Yes, E-4 service members receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) in addition to base pay. BAH for an E-4 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-4 Pay 2026 — Specialist/Corporal

Q: How much does an E-4 make in 2026?

In 2026, an E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) earns between $3,142.20 and $3,815.40 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-4 pay?

The maximum base pay for an E-4 in 2026 is $3,815.40 per month ($45,784.80 per year). This is reached at 40+ years of service. Total compensation including BAH and BAS is significantly higher.

Complete 2026 E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) 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)

$3,142.20/mo

$37,706.40/year

Max Pay

$3,815.40/mo

$45,784.80/year

BAH Range (w/ Dependents)

$1,134–$5,067

Across 338 locations

Enlisted BAS

$476.95/mo

Tax-free food allowance

What E-4 Is Called in Each Branch

E-4 is a paygrade, not a rank. Every branch pays E-4 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-4
Army	Corporal (CPL) or Specialist (SPC)
Marine Corps	Corporal (Cpl)
Navy	Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
Air Force	Senior Airman (SrA)
Space Force	Specialist 4 (Spc4)
Coast Guard	Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)

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-4 Base Pay Table — 2026

Years of Service	Monthly Pay	Annual Pay
2 or less	$3,142.20	$37,706.40
2	$3,303.00	$39,636.00
3	$3,482.40	$41,788.80
4	$3,658.50	$43,902.00
6	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
8	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
10	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
12	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
14	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
16	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
18	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
20	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
22	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
24	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
26	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
28	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
30	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
32	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
34	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
36	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
38	$3,815.40	$45,784.80
40	$3,815.40	$45,784.80

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

E-4 base pay stops increasing at 6 years of service. It reaches $3,815.40 per month there and stays flat — every row from 6 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-4 end at 6 years.

After that, E-4 base pay only moves two ways: the annual military pay raise, or promotion. Promotion to E-5 is worth $294.60 more per month at that point ($3,535 a year) before any change in BAH.

E-4 BAH Rates — 2026 (With Dependents)

BAH for an E-4 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-4 at 20 Years

Base Pay (20 YOS)$3,815.40

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

BAS (Enlisted)$476.95

Estimated Monthly Total$6,361.35

Estimated Annual Total$76,336.20

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-4 Drill Pay — Guard and Reserve

Guard and Reserve members at E-4 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	$104.74	$418.96	$6,599
Over 4 yrs	$121.95	$487.80	$7,683
Over 8 yrs	$127.18	$508.72	$8,012
Over 12 yrs	$127.18	$508.72	$8,012
Over 20 yrs	$127.18	$508.72	$8,012

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-3 Private First Class E-5 Sergeant →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an E-4 make in 2026?

In 2026, an E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) earns between $3,142.20 and $3,815.40 per month in base pay, depending on years of service. Total compensation including BAH and BAS is significantly higher.

What is the maximum E-4 pay?

The maximum base pay for an E-4 in 2026 is $3,815.40/month ($45,784.80/year), reached at 40+ years of service.

Does an E-4 get BAH?

Yes. In addition to base pay, E-4 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-4 pay changed in 2026

The 2026 raise added 3.8% to E-4 base pay: $140 more per month at 6 years of service ($1,678 a year) compared with the 2025 table.

Years of service	2025	2026	Change
Over 2 yrs	$3,182/mo	$3,303/mo	+$121 (3.8%)
Over 6 yrs	$3,676/mo	$3,815/mo	+$140 (3.8%)
Over 12 yrs	$3,676/mo	$3,815/mo	+$140 (3.8%)

Promotion is still the bigger lever: at 6 years of service, pinning on E-5 is worth $295 more per month in base pay alone ($3,535 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.