Updated March 2026

2026 Military Pay Chart

Complete 2026 military base pay tables for all ranks from E-1 through O-10, organized by years of service. All rates reflect the 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026. These are monthly base pay amounts only — use our Military Pay Calculator to see total compensation including BAH and BAS.

E-5 Base Pay (6 yrs)

$4,110.00/mo

$49,320.00/year

O-3 Base Pay (4 yrs)

$7,382.70/mo

$88,592.40/year

2026 Pay Raise

3.8%

Effective Jan 1, 2026

Enlisted BAS

$476.95/mo

Tax-free food allowance

This chart is base pay only. See your full paycheck — base pay + BAH + BAS — for your rank and duty station. Calculate my total pay →

Grade	2 or less	3	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
E-1	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20	$2,407.20
E-2	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90	$2,697.90
E-3	$2,836.80	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00	$3,198.00
E-4	$3,142.20	$3,482.40	$3,658.50	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40	$3,815.40
E-5	$3,342.90	$3,775.80	$3,946.80	$4,110.00	$4,299.90	$4,395.30	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70	$4,421.70
E-6	$3,401.10	$3,908.10	$4,068.90	$4,235.70	$4,612.80	$4,759.50	$5,043.30	$5,130.30	$5,193.60	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70	$5,267.70
E-7	$3,932.10	$4,456.20	$4,673.10	$4,843.80	$5,135.70	$5,300.40	$5,591.70	$5,835.00	$6,000.90	$6,177.30	$6,245.70	$6,475.20	$6,598.20	$7,067.40	$7,067.40	$7,067.40	$7,067.40	$7,067.40	$7,067.40	$7,067.40	$7,067.40
E-8	—	—	—	—	$5,656.50	$5,907.00	$6,061.80	$6,247.20	$6,448.20	$6,811.20	$6,995.40	$7,308.30	$7,481.70	$7,908.90	$7,908.90	$8,067.30	$8,067.30	$8,067.30	$8,067.30	$8,067.30	$8,067.30
E-9	—	—	—	—	—	$6,910.20	$7,066.50	$7,263.60	$7,496.10	$7,730.70	$8,105.10	$8,423.10	$8,756.70	$9,267.90	$9,267.90	$9,730.20	$9,730.20	$10,217.40	$10,217.40	$10,729.20	$10,729.20

E-1 with less than 4 months of service: $2,225.70/mo. Senior Enlisted Member rate (E-9): $11,166.90/mo. Amounts shown are monthly base pay. Dash (—) indicates the rank is not available at that years-of-service level.

Grade	2 or less	3	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
W-1	$4,056.60	$4,611.00	$4,859.10	$5,152.20	$5,584.20	$5,786.10	$6,069.30	$6,346.50	$6,564.90	$6,766.20	$7,010.10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
W-2	$4,621.80	$5,193.30	$5,286.00	$5,585.40	$6,051.00	$6,282.60	$6,509.40	$6,787.50	$7,005.00	$7,201.50	$7,437.00	$7,591.50	$7,714.20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
W-3	$5,223.30	$5,664.30	$5,736.90	$5,970.90	$6,431.10	$6,910.50	$7,136.40	$7,397.70	$7,665.90	$8,150.40	$8,476.50	$8,671.80	$8,879.70	$9,162.60	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
W-4	$5,719.80	$6,328.50	$6,502.20	$6,801.90	$7,098.00	$7,398.00	$7,848.30	$8,243.70	$8,619.90	$8,928.60	$9,228.90	$9,669.60	$10,032.00	$10,445.40	—	$10,653.60	—	—	—	—	—
W-5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	$10,169.70	$10,685.70	$11,070.30	$11,495.10	—	$12,070.80	—	$12,673.50	—	$13,308.30	—

Amounts shown are monthly base pay. Dash (—) indicates the rank is not available at that years-of-service level.

Grade	2 or less	3	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
O-1	$4,150.20	$5,222.40	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O-2	$4,782.00	$6,272.40	$6,484.50	$6,617.70	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O-3	$5,534.10	$6,770.40	$7,382.70	$7,737.00	$8,125.50	$8,375.70	$8,788.20	$9,004.20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O-4	$6,294.60	$7,773.60	$7,881.00	$8,332.20	$8,816.40	$9,420.00	$9,888.30	$10,214.40	$10,401.60	$10,509.90	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O-5	$7,295.40	$8,787.00	$8,894.10	$9,249.60	$9,461.40	$9,928.50	$10,271.70	$10,715.10	$11,391.30	$11,713.80	$12,032.70	$12,394.80	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O-6	$8,751.30	$10,245.00	—	$10,284.30	$10,725.00	$10,783.50	—	$11,396.40	$12,479.70	$13,115.40	$13,751.10	$14,112.90	$14,479.20	$15,188.70	—	$15,408.30	—	—	—	—	—
O-7	$11,540.10	$12,324.30	$12,522.00	$12,878.70	$13,231.80	$13,639.20	$14,045.70	$14,454.30	$15,735.30	$16,817.70	—	—	—	$16,904.40	—	$17,242.20	—	—	—	—	—
O-8	$13,888.50	$14,645.40	$14,729.40	$15,106.50	$15,735.30	$15,882.00	$16,479.60	$16,651.80	$17,166.60	$17,911.80	$18,598.20	$18,999.90	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O-9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	$18,999.90	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
O-10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	$18,999.90	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

O-9 and O-10 pay is subject to Level II and Level V Executive Schedule limits respectively. Amounts shown are monthly base pay. Dash (—) indicates the rank is not available at that years-of-service level. Commissioned officers with prior enlisted service (O-1E, O-2E, O-3E) receive higher base pay — see the Military Pay Calculator for those rates.

Important Notes About 2026 Military Pay

3.8% Pay Raise Effective January 1, 2026

All base pay amounts shown in the tables above include the 3.8% pay raise authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. This raise took effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to all pay grades from E-1 through O-10. The 3.8% increase was applied uniformly across all ranks and years-of-service levels.

Longevity Pay: How Years of Service Affect Pay

Military base pay increases with time in service through longevity pay raises. These increases occur at specific milestones: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 years, and beyond for senior ranks.

Key points about longevity pay:

Junior enlisted (E-1 through E-4) — Pay caps relatively early. E-1 and E-2 receive the same base pay regardless of time in service. E-4 caps at 6 years.
Mid-grade enlisted (E-5 through E-7) — Continue receiving longevity increases through 12-26 years, rewarding long-term career service members.
Senior enlisted (E-8, E-9) — Can receive increases through 30+ years, with E-9 seeing increases up to 40 years of service.
Officers — Generally receive increases through 18-22 years, with senior officers (O-6+) continuing to see increases at later milestones.

Years of service is calculated from your Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD), which may include time from prior service, ROTC, or service academy attendance.

Base Pay Only — Total Compensation Is Higher

The amounts shown in these pay charts are base pay only. Your total military compensation also includes:

BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) — Tax-free housing allowance based on your duty station, rank, and dependency status. Can range from $800 to $5,500+ per month depending on location.
BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) — Tax-free food allowance of $476.95/month (enlisted) or $328.48/month (officers) in 2026.
Special pays and bonuses — Hazardous duty, flight pay, enlistment/reenlistment bonuses, and more.

Use our Military Pay Calculator to see your total monthly compensation including BAH and BAS for your specific situation.

Data Sources

Every figure here comes from the official sources below. See our full methodology for how we source and verify each rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an E-5 make in 2026?

In 2026, an E-5 earns between $3,342.90 and $4,421.70 per month in base pay, depending on years of service. An E-5 with 6 years of service earns $4,110.00/month ($49,320.00/year) in base pay alone.

This does not include BAH or BAS. With allowances, total monthly compensation for an E-5 typically ranges from $4,500 to $6,200+ depending on duty station location and dependency status.

What was the 2026 military pay raise?

The 2026 military pay raise was 3.8%, effective January 1, 2026. This raise was authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 and applies uniformly to all pay grades from E-1 through O-10. All base pay amounts in the tables above reflect this raise.

Does military pay include BAH?

No. The pay chart above shows base pay only. BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) and BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) are separate, tax-free allowances paid in addition to base pay. BAH varies by location, rank, and dependency status. To see your total compensation including BAH and BAS, use our Military Pay Calculator.

How does years of service affect pay?

Military base pay increases at specific years-of-service milestones through longevity pay. Each pay grade has a different cap — for example, an E-5 reaches maximum base pay at 12 years, while an E-9 continues receiving increases through 40 years. Years of service is calculated from your Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD), which may include prior service time.

When do military pay raises take effect?

Military pay raises typically take effect on January 1 of each year. The 2026 pay raise of 3.8% went into effect on January 1, 2026, and was reflected in military paychecks starting with the January 15 mid-month pay. Pay raises are authorized annually by Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Understanding the 2026 Military Pay Chart

The 2026 military base pay chart reflects a 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026. Base pay is determined by two factors: pay grade (rank) and years of service. This chart applies equally to all branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard.

How to Read the Pay Chart

Find your pay grade in the leftmost column (E-1 through O-10), then read across to your years of service. The amount shown is your monthly base pay before taxes and deductions. Base pay is only one component of military compensation — most service members also receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) and BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence), both of which are tax-free.

How Military Pay Raises Work

Military pay raises are set annually by Congress, typically matching the Employment Cost Index (ECI). The 2026 raise of 3.8% was authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Pay raises apply uniformly across all pay grades — an E-1 and an O-10 both see the same percentage increase.

Historical raises: 2025 (4.5%), 2024 (5.2%), 2023 (4.6%), 2022 (2.7%), 2021 (3.0%). The 2024 raise of 5.2% was the largest since 2002.

Pay Grade Structure Explained

Enlisted (E-1 to E-9): E-1 is the entry rank for most new service members. Promotions through E-4 are largely time-based. E-5 through E-9 are competitive promotions requiring leadership ability and professional development.

Warrant Officers (W-1 to W-5): Technical experts who receive specialized pay. Common in Army aviation, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Commissioned Officers (O-1 to O-10): O-1 is the entry rank for officers (typically college graduates or OCS/academy graduates). O-7 through O-10 are general/flag officers requiring Senate confirmation.

Prior Enlisted Officers (O-1E to O-3E): Officers with 4+ years of prior enlisted service receive higher base pay at O-1 through O-3, reflecting their additional experience.

Years of Service Longevity Raises

Within each pay grade, base pay increases with years of service — called longevity raises. These increases happen automatically at set intervals (typically every 2 years). The maximum base pay for any grade is reached at different service lengths depending on rank.

For example, an E-5's base pay increases from $3,230.10 at 2 years to $4,212.30 at 12 years. An O-3's pay ranges from $5,336.10 at entry to $7,523.40 at 14 years.

Total Military Compensation vs. Base Pay

Base pay shown in this chart is only part of total military compensation. A typical service member also receives:

BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing): Tax-free housing allowance based on duty station, rank, and dependency status. Ranges from $750/mo to $4,800/mo depending on location.
BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence): Tax-free food allowance. Enlisted: $476.95/mo; Officers: $328.48/mo in 2026.
Special pays: Flight pay, hazardous duty pay, sea pay, language proficiency pay, and more.

Use the Military Pay Calculator to see your total compensation including all allowances.

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