Yes, E-1 service members receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) in addition to base pay. BAH for an E-1 with dependents ranges from $1,134 to $5,067 per month depending on duty station location. BAH is a tax-free allowance. They also receive BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) of $476.95 per month.

Updated August 2026

E-1 Pay 2026 — Private

Q: How much does an E-1 make in 2026?

In 2026, an E-1 (Private) earns between $2,407.20 and $2,407.20 per month in base pay, depending on years of service. This does not include BAH or BAS allowances, which can add $1,500 to $5,500+ per month depending on location and dependency status.

Q: What is the maximum E-1 pay?

The maximum base pay for an E-1 in 2026 is $2,407.20 per month ($28,886.40 per year). This is reached at 40+ years of service. Total compensation including BAH and BAS is significantly higher.

Complete 2026 E-1 (Private) base pay table by years of service, plus BAH rates and total compensation breakdown. All rates include the 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026.

Entry Pay (0 YOS)

$2,407.20/mo

$28,886.40/year

Max Pay

$2,407.20/mo

$28,886.40/year

BAH Range (w/ Dependents)

$1,134–$5,067

Across 338 locations

Enlisted BAS

$476.95/mo

Tax-free food allowance

What E-1 Is Called in Each Branch

E-1 is a paygrade, not a rank. Every branch pays E-1 the same base pay from the same table — only the title changes. If you came here from a Navy or Coast Guard search, the numbers below are yours too.

Branch	Rank at E-1
Army	Private
Marine Corps	Private
Navy	Seaman Recruit (SR)
Air Force	Airman Basic
Space Force	Specialist 1 (Spc1)
Coast Guard	Seaman Recruit (SR)

Rank titles: U.S. Department of War, Military Rank Insignia. Where a service lists two ranks at one paygrade, the job determines which one you hold — the pay is identical.

E-1 Base Pay Table — 2026

Years of Service	Monthly Pay	Annual Pay
2 or less	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
2	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
3	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
4	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
6	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
8	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
10	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
12	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
14	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
16	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
18	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
20	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
22	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
24	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
26	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
28	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
30	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
32	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
34	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
36	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
38	$2,407.20	$28,886.40
40	$2,407.20	$28,886.40

All amounts reflect the 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026. Source: DFAS.

E-1 base pay stops increasing at 0 years of service. It reaches $2,407.20 per month there and stays flat — every row from 0 years through 40 in the table above is the same number. That is why the bottom of the table looks repetitive: longevity raises for E-1 end at 0 years.

After that, E-1 base pay only moves two ways: the annual military pay raise, or promotion. Promotion to E-2 is worth $290.70 more per month at that point ($3,488 a year) before any change in BAH.

E-1 BAH Rates — 2026 (With Dependents)

BAH for an E-1 with dependents ranges from $1,134 to $5,067 per month, with a national average of approximately $2,069/mo across 338 locations.

Top 5 Highest BAH Locations

Top 5 Lowest BAH Locations

Total Compensation Example — E-1 at 20 Years

Base Pay (20 YOS)$2,407.20

BAH (National Average, w/ Dependents)$2,069

BAS (Enlisted)$476.95

Estimated Monthly Total$4,953.15

Estimated Annual Total$59,437.80

BAH and BAS are tax-free allowances. Actual total compensation varies by duty station and dependency status. Use the Military Pay Calculator for a personalized estimate.

E-1 Drill Pay — Guard and Reserve

Guard and Reserve members at E-1 are paid from the same base pay table. One drill period pays 1/30 of the monthly base pay above, and a standard drill weekend is four periods.

Years of service	1 drill period	Drill weekend (4)	Annual (48 drills + 15 AT days)
Under 2 yrs	$80.24	$320.96	$5,055
Over 4 yrs	$80.24	$320.96	$5,055
Over 8 yrs	$80.24	$320.96	$5,055
Over 12 yrs	$80.24	$320.96	$5,055
Over 20 yrs	$80.24	$320.96	$5,055

Drill periods are computed as monthly base pay ÷ 30 per DFAS Reserve Component drill pay rules; annual training is paid at the active-duty daily rate, so 15 AT days add 15 daily payments rather than 30 drill periods. Run your own numbers with the Drill Pay Calculator.

E-2 Private Second Class →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an E-1 make in 2026?

In 2026, an E-1 (Private) earns between $2,407.20 and $2,407.20 per month in base pay, depending on years of service. Total compensation including BAH and BAS is significantly higher.

What is the maximum E-1 pay?

The maximum base pay for an E-1 in 2026 is $2,407.20/month ($28,886.40/year), reached at 40+ years of service.

Does an E-1 get BAH?

Yes. In addition to base pay, E-1 service members receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) ranging from $1,134 to $5,067/month with dependents, depending on duty station. They also receive BAS of $476.95/month. Both are tax-free.

How E-1 pay changed in 2026

The 2026 raise added 3.8% to E-1 base pay: $88 more per month at 6 years of service ($1,058 a year) compared with the 2025 table.

Years of service	2025	2026	Change
Over 2 yrs	$2,319/mo	$2,407/mo	+$88 (3.8%)
Over 6 yrs	$2,319/mo	$2,407/mo	+$88 (3.8%)
Over 12 yrs	$2,319/mo	$2,407/mo	+$88 (3.8%)

Promotion is still the bigger lever: at 6 years of service, pinning on E-2 is worth $291 more per month in base pay alone ($3,488 a year) — before any change in BAH.

2025 figures: DoD pay tables (incl. the April 2025 junior-enlisted adjustment). 2026 figures: official tables effective January 1, 2026.