Updated February 2026
O-5 Pay 2026 — Lieutenant Colonel
Complete 2026 O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) 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.
O-5 Base Pay Table — 2026
| Years of Service | Monthly Pay | Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $7,295.40 | $87,544.80 |
| 2 | $8,218.20 | $98,618.40 |
| 3 | $8,787.00 | $105,444.00 |
| 4 | $8,894.10 | $106,729.20 |
| 6 | $9,249.60 | $110,995.20 |
| 8 | $9,461.40 | $113,536.80 |
| 10 | $9,928.50 | $119,142.00 |
| 12 | $10,271.70 | $123,260.40 |
| 14 | $10,715.10 | $128,581.20 |
| 16 | $11,391.30 | $136,695.60 |
| 18 | $11,713.80 | $140,565.60 |
| 20 | $12,032.70 | $144,392.40 |
| 22 | $12,394.80 | $148,737.60 |
All amounts reflect the 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026. Source: DFAS.
O-5 BAH Rates — 2026 (With Dependents)
BAH for an O-5 with dependents ranges from $1,827 to $8,064 per month, with a national average of approximately $3,320/mo across 338 locations.
Top 5 Highest BAH Locations
- Westchester County, NY$8,064/mo
- New York City, NY$7,128/mo
- San Francisco, CA$7,089/mo
- Nantucket, MA$6,933/mo
- Boston, MA$6,483/mo
Top 5 Lowest BAH Locations
- Youngstown, OH$1,827/mo
- Cannon AFB/Clovis, NM$1,944/mo
- Stevens Point, WI$1,998/mo
- Saginaw, MI$2,007/mo
- Monroe, LA$2,040/mo
Total Compensation Example — O-5 at 10 Years
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How O-5 pay changed in 2026
The 2026 pay raise added 3.8% to O-5 base pay compared with 2025 — $339 more per month at 6 years of service. Officer pay at this grade is capped by Executive Schedule limits at senior levels, so the table below shows where the raise actually lands.
| Years of service | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 2 yrs | $7,917/mo | $8,218/mo | +$301 (3.8%) |
| Over 6 yrs | $8,911/mo | $9,250/mo | +$339 (3.8%) |
| Over 12 yrs | $9,896/mo | $10,272/mo | +$376 (3.8%) |
Promotion is still the bigger lever: at 6 years of service, pinning on O-6 is worth $1,035 more per month in base pay alone ($12,416 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.