E-5 basic pay by years of service — 2026
Monthly and annual basic pay at every longevity step, effective January 1, 2026. Years of service are cumulative, counted from your pay entry base date. “—” means DFAS publishes no rate because the grade cannot be held at that length of service.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $3,342.90 | $40,114.80 |
| Over 2 | $3,598.20 | $43,178.40 |
| Over 3 | $3,775.80 | $45,309.60 |
| Over 4 | $3,946.80 | $47,361.60 |
| Over 6 | $4,110.00 | $49,320.00 |
| Over 8 | $4,299.90 | $51,598.80 |
| Over 10 | $4,395.30 | $52,743.60 |
| Over 12 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 14 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 16 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 18 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 20 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 22 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 24 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 26 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 28 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 30 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 32 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 34 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 36 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 38 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
| Over 40 | $4,421.70 | $53,060.40 |
Source: DFAS 2026 Military Pay Tables — DoD FMR Vol. Effective January 1, 2026 (3.8% raise). O-6 and below are capped at Executive Schedule Level V ($15,408.30); O-7 and above at Level II ($18,999.90). Verify on the DFAS pay tables.
E-5 pay in 2027: what is set and what could change
On August 26, 2026 the President's alternative pay plan (House Document 119-189) set the January 1, 2027 raise at 7% for E-5. It takes effect unless Congress enacts something different; the Senate committee's defense bill would make it 3.6% and has not passed. DFAS has not published a 2027 table. The figures below are the 2026 row times each percentage, rounded to the nearest ten cents. Status as of October 1, 2026; every grade is on the 2027 military pay chart.
| Years of service | 2026 | 2027 plan (+7%) | 2027 Senate bill (+3.6%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $3,342.90 | $3,576.90 | $3,463.20 |
| Over 2 | $3,598.20 | $3,850.10 | $3,727.70 |
| Over 3 | $3,775.80 | $4,040.10 | $3,911.70 |
| Over 4 | $3,946.80 | $4,223.10 | $4,088.90 |
| Over 6 | $4,110.00 | $4,397.70 | $4,258.00 |
| Over 8 | $4,299.90 | $4,600.90 | $4,454.70 |
| Over 10 | $4,395.30 | $4,703.00 | $4,553.50 |
| Over 12 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 14 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 16 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 18 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 20 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 22 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 24 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 26 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 28 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 30 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 32 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 34 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 36 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 38 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
| Over 40 | $4,421.70 | $4,731.20 | $4,580.90 |
What E-5 means in each service
One pay grade, five titles. E-5 is Sergeant in the Army, Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, Petty Officer Second Class in the Navy and Coast Guard, Sergeant in the Marine Corps, Sergeant in the Space Force. Basic pay is set by pay grade and years of service in a single table for every service (37 U.S.C. § 203), so the figures on this page apply whichever uniform you wear.
Basic pay is the floor, not the paycheck. Most members also draw BAH (or government quarters), BAS, and where it applies special or incentive pay. The RMC calculator adds those and the tax advantage together; the basic pay calculator shows your exact longevity step and the next raise date.
Promotion is the biggest single jump. The promotion pay raise calculator compares this row with the next grade at your years of service, and the promotion timeline shows when that pin-on typically happens.
Other enlisted grades, 2026
Monthly basic pay at the first published years-of-service step shown.