Pay grade
Encyclopedia
Pay grades are used by the 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 titles or ranks may be used among the seven uniformed services, pay grades are uniform and equivalent between the services and can 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
.
Pay grades are divided into three groups: Enlisted
(E), Warrant Officer
(W), and Officer
(O). Enlisted pay grades begin at E-1 and finish at E-9; Warrant Officer pay grades begin at W-1 and finish at W-5; and Officer pay grades begin at O-1 and finish at O-10. Not all of the uniformed services use all of the grades; for example, the Navy
does not use the grade W-1, the Air Force
discontinued use of the warrant grades in the 1960s, and both the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration do not use any of the enlisted or warrant grades in their entirety.
Members in pay grades O-1, O-2, and O-3 with more than four years prior cumulative service in an enlisted and/or warrant grade are paid increased wages using the special pay grades of O-1E, O-2E, and O-3E respectively. This benefit does not affect their rank and used simply for reward and incentive purposes in recognition of their prior enlisted experience.
For pay tables and information on specific pay grade wages and entitlements for members of the uniformed services, see United States Military Pay
.
Uniformed services of the United States
The United States has seven federal uniformed services that commission officers as defined by Title 10, and subsequently structured and organized by Title 10, Title 14, Title 33 and Title 42 of the United States Code.-Uniformed services:...
to determine wages and benefits based on the corresponding military rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of a member of the services. While different titles or ranks may be used among the seven uniformed services, pay grades are uniform and equivalent between the services and can 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
United States Military Pay
United States Military Pay is money paid to members in the United States Armed Forces. The amount of pay may vary by the member's rank, time in the military, location duty assignment, and by some special skills the member may have.-Pay versus Allowance:...
.
Pay grades are divided into three groups: Enlisted
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
(E), Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...
(W), and Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
(O). Enlisted pay grades begin at E-1 and finish at E-9; Warrant Officer pay grades begin at W-1 and finish at W-5; and Officer pay grades begin at O-1 and finish at O-10. Not all of the uniformed services use all of the grades; for example, the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
does not use the grade W-1, the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
discontinued use of the warrant grades in the 1960s, and both the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration do not use any of the enlisted or warrant grades in their entirety.
Members in pay grades O-1, O-2, and O-3 with more than four years prior cumulative service in an enlisted and/or warrant grade are paid increased wages using the special pay grades of O-1E, O-2E, and O-3E respectively. This benefit does not affect their rank and used simply for reward and incentive purposes in recognition of their prior enlisted experience.
For pay tables and information on specific pay grade wages and entitlements for members of the uniformed services, see United States Military Pay
United States Military Pay
United States Military Pay is money paid to members in the United States Armed Forces. The amount of pay may vary by the member's rank, time in the military, location duty assignment, and by some special skills the member may have.-Pay versus Allowance:...
.
Equivalent grades in NATO Armed Forces
The enlisted grades correspond with the NATO rank codes, with E-1 being equivalent to OR-1, E-2 equivalent to OR-2 and so on. The officer grades are all one higher than their NATO equivalent (except O-1) as the O-1 and O-2 grades are both equivalent to the NATO code of OF-1. Hence O-3 is equivalent to OF-2, O-4 is equivalent to OF-3 and so on. The NATO system does not have an equivalent of the US Warrant Officer grades.Enlisted pay grades
| Pay Grade | Rank by Branch of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Corps | Army | Air Force | Navy | Coast Guard | |
| E-1 | Private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... |
Private | Airman Basic Airman Basic Airman Basic is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force , immediately below Airman. The pay grade for Airman Basic is E-1.As opposed to all other USAF enlisted and officer ranks, Airman Basic has no rank insignia affiliated... |
Seaman Recruit Seaman Recruit Seaman recruit is the lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just below seaman apprentice; this rank was formerly known as seaman third class... |
Seaman Recruit |
| E-2 | Private First Class Private First Class Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term... |
Private | Airman Airman An airman is a member of the air component of a nation's armed service. In the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force , it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank... |
Seaman Apprentice Seaman Apprentice ConstructionmanvariationFiremanvariationAirmanvariationSeamaninsigniaSeaman apprentice is the second lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above seaman recruit and below seaman; this rank was formerly known as seaman second class.The actual title for an E-2 in the U.S.... |
Seaman Apprentice |
| E-3 | Lance Corporal Lance Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed... |
Private First Class Private First Class Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term... |
Airman First Class Airman First Class Airman first class is the third enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman and below senior airman. The rank of airman first class is considered a junior enlisted rank, with the non-commissioned officers and senior non-commissioned officers above it.Airman first class is a... |
Seaman Seaman Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks.... |
Seaman |
| E-4 | Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... |
|
Senior Airman Senior Airman Senior airman is the fourth enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman first class and below staff sergeant. It has a pay grade of E-4... |
Petty Officer Third Class Petty Officer Third Class U.S. NavyGood conductvariationU.S. NavyPetty officerthird classinsigniaPetty officer third class is the fourth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above seaman and below petty officer second class, and is the lowest rank of non-commissioned officer, equivalent to a corporal in... |
Petty Officer Third Class |
| E-5 | Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
Sergeant | Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:... |
Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer Second Class Good conductvariation,Petty OfficerSecond Classinsignia&U.S. Coast GuardPetty officer second class is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S... |
Petty Officer Second Class |
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:... |
Staff Sergeant | Technical Sergeant Technical Sergeant Technical Sergeant is the name of one current and two former enlisted ranks in the United States military.-United States Air Force:Technical Sergeant, or Tech Sergeant, is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. A technical sergeant is... |
Petty Officer First Class Petty Officer First Class Good conductvariation,12 years or moreof good conductPetty officerfirst classinsigniaU.S. Navy &U.S. Coast GuardPetty officer, first class is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S... |
Petty Officer First Class |
| E-7 | Gunnery Sergeant Gunnery Sergeant Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer... |
Sergeant First Class Sergeant First Class Sergeant First Class is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is the first senior non-commissioned officer rank... |
Master Sergeant Master Sergeant A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF... |
Chief Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy... |
Chief Petty Officer |
| E-8 |
First Sergeant First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff... |
|
Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Master Sergeant and below Chief Master Sergeant and is a senior non-commissioned officer .... |
Senior Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer U.S. Coast GuardSenior ChiefPetty Officercollar deviceU.S. Coast GuardSenior ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductvariationSenior ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaSenior ChiefPetty Officercollar device... |
Senior Chief Petty Officer |
| E-9 |
Master Gunnery Sergeant Master Gunnery Sergeant is the ninth and highest enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps... Sergeant Major Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers... Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is a unique non-commissioned rank and billet in the United States Marine Corps.... |
Sergeant Major of the Army The Sergeant Major of the Army is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Army. The holder of this rank is the most senior enlisted member of the Army, unless an Army NCO is serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, when in that case that NCO will be the most senior... |
Chief Master Sergeant CMSgt ChevronChief Master Sergeant is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief".Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the... Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and post represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted corps and represents their interests,... |
Master Chief Petty Officer - Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia... Command Master Chief Petty Officer -Background:First referenced in OPNAVINST 1306.2C dated 16 October 1995, the Navy's Command Master Chief Program is a valuable asset which stimulates free-flowing communications and ensures the highest standards of professionalism are upheld at all levels within the chain of command... Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Navy, which has a paygrade of E-9. The holder of this rank and post is the most senior enlisted member of the U.S... |
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Coast Guard.The holder of this rank and post is the senior enlisted member of the U.S... |
Warrant officer pay grades
| Pay Grade | Rank by Branch of Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | Marine Corps | Navy | Coast Guard | |
| W-1 | Warrant Officer 1 Warrant Officer (United States) In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1... |
Warrant Officer 1 | ||
| W-2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 |
| W-3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 |
| W-4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 |
| W-5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | Chief Warrant Officer 5 | |
Officer pay grades
| Pay Grade | Rank by Branch of Service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | Marine Corps | Navy | Air Force | Coast Guard | Public Health Service Commissioned Corps | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps | |
| O-1/O-1E | Second Lieutenant | Second Lieutenant | Ensign | Second Lieutenant | Ensign | Ensign | Ensign |
| O-2/O-2E | First Lieutenant | First Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | First Lieutenant | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Lieutenant (junior grade) | Lieutenant (junior grade) |
| O-3/O-3E | Captain | Captain | Lieutenant | Captain | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant |
| O-4 | Major Major (United States) In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel... |
Major | Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant commander (United States) Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3... |
Major | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant Commander |
| O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay... |
Lieutenant Colonel | Commander Commander (United States) In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States... |
Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Commander | Commander |
| O-6 | Colonel Colonel (United States) In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general... |
Colonel | Captain | Colonel | Captain | Captain | Captain |
| O-7 | Brigadier General Brigadier general (United States) A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed... |
Brigadier General | Rear Admiral (lower half) | Brigadier General | Rear Admiral (lower half) | Rear Admiral (lower half) | Rear Admiral (lower half) |
| O-8 | Major General Major general (United States) In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general... |
Major General | Rear Admiral | Major General | Rear Admiral | Rear Admiral | Rear Admiral |
| O-9 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General (United States) In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general... |
Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral Vice admiral (United States) In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of... |
Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Vice Admiral | Vice Admiral (inactive) |
| O-10 | General General (United States) In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an... |
General | Admiral Admiral (United States) In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health... |
General | Admiral | Admiral | Admiral (no appointments) |