E-5 Pay 2026
E-5 basic pay in 2026 ranges from $3,342.90 to $4,421.70 a month depending on years of service. Enter your years of service to see monthly and annual pay, drill pay and total pay with allowances.
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About the E-5 Pay 2026
Pay grade E-5 (Sergeant, Petty Officer Second Class, Staff Sergeant) is paid from the same basic pay table in every branch of the armed forces. The 2026 rates below include the 3.8% raise effective January 1, 2026 and come from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service tables.
How to use it
- Enter your completed years of service.
- Optionally enter your monthly BAH and choose whether to include BAS.
- Read your monthly and annual basic pay, drill pay and total pay with allowances.
E-5 pay chart 2026 by years of service
Monthly basic pay for pay grade E-5 effective January 1, 2026 (3.8% raise), with annual pay, the twice-monthly payment, the daily rate and drill weekend pay:
| Years of service | Monthly basic pay | Annual | Semi-monthly | Daily (1/30) | Drill weekend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $3,342.90 | $40,115 | $1,671.45 | $111.43 | $445.72 |
| Over 2 | $3,598.20 | $43,178 | $1,799.10 | $119.94 | $479.76 |
| Over 3 | $3,775.80 | $45,310 | $1,887.90 | $125.86 | $503.44 |
| Over 4 | $3,946.80 | $47,362 | $1,973.40 | $131.56 | $526.24 |
| Over 6 | $4,110.00 | $49,320 | $2,055.00 | $137.00 | $548.00 |
| Over 8 | $4,299.90 | $51,599 | $2,149.95 | $143.33 | $573.32 |
| Over 10 | $4,395.30 | $52,744 | $2,197.65 | $146.51 | $586.04 |
| Over 12 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 14 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 16 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 18 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 20 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 22 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 24 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 26 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 28 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 30 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 32 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 34 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 36 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 38 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
| Over 40 | $4,421.70 | $53,060 | $2,210.85 | $147.39 | $589.56 |
E-5 rank by branch
| Branch | Rank title |
|---|---|
| Army | Sergeant |
| Marine Corps | Sergeant |
| Navy and Coast Guard | Petty Officer Second Class |
| Air Force | Staff Sergeant |
| Space Force | Sergeant |
Pay grade determines pay; the title depends on the service.
E-5 compared with nearby pay grades
Monthly basic pay at selected years of service:
| Grade | 2 or less | Over 3 | Over 4 | Over 8 | Over 12 | Over 16 | Over 20 | Over 24 | Over 28 | Over 32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-3 | 2,836.80 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 | 3,198.00 |
| E-4 | 3,142.20 | 3,482.40 | 3,658.50 | 3,815.40 | 3,815.40 | 3,815.40 | 3,815.40 | 3,815.40 | 3,815.40 | 3,815.40 |
| E-5 | 3,342.90 | 3,775.80 | 3,946.80 | 4,299.90 | 4,421.70 | 4,421.70 | 4,421.70 | 4,421.70 | 4,421.70 | 4,421.70 |
| E-6 | 3,401.10 | 3,908.10 | 4,068.90 | 4,612.80 | 5,043.30 | 5,193.60 | 5,267.70 | 5,267.70 | 5,267.70 | 5,267.70 |
| E-7 | 3,932.10 | 4,456.20 | 4,673.10 | 5,135.70 | 5,591.70 | 6,000.90 | 6,245.70 | 6,598.20 | 7,067.40 | 7,067.40 |
What E-5 total pay includes
- Basic pay: $3,342.90 to $4,421.70 a month, taxable.
- BAS: $476.95 a month in 2026, tax-free.
- BAH: tax-free housing allowance by ZIP code and dependency status when you do not live in government quarters.
- Special and incentive pays: hazardous duty, sea pay, flight pay, bonuses and others where they apply.
- Retirement: estimate it with the military retirement calculator.
All grades are in the 2026 military pay chart; add allowances and taxes with the military pay calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an E-5 make in 2026?
E-5 basic pay in 2026 is $3,342.90 a month ($40,115 a year) at the lowest rate and $4,421.70 a month ($53,060 a year) at the highest. With over 6 years of service it is $4,110.00 a month.
What rank is E-5?
E-5 is Sergeant in the Army; Sergeant in the Marine Corps; Petty Officer Second Class in the Navy and Coast Guard; Staff Sergeant in the Air Force; Sergeant in the Space Force.
How much is E-5 pay per paycheck?
Military pay is issued twice a month. At $4,110.00 a month (over 6 years of service), each mid-month and end-of-month payment is about $2,055.00 of basic pay before taxes and allowances.
How much is E-5 drill pay for the Guard and Reserve?
One drill pays 1/30 of monthly basic pay. For E-5 with over 6 years of service that is $137.00 per drill and $548.00 for a standard four-drill weekend.
Does E-5 pay include BAH and BAS?
No. The figures are basic pay only. In 2026 the Basic Allowance for Subsistence is $476.95 a month for enlisted members, and the Basic Allowance for Housing depends on duty station and dependents. Both are tax-free. Look up housing with the BAH calculator.
Is E-5 pay the same in every branch?
Yes. Basic pay for E-5 is identical in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard. Only the rank title changes.
How much is the raise from E-5 to E-6?
At over 6 years of service, E-5 pays $4,110.00 a month and E-6 pays $4,235.70, a raise of $125.70 a month ($1,508 a year) in basic pay.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Check your Leave and Earnings Statement or DFAS for official pay.