W-1 (Warrant Officer 1) Pay with 16 Years of Service — 2026
An W-1 (Warrant Officer 1) with 16 years of service earns $6,564.90 per month in base pay in 2026, which is $78,778.80 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 $2,630/mo (with dependents) and BAS of $476.95/mo, total monthly compensation comes to approximately $9,672. 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 | $6,564.90 | $6,564.90 |
| BAH (national avg) | $2,630 | $2,107 |
| BAS | $476.95 | $476.95 |
| Total | $9,672 | $9,149 |
BAH varies by location. Use the BAH Calculator for your exact rate.
W-1 Pay Progression by Years of Service
See how W-1 base pay changes as you gain more time in service:
| Years of Service | Monthly Base Pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | $4,056.60 | $48,679.20 |
| 2 years | $4,493.70 | $53,924.40 |
| 3 years | $4,611.00 | $55,332.00 |
| 4 years | $4,859.10 | $58,309.20 |
| 6 years | $5,152.20 | $61,826.40 |
| 8 years | $5,584.20 | $67,010.40 |
| 10 years | $5,786.10 | $69,433.20 |
| 12 years | $6,069.30 | $72,831.60 |
| 14 years | $6,346.50 | $76,158.00 |
| 16 years ← you | $6,564.90 | $78,778.80 |
| 18 years | $6,766.20 | $81,194.40 |
| 20 years | $7,010.10 | $84,121.20 |
How W-1 Compares to Other Ranks at 16 Years
| Rank | Base Pay (16 YOS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $6,564.90 | — |
| W-2 | $7,005.00 | +$440.10 |
More W-1 Pay Information
- W-1 with 14 years of service
- W-1 with 18 years of service
- Full W-1 Pay Table (all years)
- All Military Pay Charts
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an W-1 make with 16 years of service?
An W-1 (Warrant Officer 1) with 16 years of service earns $6,564.90/month in base pay ($78,778.80/year). With BAH and BAS, total compensation averages $9,672/month with dependents.
What is W-1 base pay at 16 years?
2026 W-1 base pay at 16 years of service is $6,564.90/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 W-1, this means $3,106.95/month in allowances is untaxed, significantly reducing your effective tax rate.
W-1 at 16 years, in context
This exact cell of the pay table — W-1 over 16 years — pays $240 more per month than it did in 2025 (3.8% increase, $2,884 a year).
The next longevity raise on this row lands at over 18 years: $6,766/mo, a $201 bump with no promotion required.
For comparison, W-2 pay at the same 16 years of service is $7,005/mo — promotion here is worth $440/mo, versus $201/mo for waiting on longevity.