O-4 (Major) Pay with 18 Years of Service — 2026
An O-4 (Major) with 18 years of service earns $10,509.90 per month in base pay in 2026, which is $126,118.80 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 $3,172/mo (with dependents) and BAS of $328.48/mo, total monthly compensation comes to approximately $14,010. 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 | $10,509.90 | $10,509.90 |
| BAH (national avg) | $3,172 | $2,699 |
| BAS | $328.48 | $328.48 |
| Total | $14,010 | $13,537 |
BAH varies by location. Use the BAH Calculator for your exact rate.
O-4 Pay Progression by Years of Service
See how O-4 base pay changes as you gain more time in service:
| Years of Service | Monthly Base Pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | $6,294.60 | $75,535.20 |
| 2 years | $7,286.40 | $87,436.80 |
| 3 years | $7,773.60 | $93,283.20 |
| 4 years | $7,881.00 | $94,572.00 |
| 6 years | $8,332.20 | $99,986.40 |
| 8 years | $8,816.40 | $105,796.80 |
| 10 years | $9,420.00 | $113,040.00 |
| 12 years | $9,888.30 | $118,659.60 |
| 14 years | $10,214.40 | $122,572.80 |
| 16 years | $10,401.60 | $124,819.20 |
| 18 years ← you | $10,509.90 | $126,118.80 |
How O-4 Compares to Other Ranks at 18 Years
| Rank | Base Pay (18 YOS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| O-3 | $9,004.20 | -$1,505.70 |
| O-4 | $10,509.90 | — |
| O-5 | $11,713.80 | +$1,203.90 |
More O-4 Pay Information
- O-4 with 16 years of service
- O-4 with 20 years of service
- Full O-4 Pay Table (all years)
- All Military Pay Charts
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an O-4 make with 18 years of service?
An O-4 (Major) with 18 years of service earns $10,509.90/month in base pay ($126,118.80/year). With BAH and BAS, total compensation averages $14,010/month with dependents.
What is O-4 base pay at 18 years?
2026 O-4 base pay at 18 years of service is $10,509.90/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 O-4, this means $3,500.48/month in allowances is untaxed, significantly reducing your effective tax rate.