Official DoD Pay Tables | 3.8% Increase
Monthly Base Pay
Annual: $0
This is base pay only. Total compensation includes BAH, BAS, and special pays.
| Rank | Years | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-4 | 4 years | $3,658 | $43,902 |
| E-6 | 10 years | $4,759 | $57,114 |
| E-7 | 20 years | $6,245 | $74,948 |
| E-8 | 26 years | $7,908 | $94,910 |
| O-3 | 6 years | $7,737 | $92,844 |
| O-5 | 20 years | $12,032 | $144,392 |
Military pay charts show base pay by rank and years of service for all service branches. The 2026 pay tables reflect a 3.8% pay increase over 2025, continuing recent trends of above-inflation raises. Base pay is the foundation of military compensation, though it's only part of total compensation when you include BAH, BAS, special pays, and benefits. An E-5 with 6 years of service earns $4,110/month base pay, but total compensation including allowances often exceeds $6,000-7,000/month depending on location and dependency status.
Find your pay grade (E-1 through E-9 for enlisted, O-1 through O-10 for officers, W-1 through W-5 for warrant officers) on the left side. Move across the row to your years of service column. The intersection shows your monthly base pay before taxes. For example, an E-6 with 10 years of service earns $5,268/month base pay in 2026. Add BAH (varies by location, typically $1,500-2,500) and BAS ($477 for enlisted, $328 for officers) to estimate total monthly compensation.
Enlisted promotions through E-4 happen relatively quickly (often within 3-4 years depending on service branch). E-5 typically requires 4-6 years, E-6 requires 8-10 years, E-7 requires 12-15 years. Each promotion brings significant pay increases – an E-4 with 4 years makes $3,378/month while an E-5 with 4 years makes $3,810/month, a $432/month increase. Over time, both promotions and time-in-service raises compound – an E-5 with 4 years makes $3,810/month, while an E-5 with 10 years makes $4,665/month, a $855 difference just from longevity.
E-3 with 2 years (typical first enlistment): $2,916/month
E-5 with 6 years (typical second enlistment): $4,062/month (+$1,146/month)
E-7 with 14 years (typical career NCO): $6,246/month (+$2,184/month from E-5)
E-9 with 26 years (retirement eligible): $9,163/month (+$2,917/month from E-7)
From E-3 to E-9 represents a 214% increase in base pay, and that doesn't include higher BAH rates for senior enlisted.
The gap between enlisted and officer pay is substantial. An O-1 with less than 2 years makes $4,320/month, more than an E-5 with 6 years ($4,062). An O-3 with 6 years makes $7,737/month, nearly double an E-6 with similar time ($4,759). At senior levels, an O-6 with 26 years makes $13,751/month versus E-9 with 26 years at $9,163 – a $4,588 monthly difference. However, officers carry more responsibility, longer initial commitments, and typically need college degrees, so the pay difference reflects those factors.
E-5 base pay in 2026 ranges from $3,342.90/month at less than 2 years of service to $4,421.70/month at 12+ years. At 4 years, an E-5 earns $3,946.80/month in base pay. This is before allowances like BAH, BAS, and COLA which can nearly double total compensation.
An O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant) earns $5,534.10-$9,004.20/month in base pay depending on years of service. At 4 years, an O-3 earns $7,382.70/month. With BAH, BAS, and other allowances, total compensation for an O-3 typically ranges from $9,000-$14,000/month depending on location.
The 2026 military pay raise took effect January 1, 2026. The raise applies to all pay grades and is reflected in the January 15 pay period (mid-month pay). The pay tables on this page reflect the current 2026 rates.
Yes, military base pay is fully taxable at both federal and state levels (in states that tax military pay). However, allowances like BAH, BAS, OHA, and OCONUS COLA are tax-free, which significantly reduces your effective tax rate compared to a civilian earning the same total compensation.