O-5 Pay in 2026: Basic Pay, BAH & What It All Adds Up To
The pay chart says an O-5 earns $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 a month — but basic pay is only the taxable slice of the package. This page shows the full 2026 O-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 O-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 | $7,295.40 | $87,545 |
| Over 2 years | $8,218.20 | $98,618 |
| Over 3 years | $8,787.00 | $105,444 |
| Over 4 years | $8,894.10 | $106,729 |
| Over 6 years | $9,249.60 | $110,995 |
| Over 8 years | $9,461.40 | $113,537 |
| Over 10 years | $9,928.50 | $119,142 |
| Over 12 years | $10,271.70 | $123,260 |
| Over 14 years | $10,715.10 | $128,581 |
| Over 16 yearsUsed in example below | $11,391.30 | $136,696 |
| Over 18 years | $11,713.80 | $140,566 |
| Over 20 years | $12,032.70 | $144,392 |
| Over 22 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 24 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 26 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 28 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 30 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 32 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 34 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 36 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 38 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
| Over 40 years | $12,394.80 | $148,738 |
What an O-5 actually receives each month
Worked example: O-5, over 16 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 $176,661 per year — and because BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income, this package is worth roughly $9,592 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 $193,093 to match it.
Tax advantage estimated at a 24% marginal federal rate (single filer) for this base pay; your actual benefit depends on your income, filing status, and state taxes.
What O-5 means — and what changes financially
O-5 is Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps, Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, Commander in the Navy, and Lieutenant Colonel in the Space Force.
O-5 is the command grade — Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, and Commander in the Navy. Battalion and squadron command, ship command, and senior staff leadership sit at this level, and selection for command is a separate competition beyond the promotion itself.
Promotion to O-5 typically arrives around 15 to 17 years of service, by competitive board. The pay table runs thirteen longevity steps to over 22 years — long enough that pay keeps climbing through a full command tour and beyond.
Most officers cross the 20-year retirement-eligibility line while wearing O-5, which makes it the grade where the High-3 average usually forms: the pension formula takes the highest 36 months of basic pay, and for an officer retiring in the early twenties of service those months are O-5 months. Each additional year served at the grade swaps a lower-paid year out of that average and a higher longevity step in.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an O-5 make in 2026?
O-5 monthly basic pay in 2026 ranges from $7,295.40 to $12,394.80, depending on years of service. An O-5 over 16 years of service earns $11,391.30/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 O-5 total compensation with BAH and BAS?
Using the 2026 national median BAH with dependents ($3,002/month), an O-5 with over 16 years of service and dependents receives about $14,722/month — $11,391.30 basic pay, $3,002 BAH, and $328.48 BAS — roughly $176,661 per year. Actual totals depend on duty station, since BAH varies by location.
How long does it take to make O-5?
Typically around 15 to 17 years of commissioned service, by competitive selection board, with rates varying by branch, year group, and competitive category. Command selection at O-5 is a separate board from the promotion itself.
Is O-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 O-5's package is higher than the base-pay number alone suggests. In designated combat zones, the Combat Zone Tax Exclusion applies to officers as well, capped at the highest enlisted pay rate.
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
- Dual Military Financial Strategies: Making Two Incomes Work — the full deep dive
- Joint Base Andrews BAH rates — see what an O-5 actually receives at Joint Base Andrews
- Fort George G. Meade BAH rates — see what an O-5 actually receives at Fort George G. Meade
- Scott AFB BAH rates — see what an O-5 actually receives at Scott AFB
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.