Military pay rates are based on rank, grade, and years of service. In addition to basic pay, many service members receive tax-free allowances such as housing and food expenses. Service members also earn money for attending drill training. This varies by rank, years of service, and the number of AT days completed. The air force pay chart is essential for service members to understand where they stand in the Department of Defense’s compensation system and their pay potential. The charts also show details on additional allowances, incentives, and bonuses that may be available to service members.
The Air Force is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States and provides air sovereignty, airlift capabilities, space-based information and situational awareness, global precision attack capability, and command and control. It relies on its highly skilled and dedicated personnel to maintain a competitive military. To ensure they are compensated well for their work, the Air Force offers a robust compensation package. This includes basic pay based on rank and allowances, incentives, and bonuses. These benefits help keep the service members focused on their mission and able to serve with pride and confidence.
Each year, the Defense Department reviews military compensation to ensure they keep pace with inflation and adjust for any changes in the marketplace. This is what is known as a cost of living adjustment or COLA. In 2023, the service member receives a 2. 2% increase in base pay. The yearly average basic allowance for housing, or BAH rate, also increases.
How Much is the Army Base Pay?
The United States military is a massive operation that distributes paychecks to around 1.4 million service members twice a month. That’s a lot of money to move around, and each paycheck contains a variety of deductions. Service members pay taxes on two-thirds of their basic salary, just like salaried civilian workers, but many of their other benefits help them stretch their paychecks a bit further than would be the case in the private sector.
Service members also receive allowances for housing, food, uniforms, and job-specific bonuses, most of which are not taxed. The amount of these additional payments is dependent on rank, location, family status, and more. In addition to these non-taxable portions, service members are paid for days spent at active duty training.
A new enlisted member will enter the military with a base pay of about $24,648 per year. That’s a solid starting salary, but it will increase as they progress through their career. For example, an E-5 will earn about $3,058 a month at the end of their first three years of service. After six years, that monthly paycheck increases to about $4,225. Achieving the coveted E-7 rank (Master Sergeant Air Force, Sgt. 1st Class in the Army and Marine Corps, Master Gunnery Sgt. in the Navy) with fewer than 10 years is rare but not unheard of.
Air Force Pay Tables
The Air Force pay chart shows the base military salary service members are eligible for based on their rank and Department of Defense pay grade. DFAS adjusts This basic pay annually using the Employment Cost Index and increases as service members commit to more years in the military. Service members are also eligible for supplemental payments and allowances, such as BAH, BAS, flight pay, special duty pay, and more. The 2023 pay chart linked below provides a snapshot of Air Force service members’ estimated monthly basic pay rates, which are expected to increase by 4.6% over the current rate. Subscribe to The Military Wallet to stay up to date on all military pay news.
Air Force Enlisted Basic Pay Charts
| Years of Experience | E-1 | E-2 | E-3 | E-4 | E-5 | E-6 | E-7 | E-8 | E-9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airman Basic | Airman | Airman First Class | Senior Airman | Staff Sergeant | Technical Sergeant | Master Sergeant | Senior Master Sergeant | Chief Master Sergeant | |
| 2 or less | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,260 | $2,504 | $2,730 | $2,981 | $3,446 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 2 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,402 | $2,632 | $2,914 | $3,280 | $3,761 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 3 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $2,774 | $3,055 | $3,425 | $3,905 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 4 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $2,915 | $3,199 | $3,566 | $4,095 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 6 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,424 | $3,712 | $4,245 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 8 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,659 | $4,042 | $4,501 | $4,957 | n/a |
| Over 10 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,852 | $4,171 | $4,645 | $5,177 | $6,056 |
| Over 12 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,420 | $4,901 | $5,312 | $6,193 |
| Over 14 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,496 | $5,114 | $5,475 | $6,366 |
| Over 16 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,551 | $5,259 | $5,651 | $6,569 |
| Over 18 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $5,414 | $5,969 | $6,775 |
| Over 20 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $5,473 | $6,130 | $7,103 |
| Over 22 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $5,675 | $6,404 | $7,382 |
| Over 24 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $5,783 | $6,557 | $7,674 |
| Over 26 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $6,931 | $8,122 |
| Over 28 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $6,931 | $8,122 |
| Over 30 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $7,070 | $8,527 |
| Over 32 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $7,070 | $8,527 |
| Over 34 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $7,070 | $8,954 |
| Over 36 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $7,070 | $8,954 |
| Over 38 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $7,070 | $9,402 |
| Over 40 | $1,918 | $2,149 | $2,548 | $3,039 | $3,875 | $4,616 | $6,194 | $7,070 | $9,402 |
Air Force Officer Basic Pay Charts
| Years Exp. | O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 | O-7 | O-8 | O-9 |  O-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Lieutenant | First Lieutenant | Captain | Major | Lieutenant Colonel | Colonel | Brigadier General | Major General | Lieutenant General | General | |
| 2 or less | $3,637 | $4,191 | $4,850 | $5,516 | $6,393 | $7,669* | $10,113* | $12,171* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 2 | $3,786 | $4,773 | $5,498 | $6,385 | $7,202 | $8,425* | $10,583* | $12,570* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 3 | $4,577 | $5,497 | $5,933 | $6,812 | $7,700 | $8,978* | $10,800* | $12,834* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 4 | $4,577 | $5,683 | $6,470 | $6,906 | $7,794 | $8,978* | $10,973* | $12,908* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 6 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $6,780 | $7,302 | $8,106 | $9,013* | $11,286* | $13,238* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 8 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,121 | $7,726 | $8,291 | $9,399* | $11,595* | $13,790* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 10 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,340 | $8,255 | $8,701 | $9,450* | $11,953* | $13,918* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 12 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,702 | $8,666 | $9,002 | $9,450* | $12,309* | $14,442* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 14 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $8,951 | $9,390 | $9,987* | $12,667* | $14,593* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 16 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,116 | $9,983 | $10,936* | $13,790* | $15,044* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 18 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,265 | $11,494* | $14,738* | $15,697* | n/a | n/a |
| Over 20 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,545 | $12,050* | $14,738* | $16,298* | $17,201* | $17,675* |
| Over 22 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $12,368* | $14,738* | $16,700* | $17,450* | $17,675* |
| Over 24 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $12,689* | $14,738* | $16,700* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 26 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,311* | $14,814* | $16,700* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 28 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,311* | $14,814* | $16,700* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 30 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,577* | $15,110* | $17,118* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 32 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,577* | $15,110* | $17,118* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 34 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,577* | $15,110* | $17,546* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 36 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,577* | $15,110* | $17,546* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 38 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,577* | $15,110* | $17,546* | $17,675* | $17,675* |
| Over 40 | $4,577 | $5,799 | $7,891 | $9,210 | $10,862 | $13,577* | $15,110* | $17,546* | $17,675* | $17,675* |