E-7 (Sergeant First Class) Pay with 18 Years of Service — 2026
An E-7 (Sergeant First Class) with 18 years of service earns $6,177.30 per month in base pay in 2026, which is $74,127.60 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 $2,702/mo (with dependents) and BAS of $476.95/mo, total monthly compensation comes to approximately $9,356. 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 | $6,177.30 | $6,177.30 |
| BAH (national avg) | $2,702 | $2,158 |
| BAS | $476.95 | $476.95 |
| Total | $9,356 | $8,812 |
BAH varies by location. Use the BAH Calculator for your exact rate.
E-7 Pay Progression by Years of Service
See how E-7 base pay changes as you gain more time in service:
| Years of Service | Monthly Base Pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | $3,932.10 | $47,185.20 |
| 2 years | $4,291.50 | $51,498.00 |
| 3 years | $4,456.20 | $53,474.40 |
| 4 years | $4,673.10 | $56,077.20 |
| 6 years | $4,843.80 | $58,125.60 |
| 8 years | $5,135.70 | $61,628.40 |
| 10 years | $5,300.40 | $63,604.80 |
| 12 years | $5,591.70 | $67,100.40 |
| 14 years | $5,835.00 | $70,020.00 |
| 16 years | $6,000.90 | $72,010.80 |
| 18 years ← you | $6,177.30 | $74,127.60 |
| 20 years | $6,245.70 | $74,948.40 |
How E-7 Compares to Other Ranks at 18 Years
| Rank | Base Pay (18 YOS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| E-6 | $5,267.70 | -$909.60 |
| E-7 | $6,177.30 | — |
| E-8 | $6,811.20 | +$633.90 |
More E-7 Pay Information
- E-7 with 16 years of service
- E-7 with 20 years of service
- Full E-7 Pay Table (all years)
- All Military Pay Charts
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an E-7 make with 18 years of service?
An E-7 (Sergeant First Class) with 18 years of service earns $6,177.30/month in base pay ($74,127.60/year). With BAH and BAS, total compensation averages $9,356/month with dependents.
What is E-7 base pay at 18 years?
2026 E-7 base pay at 18 years of service is $6,177.30/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-7, this means $3,178.95/month in allowances is untaxed, significantly reducing your effective tax rate.