Yes, E-3 service members receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) in addition to base pay. BAH for an E-3 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-3 Pay 2026 — Private First Class

Q: How much does an E-3 make in 2026?

In 2026, an E-3 (Private First Class) earns between $2,836.80 and $3,198.00 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-3 pay?

The maximum base pay for an E-3 in 2026 is $3,198.00 per month ($38,376.00 per year). This is reached at 40+ years of service. Total compensation including BAH and BAS is significantly higher.

Complete 2026 E-3 (Private First Class) 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)

$2,836.80/mo

$34,041.60/year

Max Pay

$3,198.00/mo

$38,376.00/year

BAH Range (w/ Dependents)

$1,134–$5,067

Across 338 locations

Enlisted BAS

$476.95/mo

Tax-free food allowance

What E-3 Is Called in Each Branch

E-3 is a paygrade, not a rank. Every branch pays E-3 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-3
Army	Private First Class (PFC)
Marine Corps	Lance Corporal (LCpl)
Navy	Seaman (SN)
Air Force	Airman First Class (A1C)
Space Force	Specialist 3 (Spc3)
Coast Guard	Seaman (SN)

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-3 Base Pay Table — 2026

Years of Service	Monthly Pay	Annual Pay
2 or less	$2,836.80	$34,041.60
2	$3,015.00	$36,180.00
3	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
4	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
6	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
8	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
10	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
12	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
14	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
16	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
18	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
20	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
22	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
24	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
26	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
28	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
30	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
32	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
34	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
36	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
38	$3,198.00	$38,376.00
40	$3,198.00	$38,376.00

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

E-3 base pay stops increasing at 3 years of service. It reaches $3,198.00 per month there and stays flat — every row from 3 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-3 end at 3 years.

After that, E-3 base pay only moves two ways: the annual military pay raise, or promotion. Promotion to E-4 is worth $284.40 more per month at that point ($3,413 a year) before any change in BAH.

E-3 BAH Rates — 2026 (With Dependents)

BAH for an E-3 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-3 at 20 Years

Base Pay (20 YOS)$3,198.00

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

BAS (Enlisted)$476.95

Estimated Monthly Total$5,743.95

Estimated Annual Total$68,927.40

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-3 Drill Pay — Guard and Reserve

Guard and Reserve members at E-3 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	$94.56	$378.24	$5,957
Over 4 yrs	$106.60	$426.40	$6,716
Over 8 yrs	$106.60	$426.40	$6,716
Over 12 yrs	$106.60	$426.40	$6,716
Over 20 yrs	$106.60	$426.40	$6,716

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 E-4 Specialist/Corporal →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an E-3 make in 2026?

In 2026, an E-3 (Private First Class) earns between $2,836.80 and $3,198.00 per month in base pay, depending on years of service. Total compensation including BAH and BAS is significantly higher.

What is the maximum E-3 pay?

The maximum base pay for an E-3 in 2026 is $3,198.00/month ($38,376.00/year), reached at 40+ years of service.

Does an E-3 get BAH?

Yes. In addition to base pay, E-3 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-3 pay changed in 2026

The 2026 raise added 3.8% to E-3 base pay: $117 more per month at 6 years of service ($1,404 a year) compared with the 2025 table.

Years of service	2025	2026	Change
Over 2 yrs	$2,905/mo	$3,015/mo	+$110 (3.8%)
Over 6 yrs	$3,081/mo	$3,198/mo	+$117 (3.8%)
Over 12 yrs	$3,081/mo	$3,198/mo	+$117 (3.8%)

Promotion is still the bigger lever: at 6 years of service, pinning on E-4 is worth $617 more per month in base pay alone ($7,409 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.