeline varies widely by branch and career field. Undermanned specialties promote faster; competitive ones can take longer. Each branch uses its own mix of time-in-service and time-in-grade minimums, promotion points, boards, or cutting scores.
Financially, E-5 is often the grade where the full compensation picture starts to matter. Many members move out of the barracks around this point, which converts BAH from an on-paper rate into actual monthly cash — and BAH rises with both pay grade and duty station. Base pay also keeps climbing within the grade: E-5 has longevity increases through 12 years of service, so two E-5s with the same stripes can earn meaningfully different amounts. Because BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income, the gap between an E-5’s base pay and the real value of the package is larger than the pay chart alone suggests.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an E-5 make in 2026?
E-5 monthly basic pay in 2026 ranges from $3,342.90 to $4,421.70, depending on years of service. An E-5 over 6 years of service earns $4,110.00/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-5 total compensation with BAH and BAS?
Using the 2026 national median BAH with dependents ($2,061/month), an E-5 with over 6 years of service and dependents receives about $6,648/month — $4,110.00 basic pay, $2,061 BAH, and $476.95 BAS — roughly $79,775 per year. Actual totals depend on duty station, since BAH varies by location.
How long does it take to make E-5?
It varies by branch and career field. Most service members who stay in reach E-5 between 3 and 6 years of service — faster in undermanned specialties, slower in competitive ones. Each branch uses its own combination of time-in-service and time-in-grade minimums plus promotion points, boards, or cutting scores, so two service members who joined the same day can pin on E-5 years apart.
Is E-5 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-5'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
- How Much Does an E-5 Really Make in 2026? — the full deep dive
- Fort Bragg BAH rates — see what an E-5 actually receives at Fort Bragg
- Fort Hood BAH rates — see what an E-5 actually receives at Fort Hood
- Naval Station San Diego BAH rates — see what an E-5 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.