W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) Pay with 20 Years of Service — 2026
An W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) with 20 years of service earns $10,169.70 per month in base pay in 2026, which is $122,036.40 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 $3,126/mo (with dependents) and BAS of $476.95/mo, total monthly compensation comes to approximately $13,773. 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 | $10,169.70 | $10,169.70 |
| BAH (national avg) | $3,126 | $2,721 |
| BAS | $476.95 | $476.95 |
| Total | $13,773 | $13,368 |
BAH varies by location. Use the BAH Calculator for your exact rate.
W-5 Pay Progression by Years of Service
See how W-5 base pay changes as you gain more time in service:
| Years of Service | Monthly Base Pay | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 20 years ← you | $10,169.70 | $122,036.40 |
How W-5 Compares to Other Ranks at 20 Years
| Rank | Base Pay (20 YOS) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| W-4 | $9,228.90 | -$940.80 |
| W-5 | $10,169.70 | — |
More W-5 Pay Information
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an W-5 make with 20 years of service?
An W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) with 20 years of service earns $10,169.70/month in base pay ($122,036.40/year). With BAH and BAS, total compensation averages $13,773/month with dependents.
What is W-5 base pay at 20 years?
2026 W-5 base pay at 20 years of service is $10,169.70/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-5, this means $3,602.95/month in allowances is untaxed, significantly reducing your effective tax rate.
W-5 at 20 years, in context
This exact cell of the pay table — W-5 over 20 years — pays $372 more per month than it did in 2025 (3.8% increase, $4,468 a year).
The next longevity raise on this row lands at over 22 years: $10,686/mo, a $516 bump with no promotion required.