Pay grades
Senior enlisted leaders of the six services
One person per service holds its top enlisted post. Who they are on the rank chart, what the posts do, and the single pay rate DFAS gives them.
Look up the E-9 ranks of each service
Navy, E-9 · Enlisted
Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
Chief petty officer
| Army | Sergeant Major (SGM) |
| Marine Corps | Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) |
| Air Force | Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) |
| Space Force | Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) |
| Coast Guard | Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) |
| 2026 basic pay, over 26 years | $9,267.90 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-9Each service has one senior enlisted leader, an E-9 who stands above every other enlisted member: the Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA), the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMC), the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF), the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF) and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG). The Department of War chart calls them "the spokespersons of the enlisted force at the highest levels of their services". They stay in pay grade E-9, but the DFAS enlisted table gives them a single rate, $11,166.90 a month in 2026 "regardless of years of service", against $10,729.20 at the top of the ordinary E-9 row. The same rate goes to two joint posts: the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Quick check: 2026 basic pay
E-9, over 26 years
$9,267.90 / mo
| Over a year | $111,215 |
| Lowest rate of the grade | $6,910.20 |
| Highest rate of the grade | $10,729.20 |
DFAS table effective January 1, 2026; basic pay only.
Ranks and pay tables read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The eight posts with the senior enlisted rate
| Post | Abbreviation | 2026 monthly basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | SEAC | $11,166.90 |
| Sergeant Major of the Army | SMA | $11,166.90 |
| Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps | SgtMajMC | $11,166.90 |
| Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy | MCPON | $11,166.90 |
| Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force | CMSAF | $11,166.90 |
| Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force | CMSSF | $11,166.90 |
| Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard | MCPOCG | $11,166.90 |
| Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau | $11,166.90 |
Their insignia
| Service | Post | Insignia |
|---|---|---|
| Army | Sergeant Major of the Army |  |
| Marine Corps | Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps |  |
| Navy | Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy | |
| Air Force | Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force |  |
| Space Force | Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force |  |
| Coast Guard | Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard |  |
Who else wears E-9
Below the senior enlisted leaders, E-9 covers several jobs at the same pay: in the Army sergeant major and command sergeant major, in the Marine Corps master gunnery sergeant and sergeant major, at sea master chief, command master chief and fleet or force master chief. The chart notes that E-8s and E-9s have "15 to 30 years on the job, and are commanders' senior advisers for enlisted matters". The E-9 page lists each title and its pay row.
When does basic pay rise in this grade?
E-9: rate changes in the 2026 table
12 steps
| Over 10 | $6,910.20 |
| Over 12 | $7,066.50 |
| Over 14 | $7,263.60 |
| Over 16 | $7,496.10 |
| Over 38 | $10,729.20 |
7 more steps in between; the full row is in the table on this page.
After the post
DFAS adds two rules. A member placed on terminal leave pending retirement right after the post keeps the senior enlisted rate for up to 60 days. A member hospitalized during or just after the post keeps it for up to 180 days while hospitalized.