Military Pay Chart 2026: Basic Pay by Rank and Years of Service
The military pay chart 2026: monthly basic pay for enlisted, warrant and officer grades, the 3.8% raise, BAH and BAS, and annual salary examples.
Short answer: In the military pay chart 2026 tables, basic pay starts at $2,407.20 a month for an E-1 private, seaman or airman with at least four months of service, and $4,150.20 for a new O-1 officer. The highest rates are $10,729.20 for an E-9 with 38 or more years and $18,999.90 for generals and admirals, which is a legal cap. All services pay the same rate for the same grade and years of service. The 2026 raise was 3.8%, effective January 1, 2026.
Last updated: October 28, 2026
Key facts
- 2026 raise: 3.8%, set by the statutory Employment Cost Index formula.
- New E-1: $2,407.20 a month ($2,225.70 in the first four months).
- New O-1: $4,150.20 a month.
- Pay depends on grade and years of service, not branch.
- Basic pay is about three-fifths of regular military compensation.
2026 enlisted pay chart
The figures below are monthly basic pay from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) enlisted pay table, effective January 1, 2026. Columns show years of service. A dash means service members do not normally hold that grade at that point.
| Grade | 2 or less | Over 4 | Over 10 | Over 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | — | — | $6,910.20 | $8,105.10 |
| E-8 | — | — | $5,907.00 | $6,995.40 |
| E-7 | $3,932.10 | $4,673.10 | $5,300.40 | $6,245.70 |
| E-6 | $3,401.10 | $4,068.90 | $4,759.50 | $5,267.70 |
| E-5 | $3,342.90 | $3,946.80 | $4,395.30 | $4,421.70 |
| E-4 | $3,142.20 | $3,658.50 | $3,815.40 | $3,815.40 |
| E-3 | $2,836.80 | $3,198.00 | $3,198.00 | $3,198.00 |
| E-2 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 |
| E-1 | $2,407.20 | $2,407.20 | $2,407.20 | $2,407.20 |
The lower grades stop rising early because service members are expected to be promoted. An E-4’s pay tops out at $3,815.40 after four years, and an E-5’s at $4,421.70 after 14 years. The senior enlisted advisers of each service, such as the sergeant major of the Army, receive a separate rate of $11,166.90.
2026 officer pay chart
Commissioned officer rates come from the DFAS officer pay table.
| Grade | 2 or less | Over 4 | Over 10 | Over 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-10 | — | — | — | $18,999.90 |
| O-9 | — | — | — | $18,999.90 |
| O-8 | $13,888.50 | $14,729.40 | $15,882.00 | $18,598.20 |
| O-7 | $11,540.10 | $12,522.00 | $13,639.20 | $16,817.70 |
| O-6 | $8,751.30 | $10,245.00 | $10,783.50 | $13,751.10 |
| O-5 | $7,295.40 | $8,894.10 | $9,928.50 | $12,032.70 |
| O-4 | $6,294.60 | $7,881.00 | $9,420.00 | $10,509.90 |
| O-3 | $5,534.10 | $7,382.70 | $8,375.70 | $9,004.20 |
| O-2 | $4,782.00 | $6,484.50 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 |
| O-1 | $4,150.20 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 |
Two caps apply at the top. DFAS notes that O-7 to O-10 pay is limited to $18,999.90, the rate for Level II of the federal Executive Schedule. Pay for O-6 and below is limited to $15,408.30, the Level V rate, which affects colonels and Navy captains with long careers.
2026 warrant officer pay
Warrant officers have their own DFAS pay table. A W-1 starts at $4,056.60 a month, a W-2 at $4,621.80, a W-3 at $5,223.30 and a W-4 at $5,719.80. W-5 rates begin at 20 years of service, at $10,169.70, and reach $13,308.30 at 38 years.
Annual military salary examples
Most job comparisons use yearly figures. Multiplying the 2026 monthly rates by 12 gives the annual basic pay below. These totals leave out housing and food allowances, special pays and bonuses, so actual compensation is higher.
| Example | Monthly basic pay | Annual basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| E-1, under 2 years | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| E-4, over 4 years | $3,658.50 | $43,902.00 |
| E-6, over 10 years | $4,759.50 | $57,114.00 |
| E-7, over 20 years | $6,245.70 | $74,948.40 |
| O-1, under 2 years | $4,150.20 | $49,802.40 |
| O-3, over 4 years | $7,382.70 | $88,592.40 |
| O-5, over 20 years | $12,032.70 | $144,392.40 |
The gap between grades widens with time. A new E-1 and a new O-1 are about $1,700 a month apart, while a 20-year E-7 and a 20-year O-5 are almost $5,800 apart.
How the annual raise is set
A law at 37 U.S.C. §1009 raises basic pay each January by the change in the Employment Cost Index for private-sector wages, according to the Congressional Research Service’s military pay primer. The president can propose a different number, and Congress can override both. For 2026 the formula produced 3.8%, and CRS reports that the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act did not set an alternative.
Recent raises, from the Defense Department’s annual pay raise page:
| Effective date | Raise |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2022 | 2.7% |
| January 1, 2023 | 4.6% |
| January 1, 2024 | 5.2% |
| January 1, 2025 | 4.5% |
| January 1, 2026 | 3.8% |
Allowances: BAH and BAS
Basic pay is only part of the paycheck. CRS says basic pay typically accounts for about three-fifths of regular military compensation, which also counts the housing allowance, the food allowance and the tax advantage of those allowances.
Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) covers meals. DFAS lists the 2026 monthly rates as $328.48 for officers and $476.95 for enlisted members. A higher BAS II rate of $953.90 applies to some enlisted members in government quarters without kitchen access.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) varies with pay grade, duty location and dependents. The Defense Department’s BAH page says it is not taxed and is calculated for the member’s assigned location, even if the member chooses to live elsewhere. New rates are usually released in mid-December for the following year.
Special and incentive pays come on top for certain jobs and places, such as flight pay, hazardous duty pay and enlistment bonuses.
How to read the pay chart
Find two things first: your pay grade and your years of service. Pay grade is the E, W or O number, which our rank guides list for each service: Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Years of service count from the pay entry base date, not from the date of the last promotion.
For veterans, retired pay is calculated from basic pay, and disability compensation is a separate VA benefit covered in our guide to VA disability rates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an E-1 make in 2026?
An E-1 earns $2,407.20 a month in basic pay, or $2,225.70 during the first four months of service. Housing and food allowances are paid on top.
How much does a second lieutenant make in 2026?
A new O-1 second lieutenant or Navy ensign earns $4,150.20 a month, rising to $5,222.40 after four years of service.
What was the military pay raise for 2026?
3.8%. Neither the president nor Congress replaced the automatic figure this year.
Is military pay the same in every branch?
Yes. Basic pay depends only on pay grade and years of service. An E-5 in the Navy earns the same basic pay as an E-5 in the Army.
Is the housing allowance taxed?
No. BAH is not subject to federal income tax. The food allowance, BAS, is also tax-free.
What is the highest military pay?
Generals and admirals at O-7 to O-10 are capped at $18,999.90 a month. The top senior enlisted rate is $11,166.90.
This article was written by Peter with AI assistance and checked against the sources linked. See our AI use disclosure.
Sources
- DFAS: 2026 enlisted basic pay table
- DFAS: 2026 commissioned officer basic pay table
- DFAS: 2026 warrant officer basic pay table
- DFAS: 2026 Basic Allowance for Subsistence
- Congressional Research Service: Defense Primer: Military Pay Raise (IF10260)
- Department of War: Annual pay raise history
- Department of War: Basic Allowance for Housing
