Finance & Money
Military Base Pay Chart
The 2026 military basic-pay chart shows monthly base pay by pay grade and cumulative years of creditable service. DFAS separates the tables into enlisted members, warrant officers, commissioned officers, and qualifying O-1E through O-3E prior-service officers.
Basic pay is not total compensation or take-home pay. Housing and subsistence allowances, special pays, bonuses, taxes, TSP contributions, insurance, allotments, and other deductions can materially change the amount on a Leave and Earnings Statement.
Effective date
January 1, 2026
DFAS publishes separate 2026 basic-pay tables for enlisted, warrant, commissioned, and qualifying prior-service officers.
Main drivers
Grade + service
Basic pay is primarily determined by pay grade and cumulative years of creditable service.
Rate format
Monthly basic pay
The official active-duty basic-pay tables state monthly U.S. dollar rates.
Not total compensation
Allowances are separate
BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses, benefits, and deductions are not part of the basic-pay number.
DFAS posted the 2026 active-duty pay tables in January 2026. The official tables contain more service breakpoints than the compact tables below, so use the complete DFAS table when an exact entitlement is needed. View the DFAS military pay tables.
Quick Answers About Military Basic Pay
What determines military base pay?
Military basic pay is primarily determined by pay grade and cumulative years of creditable service under the applicable federal pay table.
Are 2026 basic pay rates monthly?
Yes. DFAS lists active-duty basic pay as monthly rates effective January 1, 2026.
Is base pay the same across military branches?
Basic pay follows the federal pay grade and service table; branch-specific rank titles differ, but the applicable pay grade uses the same basic-pay rate.
Is military base pay taxable?
Basic pay is generally taxable income, although qualifying combat-zone tax exclusions and other special tax rules can apply.
Are BAH and BAS included in base pay?
No. BAH and BAS are allowances and are separate from monthly military basic pay.
How much is standard 2026 enlisted BAS?
The 2026 standard enlisted BAS rate is $476.95 per month; it is separate from basic pay.
How much is standard 2026 officer BAS?
The 2026 standard officer BAS rate is $328.48 per month; it is separate from basic pay.
How much does an E-1 earn in basic pay in 2026?
The standard E-1 monthly rate is $2,407.20, while an E-1 with less than four months of active duty receives $2,225.70.
What does O-1E mean?
O-1E is a prior-service officer pay category for qualifying commissioned officers with more than four years of creditable enlisted or warrant service under DFAS rules.
Does basic pay rise every year of service?
Not necessarily. Pay changes at listed service thresholds, so a member can remain at the same rate between table breakpoints.
Is drill pay the same as monthly active-duty pay?
No. Reserve drill pay uses separate DFAS drill-pay tables and should not be read as the active-duty monthly rate.
How do I estimate annual basic pay?
Multiply the applicable monthly basic-pay rate by 12 for a simple annualized base-pay figure before deductions and excluding allowances and special pays.
2026 Enlisted Military Basic Pay by Grade and Service
Selected DFAS monthly basic-pay points for enlisted grades. The official table contains additional service brackets between the columns shown here.
Swipe horizontally inside the table to view every column.
| Pay grade | 2 years or less | Over 4 years | Over 8 years | Over 12 years | Over 16 years | Over 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,407.20 — Standard E-1 rate after four months of active duty | $2,407.20 | $2,407.20 | $2,407.20 | $2,407.20 | $2,407.20 |
| E-2 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 | $2,697.90 |
| E-3 | $2,836.80 | $3,198.00 | $3,198.00 | $3,198.00 | $3,198.00 | $3,198.00 |
| E-4 | $3,142.20 | $3,658.50 | $3,815.40 | $3,815.40 | $3,815.40 | $3,815.40 |
| E-5 | $3,342.90 | $3,946.80 | $4,299.90 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 | $4,421.70 |
| E-6 | $3,401.10 | $4,068.90 | $4,612.80 | $5,043.30 | $5,193.60 | $5,267.70 |
| E-7 | $3,932.10 | $4,673.10 | $5,135.70 | $5,591.70 | $6,000.90 | $6,245.70 — E-7 over 20 years |
| E-8 | — | — | $5,656.50 | $6,061.80 | $6,448.20 | $6,995.40 |
| E-9 | — | — | — | $7,066.50 | $7,496.10 | $8,105.10 |
Monthly U.S. dollars. Effective January 1, 2026.
- • A dash means the selected service point is not populated for that grade in the DFAS table.
- • E-1 members with less than four months of active duty receive $2,225.70 per month rather than the standard E-1 rate shown here.
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2026 Commissioned Officer Basic Pay by Grade and Service
Selected monthly basic-pay points for commissioned officers. Officer pay ceilings and prior-enlisted officer rates can change which table applies.
Swipe horizontally inside the table to view every column.
| Pay grade | 2 years or less | Over 4 years | Over 8 years | Over 12 years | Over 16 years | Over 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $4,150.20 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 | $5,222.40 |
| O-2 | $4,782.00 | $6,484.50 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 | $6,617.70 |
| O-3 | $5,534.10 | $7,382.70 | $8,125.50 | $8,788.20 | $9,004.20 | $9,004.20 |
| O-4 | $6,294.60 | $7,881.00 | $8,816.40 | $9,888.30 | $10,401.60 | $10,509.90 |
| O-5 | $7,295.40 | $8,894.10 | $9,461.40 | $10,271.70 | $11,391.30 | $12,032.70 |
| O-6 | $8,751.30 | $10,245.00 | $10,725.00 | $10,783.50 | $12,479.70 | $13,751.10 |
| O-7 | $11,540.10 | $12,522.00 | $13,231.80 | $14,045.70 | $15,735.30 | $16,817.70 |
| O-8 | $13,888.50 | $14,729.40 | $15,735.30 | $16,479.60 | $17,166.60 | $18,598.20 — O-8 over 20 years remains below the 2026 officer ceiling at this service point |
| O-9 | — | — | — | — | — | $18,999.90 |
| O-10 | — | — | — | — | — | $18,999.90 — Pay ceiling applies |
Monthly U.S. dollars. Effective January 1, 2026.
- • O-7 through O-10 are subject to the 2026 Level II Executive Schedule basic-pay ceiling of $18,999.90 per month.
- • O-6 and below are subject to the 2026 Level V ceiling of $15,408.30 per month.
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2026 Warrant Officer Basic Pay by Grade and Service
Selected DFAS monthly basic-pay points for warrant officers. W-5 begins at later service points in the official table.
Swipe horizontally inside the table to view every column.
| Pay grade | 2 years or less | Over 4 years | Over 8 years | Over 12 years | Over 16 years | Over 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $4,056.60 | $4,859.10 | $5,584.20 | $6,069.30 | $6,564.90 | $7,010.10 |
| W-2 | $4,621.80 | $5,286.00 | $6,051.00 | $6,509.40 | $7,005.00 | $7,437.00 |
| W-3 | $5,223.30 | $5,736.90 | $6,431.10 | $7,136.40 | $7,665.90 | $8,476.50 |
| W-4 | $5,719.80 | $6,502.20 | $7,098.00 | $7,848.30 | $8,619.90 | $9,228.90 |
| W-5 | — | — | — | — | — | $10,169.70 — W-5 begins at over 20 years in this official table |
Monthly U.S. dollars. Effective January 1, 2026.
- • The complete DFAS table also includes over-2, over-3, over-6, over-10, over-14, over-18 and later service brackets.
- • Use the member’s correct creditable service, not an approximate career year, when choosing a column.
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2026 O-1E, O-2E and O-3E Prior-Service Officer Rates
These rates apply only when the commissioned officer meets the DFAS creditable prior enlisted or warrant-service requirements for the O-E table.
Swipe horizontally inside the table to view every column.
| Pay grade | Over 4 years | Over 6 years | Over 8 years | Over 10 years | Over 12 years | Over 16 years | Over 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1E | $5,222.40 | $5,576.70 | $5,783.10 | $5,993.70 | $6,200.70 | $6,484.50 | $6,484.50 |
| O-2E | $6,484.50 | $6,617.70 | $6,828.00 | $7,183.80 | $7,458.90 | $7,663.50 | $7,663.50 |
| O-3E | $7,382.70 | $7,737.00 | $8,125.50 | $8,375.70 | $8,788.20 | $9,336.90 | $9,609.60 — O-3E maximum shown at over 20 years |
Monthly U.S. dollars. Effective January 1, 2026.
- • DFAS defines the creditable-service conditions for this table; simply having prior military service does not automatically mean an O-E rate applies.
- • The O-E table begins after more than four years of qualifying creditable service.
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Browser-only educational tool
2026 Military Basic Pay Lookup
Choose a pay group, grade, and one of the selected service points used on this page. The result shows monthly basic pay and a simple 12-month annualization, not total compensation or take-home pay.
Monthly basic pay
$4,299.90
E-5 at Over 8 years.
Annualized base pay
$51,598.80
Monthly basic pay × 12.
Included
Basic pay only
No BAH, BAS, special pay, bonuses, or benefits are added.
Not take-home pay
Before deductions
Taxes, TSP, insurance, allotments, and other deductions can change net pay.
This lookup runs entirely in your browser and transmits no entered selections. It uses selected 2026 DFAS monthly basic-pay points from this page; the complete official table and the member's personnel/pay records control actual entitlement.
Annualized basic pay is a simple monthly rate × 12 conversion. It does not estimate total regular military compensation, taxable income, or net pay.
Monthly Basic Pay Converted to Annual Base Pay
Multiplying a monthly basic-pay rate by 12 gives a simple annualized base-pay amount before deductions. It does not represent total military compensation.
Swipe horizontally inside the table to view every column.
| Example pay point | Monthly basic pay | Annualized basic pay | What is excluded |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1, 4+ months, 2 years or less | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 — Annualized base pay only, not total compensation | BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses and benefits |
| E-5, over 6 years | $4,110.00 | $49,320.00 | BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses and benefits |
| E-7, over 12 years | $5,591.70 | $67,100.40 | BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses and benefits |
| W-2, over 8 years | $6,051.00 | $72,612.00 | BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses and benefits |
| O-1, 2 years or less | $4,150.20 | $49,802.40 | BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses and benefits |
| O-3, over 4 years | $7,382.70 | $88,592.40 | BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses and benefits |
| O-6, over 20 years | $13,751.10 | $165,013.20 | BAH, BAS, special pays, bonuses and benefits |
- • Annualized basic pay = monthly basic pay × 12.
- • Tax withholding, retirement contributions, insurance, allotments, debt collections and other deductions affect take-home pay.
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Basic Pay Versus Allowances and Other Military Compensation
Basic pay is only one part of military compensation. Allowances and special pays use separate eligibility rules and rates.
Swipe horizontally inside the table to view every column.
| Compensation item | Part of basic pay table? | 2026 example or driver | General tax treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic pay | Yes — Only basic pay is represented by the grade-and-service table | Grade + cumulative years of service | Generally taxable; combat-zone exceptions can apply |
| Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) | No | Location + grade + dependent status | Allowance; generally not taxed |
| Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) | No | Officer $328.48; enlisted $476.95 per month — 2026 BAS rates | Allowance; generally not taxed |
| BAS II | No | $953.90 per month when authorized | Allowance; eligibility is limited |
| Special and incentive pays | No | Qualification or service condition | Generally taxable; exceptions can apply |
| Bonuses | No | Program- and contract-specific | Not part of monthly basic pay |
- • Military Compensation and Financial Readiness identifies basic pay, allowances, and special and incentive pays as distinct compensation categories.
- • This table is a classification guide, not a personalized entitlement calculation.
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Basic Pay Is Only One Part of Military Compensation
Military Compensation and Financial Readiness identifies basic pay, allowances, and special and incentive pays as separate compensation categories. Basic pay is the main component and is based on grade and years of service; allowances address needs such as housing and food, while special pays depend on qualifications or service conditions. Review the official compensation overview.
For 2026, standard BAS is $328.48 per month for officers and $476.95 for enlisted members. BAS II is $953.90 when specifically authorized. These allowances should not be added to every member automatically because eligibility and circumstances control payment. Check the DFAS BAS table.
2026 Basic Pay Special Cases and Pay Ceilings
Several official notes matter when reading the 2026 basic-pay tables. These amounts can override a simple grade-and-service lookup.
Swipe horizontally inside the table to view every column.
| Case | 2026 monthly amount or rule | Why it matters | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 with less than 4 months active duty | $2,225.70 | Lower than the standard E-1 rate after 4 months | DFAS enlisted note 5 |
| Standard E-1 after qualifying 4-month point | $2,407.20 | Used in the main E-1 table | DFAS enlisted table |
| Designated senior enlisted member | $11,166.90 — Special senior enlisted rate | Special rate regardless of years of service while serving in listed senior positions | DFAS enlisted note 2 |
| Academy cadets/midshipmen and certain ROTC members/applicants | $1,452.90 | Separate basic-pay rate rather than O-1 table | DFAS officer note 1 |
| O-7 through O-10 ceiling | $18,999.90 maximum — 2026 officer pay ceiling | 2026 Level II Executive Schedule cap | DFAS officer note 4 |
| O-6 and below ceiling | $15,408.30 maximum | 2026 Level V Executive Schedule cap | DFAS officer note 5 |
| Qualifying O-1E/O-2E/O-3E | Use the separate O-E table | Prior creditable enlisted/warrant service can change the applicable rate | DFAS O-E table |
- • Use the complete DFAS notes when a member falls into a special category.
- • Rank titles vary by service; basic-pay computation is based on pay grade and creditable service under the applicable table.
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Common Mistakes and Important Limitations
Do not use rank title alone
Use the member's actual pay grade and applicable creditable-service bracket. Rank names differ by service, and promotions or service-credit adjustments can change the correct cell.
Do not add every allowance
BAH, BAS, special pays, and bonuses have separate eligibility rules. A basic-pay chart cannot determine total compensation by itself.
Do not treat annualized base pay as take-home pay
Monthly basic pay × 12 is before taxes and deductions and excludes allowances and other compensation.
Reserve drill pay uses a separate table
This page focuses on active-duty monthly basic pay. DFAS publishes separate drill-pay charts for Reserve members.
O-E rates have eligibility requirements
Prior military service does not automatically create O-1E, O-2E, or O-3E entitlement. Use the official creditable-service rules and personnel record.
Pay ceilings can cap senior officer rates
The 2026 DFAS officer table applies statutory monthly ceilings to O-7 through O-10 and a separate ceiling to O-6 and below.
Military Base Pay Frequently Asked Questions
What determines military basic pay?
Military basic pay is primarily determined by pay grade and cumulative years of creditable service under the applicable DFAS pay table.
Are the 2026 military basic pay rates monthly?
Yes. The DFAS basic-pay tables list monthly rates effective January 1, 2026.
Is military base pay the same as total military compensation?
No. Total compensation can also include housing and subsistence allowances, special and incentive pays, bonuses, retirement benefits, and tax advantages.
Is basic military pay taxable?
Basic pay is generally taxable income, although qualifying combat-zone tax exclusions and other special tax rules can apply.
Are BAH and BAS included in base pay?
No. BAH and BAS are allowances and are separate from the monthly basic-pay table.
What are the 2026 BAS rates?
The 2026 standard monthly BAS rates are $328.48 for officers and $476.95 for enlisted members; BAS II is $953.90 when specifically authorized.
Does military basic pay depend on service branch?
The basic-pay tables use pay grade and creditable service across the uniformed services; rank titles differ by service, but the same pay grade uses the applicable federal basic-pay rate.
Why are some pay-table cells blank?
Some grade and service combinations are not populated in the official table because that service point does not apply to that grade.
How much does an E-1 earn in 2026?
The standard E-1 monthly basic pay shown by DFAS is $2,407.20, while an E-1 with less than four months of active duty receives $2,225.70.
How do I convert monthly basic pay to annual base pay?
Multiply the applicable monthly basic-pay rate by 12 for a simple annualized base-pay figure before deductions and excluding allowances and special pays.
What does O-1E mean?
O-1E is a special officer basic-pay category for qualifying commissioned officers with more than four years of creditable prior enlisted or warrant service under DFAS rules.
Does promotion change basic pay immediately?
A promotion can move a member to a different pay grade, but the exact effective date and pay entitlement depend on official personnel and pay records.
Does time in service always increase basic pay every year?
No. DFAS tables use specific service thresholds, so a rate changes when the member crosses a listed service bracket or receives another applicable pay change.
Is drill pay the same as active-duty monthly basic pay?
No. Reserve drill pay uses separate DFAS drill-pay tables even though it is related to pay grade and service.
Where should I verify my actual military pay?
Verify the current DFAS table and your Leave and Earnings Statement, and contact your military finance office when grade, service credit, entitlement, or deduction information appears incorrect.
Sources
Defense Finance and Accounting Service — 2026 Military Pay Tables
https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/DFAS/
DFAS hub for the active-duty and reserve 2026 military pay tables, including basic pay, drill pay, BAS, and other entitlements.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service — Basic Pay – Enlisted Effective January 1, 2026
https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/EM/If/
Official 2026 monthly basic pay rates for enlisted pay grades by cumulative years of service.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service — Basic Pay – Officers Effective January 1, 2026
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/CO/
Official 2026 monthly basic pay rates for commissioned officers and statutory monthly pay ceilings.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service — Basic Pay – Warrant Officers Effective January 1, 2026
https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/WO/
Official 2026 monthly basic pay rates for warrant officers by cumulative years of service.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service — Basic Pay – Officers O-1E, O-2E and O-3E with More Than 4 Years of Creditable Service
https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Basic-Pay/CO_FE/
Official 2026 O-1E, O-2E, and O-3E rates for qualifying commissioned officers with more than four years of creditable prior service.
Military Compensation and Financial Readiness — Military Pay Overview
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/PAC/
Explains basic pay, allowances, and special and incentive pays and notes that basic pay is generally taxable income.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service — Basic Allowance for Subsistence
https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/bas/quot/
Official 2026 BAS rates: $328.48 per month for officers and $476.95 for enlisted members, with BAS II at $953.90 when authorized.