Updated February 2026
O-6 Pay 2026 — Colonel
Complete 2026 O-6 (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-6 Base Pay Table — 2026
| Years of Service | Monthly Pay | Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $8,751.30 | $105,015.60 |
| 2 | $9,613.80 | $115,365.60 |
| 3 | $10,245.00 | $122,940.00 |
| 6 | $10,284.30 | $123,411.60 |
| 8 | $10,725.00 | $128,700.00 |
| 10 | $10,783.50 | $129,402.00 |
| 14 | $11,396.40 | $136,756.80 |
| 16 | $12,479.70 | $149,756.40 |
| 18 | $13,115.40 | $157,384.80 |
| 20 | $13,751.10 | $165,013.20 |
| 22 | $14,112.90 | $169,354.80 |
| 24 | $14,479.20 | $173,750.40 |
| 26 | $15,188.70 | $182,264.40 |
| 30 | $15,408.30 | $184,899.60 |
All amounts reflect the 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026. Source: DFAS.
O-6 BAH Rates — 2026 (With Dependents)
BAH for an O-6 with dependents ranges from $1,839 to $8,136 per month, with a national average of approximately $3,346/mo across 338 locations.
Top 5 Highest BAH Locations
- Westchester County, Ny$8,136/mo
- New York City, Ny$7,194/mo
- San Francisco, Ca$7,155/mo
- Nantucket, Ma$6,993/mo
- Boston, Ma$6,540/mo
Top 5 Lowest BAH Locations
- Youngstown, Oh$1,839/mo
- Cannon Afb/Clovis, Nm$1,956/mo
- Stevens Point, Wi$2,010/mo
- Saginaw, Mi$2,022/mo
- Monroe, La$2,055/mo
Total Compensation Example — O-6 at 16 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-6 pay changed in 2026
The 2026 pay raise added 3.8% to O-6 base pay compared with 2025 — $377 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 | $9,262/mo | $9,614/mo | +$352 (3.8%) |
| Over 6 yrs | $9,908/mo | $10,284/mo | +$377 (3.8%) |
| Over 12 yrs | $10,389/mo | $10,784/mo | +$395 (3.8%) |
Promotion is still the bigger lever: at 6 years of service, pinning on O-7 is worth $2,594 more per month in base pay alone ($31,133 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.