Enlisted Basic Pay Rates
This pay table is used to determine the monthly basic pay for enlisted servicemembers in all branches of the Armed Forces. Basic pay rates are published by the Department of Defense, and to account for cost of living.
To determine your pay rate, choose your paygrade and find the row that corresponds with your number of years’ experience in the military. You can also use our to calculate basic pay and allowances.
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Notes on the Enlisted Positions
Equivalent Ranks To An Air Force Airman First Class
An Airman First Class is an Enlisted Airman, with a military paygrade of .The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly under the federal government’s .
The table below lists the equivalent ranks of an Air Force Airman First Class, and their insignia, in the other four branches of the United States’ Armed Services.
Equivalent Ranks To An Air Force Airman
An Airman is an Enlisted Airman, with a military paygrade of .The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly under the federal government’s .
The table below lists the equivalent ranks of an Air Force Airman, and their insignia, in the other four branches of the United States’ Armed Services.
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When Do Military Members Get Paid
Military paydays are on the first and 15th of the month unless it is a holiday or weekend. Paydays that would normally fall on one of those days are paid on the preceding business day. Here are the current military pay schedules:
6,143.16 | 6,143.16 |
General Officer Pay Limits: Basic pay is limited to the rate of basic pay for level II of the executive schedule in effect during the calendar year 2023 for officers at pay grades O-7 through O-10. This includes officers serving as chairman or vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, chief of staff of the Army, chief of naval operations, chief of staff of the Air Force, commandant of the Marine Corps, commandant of the Coast Guard, chief of the National Guard Bureau or commander of a unified or specified combatant command ).
Pay limits for O-6: Basic pay for O-6 and below is limited by level V of the executive schedule in effect during calendar year 2023.
Combat zone tax-exclusion pay for officers: The combat zone tax exclusion for O-1 and above is based on the basic pay rate shown in note 3 plus hostile fire or imminent danger pay, which is $225.00 per month .
Academy cadets and ROTC basic pay: Basic pay rate for academy cadets/midshipmen and ROTC members and applicants is $1,218.
Uniformed Services Pay Grades Of The United States

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Pay grades are used by the eight uniformed services of the United States to determine wages and benefits based on the corresponding military rank of a member of the services. While different ranks may be used among the eight uniformed services, pay grades are uniform and equivalent between the services and can be used to quickly determine seniority among a group of members from different services. They are also essential when determining a member’s entitlements such as basic pay and allowances.
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How To Understand Your Military Leave And Earning Statement
The Leave and Earning Statement shows your entitlements, deductions, allotments and details about leave, tax withholding and the Thrift Savings Plan .
You can log on to myPay to view your most recent LES. You should verify and keep your LES every pay period.
The top of your LES will show identifying information, plus what pay period this statement covers.
Just below that is a row of boxes displaying a summary of your entitlements, deductions and allotments. It’s important to note that the entitlements and deductions sections may reflect retroactive activity.
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Any overflow in these areas will be listed in the Remarks section.
Next to those, you’ll see another box that summarizes the entitlements, deductions and allotments, and then shows the result: the actual amount in your paycheck.
Under your pay amount, you’ll see DIEMS, which means the date you signed up for military service, and RETPLAN, your retirement plan.
On the bottom of your pay stub, smaller boxes display details of your leave days balance and your federal tax information, including FICA, marital status and any exemptions.
Finally, you’ll see Thrift Savings Plan contributions.
Military Pay Chart And Rank Insignia
Have you ever considered serving in the military? Do you know the rank structure and how much youd get paid? Weve put together an easy to read military pay chart for you to see how much each class makes. Weve also added an army pay chart, navy pay chart, and air force pay chart so you can easily compare pay scales between all the different departments.
Military pay scales are easy to learn as the U.S. military uses one scale across all branches. Ranks do vary between branches, but each rank within a branch corresponds to a specific pay grade. These pay grades fall into three separate groups, with a range of ranks within each group.
The pay grades letter indicates which group the specific service member falls into, and the number specifies which rank. For example, an E-5 pay grade indicates that the member is in the fifth enlisted rank regardless of which branch they are in. The exact monthly pay also changes depending on time served.
The monthly pay numbers may seem smaller than civilian pay in some cases, but base pay is not the full story. Military members either live in on-base housing or receive a housing allowance which is calculated separately for each base. They also receive subsistence pay to cover food costs and other benefits such as free health care.
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Military Special & Incentive Pays
Special and incentive pay add to your basic rate. Special pay is for hazardous duty, advanced skills such as aviation, sea pay, submarine duty or high-demand jobs like health care.
There are more than 60 types of S& I pay. Listed are a few of the most popular.
Military Pay Chart 2021
The us senate of the United States has passed its 2021 National Defense Authorization Act proposal on, July 23, 2020. The substance remains in line with the proposition produced by the Legislature as well as The President. It recommends military pay elevates as much as 3.0 percent. Prior to the proposition gets last authorization from the President, any material differences in each bill in between the Us senate and also your home of Reps must be reconciled first.
House of Representatives also has actually passed the National Defense Authorization Act of their version on July 21, 2020. It is intended to be elected by whole Us senate members by the complying with week, yet as pointed out over, the suggested material pertaining to military pay raising for 2021 is similar at 3.0 percent.
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Air Force Reserve Pay For A Person With Six Years Of Service
Here is a list of monthly paychecks according to rank for people who have six years of service in the Air Force Reserve:
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Basic Airman E-1: $224 per month
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Airman E-2: $251 per month
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Airman First Class E-3: $298 per month
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Senior Airman E-4: $355 per month
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Staff Sergeant E-5: $400 per month
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Technical Sergeant E-6: $434 per month
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Master Sergeant E-7: $496 per month
When Does Military Pay Change
Military pay is automatically increased at the start of each calendar year, in January. Service members see the change reflected in the first pay period of the year.
The Army announced in July 2022 that all soldiers on long-term, active-duty orders will be paid semimonthly — on the first and 15th of each month — starting Oct. 1, 2022. Most soldiers are already on this pay schedule. The change, part of the service’s new Integrated Personnel and Pay System, affects only about 11,000 people.
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What If You Dont Notice An Incorrect Payment
It can be easy not to notice getting paid an incorrect amount during hectic times or while your pay is fluctuating due to a PCS move or deployment. If you dont notice, someone in admin eventually will, either as a part of internal quality assurance efforts, or as a result of an inspection. When over-payments are caught in these ways, that can sometimes be recouped from your next paychecks without noticeand thats a really crappy surprise to have on payday. This is commonly referred to as a checkage.
Avoid being surprised by having your pay checked by staying on top of your pay and ensuring its correct each time its deposited.
Air Force Reserve Pay For A Person With 20 Years Of Service

Here is a list of payments earned by those in their 20th year of service in the Air Force Reserve:
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Airman E-2: $251 per month
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Airman First Class E-3: $298 per month
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Senior Airman E-4: $355 per month
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Staff Sergeant E-5: $453 per month
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Technical Sergeant E-6: $540 per month
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Master Sergeant E-7: $640 per month
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Senior Master Sergeant E-8: $716 per month
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Chief Master Sergeant E-9: $830 per month
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Army Pay & Featured Bonuses
Enlistment Bonus
In 2021, the Armys enlistment bonuses range from $1,000 to $40,000. See eligible active duty jobs and their bonus amount.
Quick Ship Bonus
Earn $12,000 for shipping to training within 30 days of enlistment. Ship between 31 and 60 days and earn $5,000. This bonus can combine with other enlistment bonuses.
Airborne Enlistment Bonus
Soldiers who enlist in the Army and join U.S. Army Airborne School are eligible for up to $10,000 in bonuses.
Army Reserve Enlistment Bonus
Army Reserve recruits may be eligible for up to $20,000 in bonuses. This bonus can combine with other enlistment bonuses.
Prior Service Enlistment Bonus
Qualified prior service members at E4 and below may be eligible for up to $20,000 in bonuses to enlist into a critical-skill military occupational specialty.
Enlisted Affiliation Bonus
The Enlisted Affiliation Bonus is for enlisted service members who affiliate directly in the Army National Guard from the Active Army. Soldiers may receive up to $20,000 when applying for the EAB.
More Information:1. Contract an Army Active Duty & Army Reserve recruiter for more info. Call 1 550-ARMY.2. Call an Army National Guard recruiter 1 464-8273.
Factors That Affect Military Pay
Basic pay varies depending on your paygrade/rank, along with the number of years you have served.
For instance, in 2022, a newly enlisted service member with a paygrade of E-1 receives $1,833 per month in basic pay. Meanwhile, a more senior enlisted person with a paygrade of E-6, who has more than a decade of service, earns $3,988 monthly.
Officers are paid more. A new officer’s basic pay begins at $3,477 in 2022, while a more senior officer with a paygrade of O-4, having served more than 10 years, receives $7,892 monthly.
Basic pay is a service member’s primary compensation. But your paycheck is also likely to contain several tax-free allowances as well as special pays based on your duty station, qualifications or military specialties. All of these things are part of normal military pay, salary or compensation.
Most allowances are non-taxable, so they can contribute to a significant portion of your paycheck. For example, the Basic Allowance for Housing is excluded from gross income for tax purposes.
To calculate your complete military pay, including base pay, BAH and other special pays, use the Military Pay Calculator.
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What Happens When Youre Over
When a payment for the wrong amount is deposited in your bank account, its important to notify your chain of command right away, so corrective action can be taken. Over-payments will be recouped in subsequent pay checks, often all at once unless you work out a payment plan with your commands administration. Likewise, underpayments can be corrected by adding the missed funds to your next paycheck. However, in some branches, a special payment may be dispersed in emergencies to correct underpayments.
Prior Enlisted Officer Pay Qualifications
Prior enlisted officers may be eligible for a higher pay rate based on time in service and other criteria. The pay scale offers the following note:
*Applicable to O-1 to O-3 with at least four years and one day of active duty or more than 1,460 points as a warrant and/or enlisted member. See Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations for a more-detailed explanation on who is eligible for this special basic pay rate.
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Us Air Force Pay Scale
Related
As part of the Armed Services, the mission of the U.S. Air Force is to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. It uses technical superiority to mobilize forces quickly and protect against attack anywhere on the globe. Information superiority is importanct because it allows commanders to incorporate changing information into battle plans. Service members, whether in the Air Force or another branch of the Armed Forces, are paid equivalent salaries based on pay grade and years of service.
What To Do If Your Military Pay Is Incorrect
If you have been tracking your LES and notice any change in your compensation that you don’t understand, immediately contact your payroll or finance office.
If you need more help:
- Air Force, Army, , Navy, Space Force active duty or Reserve: Call 1-888-332-7411
- Retiree, survivor or beneficiary: Call 1-800-321-1080
- Former spouse or creditor with a question about alimony, child support and other court-ordered garnishment: Call 1-888-332-7411â
- Coast Guard active duty, reservists and retirees
- Active duty or in the Reserve: Contact your unit administrative yeoman
- Retirees: Contact the Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center at 1-866-772-8724
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Serve More Annual Training Days
The pay scale shown for Air Force Reserve members corresponds to the completion of the minimum training requirement. For this reason, the monthly pay reflects part-time work. You can increase this amount by increasing the number of AT days you attend. Completing double the amount of workdays doubles your paycheckâand that’s not the only benefit.
Military Pay Chart 2022 Usa Retired Cola Increased By 87%

Military Pay Chart 2022 for was released officially by the Department of Defence, United States of America on its official website at https://www.defense.gov/. Military Retired COLA 2023 is going to be increased by 8.7%, to get a detailed subject US Military Pay Chart for two, three, four, six and more than eight years you need to be with the article till very soon.
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Military Pay Chart 2021 Air Force
Military Pay Chart 2021 Air Force A military participant that offers on basic responsibility and also active service is qualified to get an allowance, solutions, as well as benefits as arranged by legislation. Having a steady income with a perk that frees from tax obligation is just one of the greatest advantages of functioning within the military. Listed below, you can review the explanation of the military pay chart as well as the examples of the chart for 2020 and also 2021.
Military Pay Charts | 1949 To 2021 Plus Estimated To 2050
Va Disability Compensation Benefits
Veterans who have a service-related injury or illness may be entitled to VA disability compensation. Its a tax-free monthly benefit.
Visit VA.gov to learn:
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Which conditions qualify you for benefits
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How the claims process works
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How to appeal a decision you disagree with. The process changed in February 2019.
Survivors of veterans may receive compensation benefits in certain situations.
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Why Does Military Pay Increase
The military establishes an annual pay increase to roughly mirror the increase in private-sector wages and salaries nationwide.
This increase is determined by the Employment Cost Index, calculated several times a year by the U.S. Department of Labor. The military uses the October ECI year-over-year change to determine the percentage pay raise for the following year.
However, the president or Congress may supersede this automatic amount.
For 2022, the 2.7% automatic adjustment, calculated from the ECI, remained in place.
Enlisted Air Force Personnel
Air Force personnel use the same pay tables as all members of the Armed Forces. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service publishes an annual table that lists monthly basic pay for all pay grades and corresponding years of experience. Enlisted personnel in the Armed Forces are assigned pay grades from E-1 through E-9.
Air Force ranks and pay are equivalent to the other services, though rank names may differ. For example, an enlistee entering the Air Force as an E-1 is called an Airman Basic , while an E-1 in the Army is called a Private . Both earn basic monthly pay of $1,785.00. E-3 Air Force salary starts at $2,103.90 for less than two years of service and tops out at $2,371.80 for over 3 years of service. An E-3 in the Air Force, called an Airman First Class earns the same as an Army E-3 with the same years of service.
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