E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) Pay with 4 Years of Service — 2026
An E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) with 4 years of service earns $3,658.50 per month in base pay in 2026, which is $43,902.00 per year. Base pay is the taxable portion of military compensation and does not include housing or food allowances.
When you add the national average BAH of $2,129/mo (with dependents) and BAS of $476.95/mo, total monthly compensation comes to approximately $6,264. BAH and BAS are tax-free, making the effective compensation even higher than it appears.
Monthly Compensation Breakdown
| Component | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Base Pay | $3,658.50 | $3,658.50 |
| BAH (national avg) | $2,129 | $1,683 |
| BAS | $476.95 | $476.95 |
| Total | $6,264 | $5,818 |
BAH varies by location. Use the BAH Calculator for your exact rate.
E-4 Pay Progression by Years of Service
See how E-4 base pay changes as you gain more time in service:
| Years of Service | Monthly Base Pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | $3,142.20 | $37,706.40 |
| 2 years | $3,303.00 | $39,636.00 |
| 3 years | $3,482.40 | $41,788.80 |
| 4 years ← you | $3,658.50 | $43,902.00 |
| 6 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
| 8 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
| 10 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
| 12 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
| 14 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
| 16 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
| 18 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
| 20 years | $3,815.40 | $45,784.80 |
How E-4 Compares to Other Ranks at 4 Years
| Rank | Base Pay (4 YOS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| E-3 | $3,198.00 | -$460.50 |
| E-4 | $3,658.50 | — |
| E-5 | $3,946.80 | +$288.30 |
More E-4 Pay Information
- E-4 with 2 years of service
- E-4 with 6 years of service
- Full E-4 Pay Table (all years)
- All Military Pay Charts
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an E-4 make with 4 years of service?
An E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) with 4 years of service earns $3,658.50/month in base pay ($43,902.00/year). With BAH and BAS, total compensation averages $6,264/month with dependents.
What is E-4 base pay at 4 years?
2026 E-4 base pay at 4 years of service is $3,658.50/month. This is the taxable portion of military pay.
Is military pay taxable?
Base pay is subject to federal income tax. BAH and BAS are tax-free. For an E-4, this means $2,605.95/month in allowances is untaxed, significantly reducing your effective tax rate.