U.S. Airmen assigned to the 60th Maintenance Group march in the Vacaville Fiesta Days parade, in Vacaville, California, May 23, 2026. Airman participation in community events helps strengthen military and civic engagement.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenneth Abbate)
Photo Caption & Credits

2026 USAF & USSF Almanac: Pay & Allowances

June 18, 2026

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

ANNUAL MILITARY BASIC PAY

(Effective April. 1, 2025)

Grade 2346810 121416182022 24262830
O-10 227,999227,999227,999227,999227,999227,999
O-9 227,999227,999227,999227,999227,999227,999
O-8 172,127175,745176,753181,278188,824190,584197,755199,822205,999214,942223,178 227,999227,999227,999227,999227,999
O-7 144,914147,892150,264154,544158,782163,670168,548173,452188,824201,812201,812201,812201,812202,853202,853206,906
O-6 115,366122,940122,940123,412128,700129,402129,402136,757149,756157,385165,013169,355173,750182,264182,264 184,900
O-5 98,618105,444106,729110,995113,537119,142123,260128,581136,696140,566144,392148,738148,738148,738148,738148,738
O-4 87,43793,28394,57299,986105,797113,040118,660122,573124,819126,119126,119126,119126,119126,119126,119126,119
O-3 75,28781,24588,59292,84497,506100,508105,458108,050108,050108,050108,050108,050108,050108,050108,050108,050
O-2 65,35475,26977,81479,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,41279,412
O-1 51,84062,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,66962,669
O-3E 88,59292,84497,506100,508105,458109,645112,043115,315115,315115,315115,315115,315115,315115,315
O-2E 77,81479,41281,93686,20689,50791,96291,96291,96291,96291,96291,96291,96291,96291,962
O-1E 62,66966,92069,39771,92474,40877,81477,81477,81477,81477,81477,81477,81477,81477,814
W-5 122,036128,228132,844137,941137,941144,850
W-4 73,82575,94278,02681,62385,17688,77694,18098,924103,439107,143110,747116,035120,384125,345125,345127,843
W-3 65,28667,97268,84371,65177,17382,92685,63788,77291,99197,805101,718104,062106,556109,951109,951109,951
W-2 60,70762,32063,43267,02572,61275,39178,11381,45084,06086,41889,24491,09892,57092,57092,57092,570
W-1 53,92455,33258,30961,82667,01069,43372,83276,15878,77981,19484,12184,12184,12184,12184,12184,121
E-9 82,92284,79887,16389,95392,76897,261101,077105,080111,215111,215116,762
E-8 67,87870,88472,74274,96677,37881,73483,94587,70089,78094,90794,90796,808
E-7 51,49853,47456,07758,12661,62863,60567,10070,02072,01174,12874,94877,70279,17884,80984,80984,809
E-6 44,91746,89748,82750,82855,35457,11460,52061,56462,32363,21263,21263,21263,21263,21263,21263,212
E-5 43,17845,31047,36249,32051,59952,74453,06053,06053,06053,06053,06053,06053,06053,06053,06053,060
E-4 39,63641,78943,90245,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,78545,785
E-3 36,18038,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,37638,376
E-2 32,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,37532,375
E-1 >4 mos 28,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,88628,886

Rates are rounded to the nearest dollar. Columns represent years of service.

Basic pay for O-7 to O-10 is limited by Level II of the Executive Schedule in effect during Calendar Year 2026, which is $228,000 per year.

Basic pay for O-6 and below is limited by Level V of the Executive Schedule in effect during Calendar Year 2026, which is $184,900 per year.

Source: Modified from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service’s Monthly Military Basic Pay.

ANNUAL PAY FOR FEDERAL CIVILIANS

(Effective April. 1, 2025)

Grade Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 10 Within Grade Amounts
GS-1 $22,584$23,341$24,092$24,840$25,589 $26,028$26,771$27,519$27,550$28,248 varies
GS-2 $25,393$25,997$26,839$27,550$27,858 $28,677$29,496$30,315$31,134$31,953 varies
GS-3 $27,708$28,632$29,556$30,480$31,404 $32,328$33,252$34,176$35,100$36,024 $924
GS-4 $31,103$32,140$33,177$34,214$35,251 $36,288$37,325$38,362$39,399$40,436 $1,037
GS-5 $34,799$35,959$37,119$38,279$39,439 $40,599$41,759$42,919$44,079$45,239 $1,160
GS-6 $38,791$40,084$41,377$42,670$43,963 $45,256$46,549$47,842$49,135$50,428 $1,293
GS-7 $43,106$44,543$45,980$47,417$48,854 $50,291$51,728$53,165$54,602$56,039 $1,437
GS-8 $47,738$49,329$50,920$52,511$54,102 $55,693$57,284$58,875$60,466$62,057 $1,591
GS-9 $52,727$54,485$56,243$58,001$59,759 $61,517$63,275$65,033$66,791$68,549 $1,758
GS-10 $58,064$59,999$61,934$63,869$65,804 $67,739$69,674$71,609$73,544$75,479 $1,935
GS-11 $63,795$65,922$68,049$70,176$72,303 $74,430$76,557$78,684$80,811$82,938 $2,127
GS-12 $76,463$79,012$81,561$84,110$86,659 $89,208$91,757$94,306$96,855$99,404 $2,549
GS-13 $90,925$93,956$96,987$100,018$103,049 $106,080$109,111$112,142$115,173$118,204 $3,031
GS-14 $107,446$111,028$114,610$118,192$121,774 $125,356$128,938$132,520$136,102$139,684 $3,582
GS-15 $126,384$130,597$134,810$139,023$143,236 $147,449$151,662$155,875$160,088$164,301 $4,213

Does not include locality pay assigned by geographic area, such as 21.42% for Dayton, Ohio, and 33.94% for Washington, D.C.  |  Source: Office of Personnel Management

SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE PAY

Senior Executive Service pay ranges

Effective January 1, 2026  ·  U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Shared minimum
$151,661
Certified maximum
$228,000
Noncertified maximum
$209,600
Max difference
$18,400
Minimum (both systems) Certified pay range Noncertified pay range
Certified: $151,661–$228,000. Noncertified: $151,661–$209,600.

The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, froze payable rates for the Vice President and certain senior political appointees through Jan. 30, 2026, pending future congressional action.

WHAT GOES INTO MILITARY PAY

U.S. Military Compensation
O-6 Colonel vs E-6 Tech. Sgt.
Monthly pay breakdown · Kadena AB, Okinawa (O-6) & Fort Meade, MD (E-6)
O-6 Colonel · 26 yrs · 4 dependents
E-6 Tech. Sgt. · 10 yrs · 0 dependents
O-6 Colonel
$0
Monthly Total
$243,517 / year
E-6 Tech. Sgt.
$0
Monthly Total
$93,941 / year
Monthly Pay Components
The Colonel earns 2.5× more per month than the Tech. Sergeant

Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay

Effective since January 1, 2017

Duty Type Rate per Month
Aircrew Members $250
Parachute Duty, Static Line $150
Parachute Duty, Military Free Fall $225
Flight Deck Duty $150
Demolition Duty $150
Experimental Stress Duty $150
Toxic Fuels (or Propellants) Duty $150
Toxic Pesticides Duty $150
Dangerous Viruses (or Bacteria) Lab Duty $150
Chemical Munitions Duty $150
Maritime Visit, Board, Search, Seizure (VBSS) Duty $150
Polar Region Flight Operations Duty $150
Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support (WMDCS) Team $150

Source: Defense Finance and Accounting Service

Defense Finance & Accounting Service

Aviation Incentive Pay

Effective October 1, 2017

Years of Service as Aviation Officer Monthly Rate
2 or fewer $150
More than 2 $250
More than 6 $700
More than 10 $1,000
More than 22 $700
More than 24 $450
Years of Service as Aviation Enlisted Monthly Rate
4 or fewer $225
More than 4 $350
More than 8 $500
More than 14 $600

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org