Military Pay Grades

This chart, when read from left to right, defines the ranks associated with the pay grades in each branch of the armed forces. To match a pay grade to its corresponding rate of pay, go to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service's Military Pay Rates and Scale page, where you can view charts for the latest pay scale for all grades. You will then be able to see how payments increase over years served in each pay grade, as well as how aspects of your service can earn more money for housing, service at sea, and other special duties.

Pay Grade	Army	Navy	Marines	Air Force
Commissioned Officers
0-1	Second Lieutenant	Ensign	Second Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant
0-2	First Lieutenant	Lieutenant Junior Grade	First Lieutenant	First Lieutenant
0-3	Captain	Lieutenant	Captain	Captain
0-4	Major	Lieutenant Commander	Major	Major
0-5	Lieutenant Colonel	Commander	Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel
0-6	Colonel	Captain	Colonel	Colonel
0-7	Brigadier General	Rear Admiral (L)	Brigadier General	Brigadier General
0-8	Major General	Rear Admiral	Major General	Major General
0-9	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral	Lieutenant General	Lieutenant General
0-10	General	Admiral	General	General
Special Grades¹
(5 Stars)	General of the Army	Fleet Admiral	(none)	General of the Air Force
Warrant Officers
W-1	Warrant Officer. Grades W-2 to W-5 Chief Warrant Officer
Enlisted Personnel
E-1	Private	Seaman Recruit	Private	Airman Basic
E-2	Private	Seaman Apprentice	Private First Class	Airman
E-3	Private First Class	Seaman	Lance Corporal	Airman First Class
E-4	Corporal Specialist 4	Petty Officer, Third Class	Corporal	Sergeant Senior Airman
E-5	Sergeant Specialist 5	Petty Officer, Second Class	Sergeant	Staff Sergeant
E-6	Staff Sergeant Specialist 6	Petty Officer, First Class	Staff Sergeant	Technical Sergeant
E-7	Sergeant First Class Specialist 7	Chief Petty Officer	First Sergeant Master Sergeant	Senior Master Sergeant
E-8	First Sergeant Master Sergeant	Senior Chief Petty Officer	First Sergeant Master Sergeant	Senior Master Sergeant
E-9	Command Sergeant Major Sergeant Major	Master Chief Petty Officer	Sergeant Major Master Gunnery Sergeant	Chief Master Sergeant
Special Grades²
E-10	Sergeant Major of the Army	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps	Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

¹ There are no living five-star commissioned officers.
² Senior enlisted advisers. There is only one for each branch of service.