Military pay
Military pay chart 2026
Monthly basic pay for every grade and every length of service, from the DFAS tables in force since January 1, 2026, with a calculator for your own line.
Military basic pay 2026 by grade and years of service
E-4, over 3 years of service, from January 1, 2026
$3,482.40 / month
| Over 12 months | $41,789 |
| Next increase | $3,658.50 at over 4 (4 yrs) |
| 2027 if 3.6% passes | about $3,607.77 |
| 2027 if the 7% plan passes | about $3,726.17 |
DFAS table effective January 1, 2026. 2027 lines are estimates from proposals that Congress has not passed. Basic pay only.
Columns of the table: 2 or less, Over 2, Over 3, Over 4, Over 6 … Over 40. 24 pay grades.
Military basic pay rose by 3.8% on January 1, 2026, the increase set by the statutory formula of 37 U.S.C. 1009, which ties it to the Employment Cost Index; the Congressional Research Service notes that the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act did not change it. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service publishes the resulting tables for enlisted members, warrant officers and commissioned officers, each with 22 columns of cumulative years of service. In 2026 a new recruit with four months of service earns $2,407.20 a month, an E-5 over four years $3,946.80, a new second lieutenant or ensign $4,150.20, and an O-6 over 22 years $14,112.90. Officer pay is capped at $15,408.30 for O-6 and below and $18,999.90 for O-7 to O-10. Basic pay excludes housing and food allowances and special pays.
What is a promotion worth in basic pay?
E-6 to E-7, over 10 years
+$540.90 / mo
| E-6 | $4,759.50 |
| E-7 | $5,300.40 |
| Over a year | +$6,491 |
Same years of service in both grades, 2026 DFAS table.
Ranks and pay tables read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Enlisted, E-1 to E-9
| Grade | ≤ 2 | > 2 | > 3 | > 4 | > 6 | > 8 | > 10 | > 12 | > 14 | > 16 | > 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | $6,910.20 | $7,066.50 | $7,263.60 | $7,496.10 | $7,730.70 |
| E-8 | – | – | – | – | – | $5,656.50 | $5,907.00 | $6,061.80 | $6,247.20 | $6,448.20 | $6,811.20 |
| E-7 | $3,932.10 | $4,291.50 | $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 |
| E-6 | $3,401.10 | $3,743.10 | $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 |
| E-5 | $3,342.90 | $3,598.20 | $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 |
| E-4 | $3,142.20 | $3,303.00 | $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 |
| E-3 | $2,836.80 | $3,015.00 | $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-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 |
| 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 |
| Grade | > 20 | > 22 | > 24 | > 26 | > 28 | > 30 | > 34 | > 38 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | $8,105.10 | $8,423.10 | $8,756.70 | $9,267.90 | $9,267.90 | $9,730.20 | $10,217.40 | $10,729.20 |
| E-8 | $6,995.40 | $7,308.30 | $7,481.70 | $7,908.90 | $7,908.90 | $8,067.30 | $8,067.30 | $8,067.30 |
| E-7 | $6,245.70 | $6,475.20 | $6,598.20 | $7,067.40 | $7,067.40 | $7,067.40 | $7,067.40 | $7,067.40 |
| E-6 | $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-5 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 |
Warrant officers, W-1 to W-5
| Grade | ≤ 2 | > 2 | > 3 | > 4 | > 6 | > 8 | > 10 | > 12 | > 14 | > 16 | > 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| W-4 | $5,719.80 | $6,152.10 | $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 |
| W-3 | $5,223.30 | $5,440.50 | $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 |
| W-2 | $4,621.80 | $5,058.90 | $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 |
| W-1 | $4,056.60 | $4,493.70 | $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 |
| Grade | > 20 | > 22 | > 24 | > 26 | > 28 | > 30 | > 34 | > 38 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-5 | $10,169.70 | $10,685.70 | $11,070.30 | $11,495.10 | $11,495.10 | $12,070.80 | $12,673.50 | $13,308.30 |
| W-4 | $9,228.90 | $9,669.60 | $10,032.00 | $10,445.40 | $10,445.40 | $10,653.60 | $10,653.60 | $10,653.60 |
| W-3 | $8,476.50 | $8,671.80 | $8,879.70 | $9,162.60 | $9,162.60 | $9,162.60 | $9,162.60 | $9,162.60 |
| W-2 | $7,437.00 | $7,591.50 | $7,714.20 | $7,714.20 | $7,714.20 | $7,714.20 | $7,714.20 | $7,714.20 |
| W-1 | $7,010.10 | $7,010.10 | $7,010.10 | $7,010.10 | $7,010.10 | $7,010.10 | $7,010.10 | $7,010.10 |
When does basic pay rise in this grade?
W-2: rate changes in the 2026 table
14 steps
| 2 or less | $4,621.80 |
| Over 2 | $5,058.90 |
| Over 3 | $5,193.30 |
| Over 4 | $5,286.00 |
| Over 24 | $7,714.20 |
9 more steps in between; the full row is in the table on this page.
Commissioned officers, O-1 to O-10
| Grade | ≤ 2 | > 2 | > 3 | > 4 | > 6 | > 8 | > 10 | > 12 | > 14 | > 16 | > 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| O-9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| O-8 | $13,888.50 | $14,343.90 | $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 |
| O-7 | $11,540.10 | $12,076.20 | $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 |
| O-6 | $8,751.30 | $9,613.80 | $10,245.00 | $10,245.00 | $10,284.30 | $10,725.00 | $10,783.50 | $10,783.50 | $11,396.40 | $12,479.70 | $13,115.40 |
| O-5 | $7,295.40 | $8,218.20 | $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 |
| O-4 | $6,294.60 | $7,286.40 | $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-3 | $5,534.10 | $6,273.90 | $6,770.40 | $7,382.70 | $7,737.00 | $8,125.50 | $8,375.70 | $8,788.20 | $9,004.20 | $9,004.20 | $9,004.20 |
| O-2 | $4,782.00 | $5,446.20 | $6,272.40 | $6,484.50 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 |
| O-1 | $4,150.20 | $4,320.00 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 |
| Grade | > 20 | > 22 | > 24 | > 26 | > 28 | > 30 | > 38 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-10 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 |
| O-9 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 |
| O-8 | $18,598.20 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 | $18,999.90 |
| O-7 | $16,817.70 | $16,817.70 | $16,817.70 | $16,904.40 | $16,904.40 | $17,242.20 | $17,242.20 |
| O-6 | $13,751.10 | $14,112.90 | $14,479.20 | $15,188.70 | $15,188.70 | $15,408.30 | $15,408.30 |
| O-5 | $12,032.70 | $12,394.80 | $12,394.80 | $12,394.80 | $12,394.80 | $12,394.80 | $12,394.80 |
| O-4 | $10,509.90 | $10,509.90 | $10,509.90 | $10,509.90 | $10,509.90 | $10,509.90 | $10,509.90 |
The DFAS notes that change a figure
Four notes matter most. An E-1 with less than four months of active duty is paid $2,225.70. The senior enlisted leader of each service, the senior enlisted adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the senior enlisted adviser to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau are paid $11,166.90 whatever their years. Academy cadets, midshipmen and ROTC members receive $1,452.90. Commissioned officers with more than four years of prior enlisted or warrant service are paid from the O-1E to O-3E rows instead of O-1 to O-3.
2027
No 2027 table has been published. The 2027 raise page follows the three proposals, from 3.6% to 7% depending on the grade, and estimates what each would mean for a given line of this table.