E-9 Pay in 2026: Basic Pay, BAH & What It All Adds Up To
The pay chart says an E-9 earns $6,910.20 to $10,729.20 a month — but basic pay is only the taxable slice of the package. This page shows the full 2026 E-9 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-9 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. E-9 rates begin at the over-10-years column — DFAS publishes no E-9 rate below that point, so earlier rows show a dash.
| Years of service | Monthly basic pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | — | — |
| Over 2 years | — | — |
| Over 3 years | — | — |
| Over 4 years | — | — |
| Over 6 years | — | — |
| Over 8 years | — | — |
| Over 10 years | $6,910.20 | $82,922 |
| Over 12 years | $7,066.50 | $84,798 |
| Over 14 years | $7,263.60 | $87,163 |
| Over 16 years | $7,496.10 | $89,953 |
| Over 18 years | $7,730.70 | $92,768 |
| Over 20 yearsUsed in example below | $8,105.10 | $97,261 |
| Over 22 years | $8,423.10 | $101,077 |
| Over 24 years | $8,756.70 | $105,080 |
| Over 26 years | $9,267.90 | $111,215 |
| Over 28 years | $9,267.90 | $111,215 |
| Over 30 years | $9,730.20 | $116,762 |
| Over 32 years | $9,730.20 | $116,762 |
| Over 34 years | $10,217.40 | $122,609 |
| Over 36 years | $10,217.40 | $122,609 |
| Over 38 years | $10,729.20 | $128,750 |
| Over 40 years | $10,729.20 | $128,750 |
What an E-9 actually receives each month
Worked example: E-9, over 20 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 $134,161 per year — and because BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income, this package is worth roughly $8,118 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 $149,118 to match it.
Tax advantage estimated at a 22% marginal federal rate (single filer) for this base pay; your actual benefit depends on your income, filing status, and state taxes.
What E-9 means — and what changes financially
E-9 is Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major in the Army, Master Gunnery Sergeant or Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps, Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force, Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, and Chief Master Sergeant in the Space Force.
E-9 is the top of the enlisted pay scale — Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major in the Army, Master Gunnery Sergeant or Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps, Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force and Space Force, and Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. By statute only a small fraction of each branch may hold the grade at any time.
The E-9 pay table starts at over 10 years of service — DFAS publishes no E-9 rate below that, which is why the early columns above show dashes. In practice E-9 arrives near or past the 20-year mark for nearly everyone who reaches it.
E-9 has the longest enlisted longevity run in the chart, with steps continuing through over 38 years of service. Because a pension is computed from the highest 36 months of basic pay, members who serve at E-9 in their final years lock the grade’s top steps into the High-3 average — the mechanical reason senior-enlisted careers that run past 20 years produce noticeably larger pensions than the same career stopped at 20.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an E-9 make in 2026?
E-9 monthly basic pay in 2026 ranges from $6,910.20 to $10,729.20, depending on years of service. An E-9 over 20 years of service earns $8,105.10/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-9 total compensation with BAH and BAS?
Using the 2026 national median BAH with dependents ($2,598/month), an E-9 with over 20 years of service and dependents receives about $11,180/month — $8,105.10 basic pay, $2,598 BAH, and $476.95 BAS — roughly $134,161 per year. Actual totals depend on duty station, since BAH varies by location.
What years of service does E-9 pay start at?
The DFAS pay table publishes E-9 rates beginning at the "over 10 years" column — no E-9 rate exists below that point. Nearly everyone who reaches E-9 does so around or after 20 years of service.
Is E-9 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-9'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
- Fort Hood BAH rates — see what an E-9 actually receives at Fort Hood
- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam BAH rates — see what an E-9 actually receives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
- Joint Base Andrews BAH rates — see what an E-9 actually receives at Joint Base Andrews
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.