Updated August 2026
W-2 Pay 2026 — Chief Warrant Officer 2
Complete 2026 W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) 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.
W-2 Base Pay Table — 2026
| Years of Service | Monthly Pay | Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $4,621.80 | $55,461.60 |
| 2 | $5,058.90 | $60,706.80 |
| 3 | $5,193.30 | $62,319.60 |
| 4 | $5,286.00 | $63,432.00 |
| 6 | $5,585.40 | $67,024.80 |
| 8 | $6,051.00 | $72,612.00 |
| 10 | $6,282.60 | $75,391.20 |
| 12 | $6,509.40 | $78,112.80 |
| 14 | $6,787.50 | $81,450.00 |
| 16 | $7,005.00 | $84,060.00 |
| 18 | $7,201.50 | $86,418.00 |
| 20 | $7,437.00 | $89,244.00 |
| 22 | $7,591.50 | $91,098.00 |
| 24 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 26 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 28 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 30 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 32 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 34 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 36 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 38 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
| 40 | $7,714.20 | $92,570.40 |
All amounts reflect the 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026. Source: DFAS.
W-2 base pay stops increasing at 24 years of service. It reaches $7,714.20 per month there and stays flat — every row from 24 years through 40 in the table above is the same number. That is why the bottom of the table looks repetitive: longevity raises for W-2 end at 24 years.
After that, W-2 base pay only moves two ways: the annual military pay raise, or promotion. Promotion to W-3 is worth $1,165.50 more per month at that point ($13,986 a year) before any change in BAH.
W-2 BAH Rates — 2026 (With Dependents)
BAH for an W-2 with dependents ranges from $1,560 to $6,036 per month, with a national average of approximately $2,673/mo across 338 locations.
Top 5 Highest BAH Locations
- Westchester County, NY$6,036/mo
- San Francisco, CA$5,505/mo
- New York City, NY$5,313/mo
- Nantucket, MA$5,292/mo
- Maui County, HI$5,196/mo
Top 5 Lowest BAH Locations
- Youngstown, OH$1,560/mo
- Anniston/Fort McClellan, AL$1,590/mo
- Fort Sill/Lawton, OK$1,632/mo
- Vance AFB/Enid, OK$1,671/mo
- Monroe, LA$1,680/mo
Total Compensation Example — W-2 at 20 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.
W-2 Drill Pay — Guard and Reserve
Guard and Reserve members at W-2 are paid from the same base pay table. One drill period pays 1/30 of the monthly base pay above, and a standard drill weekend is four periods.
| Years of service | 1 drill period | Drill weekend (4) | Annual (48 drills + 15 AT days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 yrs | $154.06 | $616.24 | $9,706 |
| Over 4 yrs | $176.20 | $704.80 | $11,101 |
| Over 8 yrs | $201.70 | $806.80 | $12,707 |
| Over 12 yrs | $216.98 | $867.92 | $13,670 |
| Over 20 yrs | $247.90 | $991.60 | $15,618 |
Drill periods are computed as monthly base pay ÷ 30 per DFAS Reserve Component drill pay rules; annual training is paid at the active-duty daily rate, so 15 AT days add 15 daily payments rather than 30 drill periods. Run your own numbers with the Drill Pay Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How W-2 pay changed in 2026
Warrant officer pay moved with the standard 3.8% military raise in 2026: a W-2 with 6 years of service earns $205 more per month than in 2025.
| Years of service | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 2 yrs | $4,874/mo | $5,059/mo | +$185 (3.8%) |
| Over 6 yrs | $5,381/mo | $5,585/mo | +$205 (3.8%) |
| Over 12 yrs | $6,271/mo | $6,509/mo | +$238 (3.8%) |
Promotion is still the bigger lever: at 6 years of service, pinning on W-3 is worth $386 more per month in base pay alone ($4,626 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.