All US Army Ranks and How Much They Earn

By Melissa Bauernfeind Published Jan 1, 10:35AM EST

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The largest branch of the U.S. military is the Army, which is comprised of three different sections – one active duty section and two reserve duty sections. Active duty personnel have numbers close to 500,000, although when you add the reserves of Army National Guard and Army Reserves to these figures, it shoots up even higher. The armed forces divide soldiers by rank which, per the Army website, Army.mil, provides a system of leadership that indicates a Soldier’s level of expertise, responsibility, and authority. Ranks fall into three categories: enlisted soldiers, warrant officers, and commissioned officers.

To determine all US Army ranks and how much they earn, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed every rank and insignia from the official U.S. Army website. We also broke out how much pay each rank is entitled to, as well as how much pay they are entitled to, by reviewing the latest basic pay tables from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service for the Department of Defense.

There are 13 ranks among enlisted members, categorized into three groups: junior enlisted (E-1 through E-4), non-commissioned officers (E-4 through E-6), and senior non-commissioned officers (E-7 through E-9). Junior enlisted members receive automatic promotions based on time in service and within their pay grade. Recruits begin as privates and eventually ascend to the rank of private first class. Subsequently, they may become specialists (E-4) after at least two years of service and specific field training, and later, corporals (E-4) following completion of the Army’s Basic Leadership Course.

Progressing to the ranks of sergeant (E-5) or staff sergeant (E-6) necessitates leadership training and high performance in a graded Army-wide competition that assesses physical fitness, education, firing range scores, awards, and other attributes. Sergeants oversee daily activities and serve as primary leaders with the most direct influence on soldiers. Sergeant major (E-9) represents the highest position attainable for enlisted personnel, with only one sergeant major in the army, overseeing all non-commissioned officers and acting as an advisor to the four-star general.

The highest non-commissioned officer rank of warrant officer 1 (WO1) can be achieved by enlisted officers who must accumulate several years of expertise, garner recommendations from commanding officers, and gain approval from a selection board. There are five warrant officer ranks, responsible for combat leadership, expertise, training, and operations management.

Commissioned officers are tasked with mission planning, issuing orders, and serving as key problem solvers in the Army. There are eleven commissioned officer ranks, encompassing lieutenants, captains, majors, colonels, and generals. The highest rank is four-star general, the senior commissioned officer, except during wartime, when a five-star general of the Army may be appointed.

The last five-star generals of the Army served during and after World War II and included figures such as General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur. Explore the profiles of 50 of America’s most distinguished war heroes here. Here are 50 of the most decorated war heroes in American history.

Here are all U.S. Army ranks and how much they earn

1. Private

E1:

Pay with <4 months of service: $1,773 per month
Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $23,011 to 23,011
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $23,011
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $23,011
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $23,011

E2:

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $25,790 to 25,790
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $25,790
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $25,790
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $25,790

2. Private First Class

Rank example, by military branch: Army, Marine Corps: Private First Class; Navy: Seaman; Air Force: Airman First Class
Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $27,119 to 30,571
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $30,571
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $30,571
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $30,571

3. Specialist

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $30,042 to 36,472
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $34,978
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $36,472
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $36,472

4. Corporal

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $30,042 to 36,472
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $34,978
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $36,472
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $36,472

5. Sergeant

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $32,764 to 46,498
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $38,390
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $46,220
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $46,498

6. Staff Sergeant

Annual pay with 10 and at 40 yrs of service: $35,766 to 55,397
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $42,786
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $50,051
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $55,397

7. Sergeant First Class

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $41,350 to 74,322
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $49,144
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $55,739
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $65,678

8. Master Sergeant

Annual pay with 8 and at 40 yrs of service: $59,486 to 84,838
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $62,118
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $73,562

9. First Sergeant

Annual pay with 10 and at 40 yrs of service: $59,486 to 84,838
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $62,118
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $73,562

10. Sergeant Major

Annual pay with 10 and at 40 yrs of service: $72,666 to 112,828
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $72,666
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $85,234

11. Command Sergeant Major

Annual pay with 10 and at 40 yrs of service: $72,666 to 112,828
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $72,666
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $85,234

12. Sergeant Major of the Army

Annual pay with 10 and at 40 yrs of service: $72,666 to 112,828
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $72,666
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $85,234

13. Warrant Officer

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $42,660 to 73,721
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $51,098
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $60,847
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $73,721

14. Chief Warrant Officer 2

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $48,604 to 81,122
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $55,588
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $66,067
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $78,206

15. Chief Warrant Officer 3

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $54,932 to 96,354
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $60,332
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $72,670
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $89,140

16. Chief Warrant Officer 4

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $60,149 to 112,036
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $68,378
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $77,796
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $97,052

17. Chief Warrant Officer 5

Annual pay with 20 and at 40 yrs of service: $106,945 to 139,950
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $106,945

18. Second Lieutenant

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $43,646 to 54,922
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $54,922
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $54,922
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $54,922

19. First Lieutenant

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $50,288 to 69,592
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $68,191
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $69,592
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $69,592

20. Captain

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $58,198 to 94,687
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $77,638
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $88,081
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $94,687

21. Major

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $66,197 to 110,524
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $82,876
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $99,058
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $110,524

22. Lieutenant Colonel

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $76,720 to 130,342
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $93,532
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $104,407
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $126,536

23. Colonel

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $92,030 to 162,918
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $107,737
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $113,400
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $144,605

24. Brigadier General

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $121,356 to 181,321
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $131,681
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $143,431
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $176,854

25. Major General

Annual pay with <2 and at 40 yrs of service: $146,048 to 210,550
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $154,897
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $167,018
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $195,577

26. Lieutenant General

Annual pay with 20 and at 40 yrs of service: $206,417 to 212,101
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $206,417

27. General

Annual pay with 20 and at 40 yrs of service: $212,101 to 212,101
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: N/A
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $212,101

28. General of the Army

Not currently a paid position in the Army

About the Author Melissa Bauernfeind →

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.