O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) Pay with 18 Years of Service — 2026
An O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) with 18 years of service earns $11,713.80 per month in base pay in 2026, which is $140,565.60 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 $3,401/mo (with dependents) and BAS of $328.48/mo, total monthly compensation comes to approximately $15,443. 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 | $11,713.80 | $11,713.80 |
| BAH (national avg) | $3,401 | $2,760 |
| BAS | $328.48 | $328.48 |
| Total | $15,443 | $14,802 |
BAH varies by location. Use the BAH Calculator for your exact rate.
O-5 Pay Progression by Years of Service
See how O-5 base pay changes as you gain more time in service:
| Years of Service | Monthly Base Pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | $7,295.40 | $87,544.80 |
| 2 years | $8,218.20 | $98,618.40 |
| 3 years | $8,787.00 | $105,444.00 |
| 4 years | $8,894.10 | $106,729.20 |
| 6 years | $9,249.60 | $110,995.20 |
| 8 years | $9,461.40 | $113,536.80 |
| 10 years | $9,928.50 | $119,142.00 |
| 12 years | $10,271.70 | $123,260.40 |
| 14 years | $10,715.10 | $128,581.20 |
| 16 years | $11,391.30 | $136,695.60 |
| 18 years ← you | $11,713.80 | $140,565.60 |
| 20 years | $12,032.70 | $144,392.40 |
How O-5 Compares to Other Ranks at 18 Years
| Rank | Base Pay (18 YOS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| O-4 | $10,509.90 | -$1,203.90 |
| O-5 | $11,713.80 | — |
| O-6 | $13,115.40 | +$1,401.60 |
More O-5 Pay Information
- O-5 with 16 years of service
- O-5 with 20 years of service
- Full O-5 Pay Table (all years)
- All Military Pay Charts
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an O-5 make with 18 years of service?
An O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) with 18 years of service earns $11,713.80/month in base pay ($140,565.60/year). With BAH and BAS, total compensation averages $15,443/month with dependents.
What is O-5 base pay at 18 years?
2026 O-5 base pay at 18 years of service is $11,713.80/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-5, this means $3,729.48/month in allowances is untaxed, significantly reducing your effective tax rate.