Pay grades
NCO ranks: noncommissioned officers and petty officers
Corporal at E-4 in the Marines, sergeant at E-5 in the Army, petty officer at E-4 at sea. Where each service draws the line, and what its NCOs do.
Is this rank an NCO? Look it up
Marine Corps, E-4 · Enlisted
Corporal (Cpl)
Junior enlisted
| Army | Specialist (SPC) |
| Navy | Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) |
| Air Force | Senior Airman (SrA) |
| Space Force | Specialist 4 (Spc4) |
| Coast Guard | Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) |
| 2026 basic pay, over 3 years | $3,482.40 a month |
Same pay grade means the same basic pay in every service. Basic pay only: housing, food and special pays are not included.
Everything about E-4A noncommissioned officer is an enlisted member given formal leadership authority. The Department of War chart explains that the midlevel enlisted ranks gain that recognition "by use of the terms noncommissioned officer and petty officer", and names the first NCO grade of each service: "An Army sergeant, an Air Force staff sergeant and a Marine corporal are considered NCO ranks. The Navy NCO equivalent, petty officer, is achieved at the rank of petty officer third class." In pay grades, that puts the first NCOs at E-4 in the Marine Corps, the Navy and the Coast Guard, and at E-5 in the Air Force; the Army has corporals at E-4, which it calls the base of its NCO ranks, and sergeants at E-5. Senior NCOs, E-7 to E-9, advise commanders on enlisted matters. In 2026 a new E-5 earns $3,342.90 a month and an E-7 $3,932.10.
What is a promotion worth in basic pay?
E-5 to E-6, over 6 years
+$125.70 / mo
| E-5 | $4,110.00 |
| E-6 | $4,235.70 |
| Over a year | +$1,508 |
Same years of service in both grades, 2026 DFAS table.
Ranks and pay tables read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The first NCO grade, service by service
| Service | First NCO or petty officer rank | Pay grade | 2026 starting pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | Corporal (sergeant for most) | E-4 (E-5) | $3,142.20 |
| Marine Corps | Corporal | E-4 | $3,142.20 |
| Navy | Petty Officer Third Class | E-4 | $3,142.20 |
| Air Force | Staff Sergeant | E-5 | $3,342.90 |
| Space Force | Sergeant | E-5 | $3,342.90 |
| Coast Guard | Petty Officer Third Class | E-4 | $3,142.20 |
What the Army asks of its NCOs
The Army's descriptions follow the unit. The corporal is "team leader of the smallest Army units". The sergeant is a first-line leader with "the most direct impact on Soldiers". The staff sergeant leads a squad of eight to sixteen. The sergeant first class is the platoon sergeant, the master sergeant the principal NCO at battalion level, the first sergeant the senior NCO of a company, and the command sergeant major the senior NCO of a battalion or higher command.
Who leads an Army unit, and how big is it?
Army squad
8 to 16 Soldiers
| Usually led by | a staff sergeant |
| Made of | 2 to 3 teams |
Figures given by the Army on army.mil.
Senior NCOs and chiefs
From E-7 the services speak of senior NCOs, or chiefs at sea. The chart notes that E-8s and E-9s have 15 to 30 years of service and are "commanders' senior advisers for enlisted matters". The senior enlisted leaders of each service stand at the top of that ladder.