O-3 Pay 2026 (Captain)
O-3 basic pay in 2026 ranges from $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 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.
Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser · Last reviewed November 2026
Advertisement
About the O-3 Pay 2026
Pay grade O-3 (Captain, Lieutenant) 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.
O-3 pay chart 2026 by years of service
Monthly basic pay for pay grade O-3 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 | $5,534.10 | $66,409 | $2,767.05 | $184.47 | $737.88 |
| Over 2 | $6,273.90 | $75,287 | $3,136.95 | $209.13 | $836.52 |
| Over 3 | $6,770.40 | $81,245 | $3,385.20 | $225.68 | $902.72 |
| Over 4 | $7,382.70 | $88,592 | $3,691.35 | $246.09 | $984.36 |
| Over 6 | $7,737.00 | $92,844 | $3,868.50 | $257.90 | $1,031.60 |
| Over 8 | $8,125.50 | $97,506 | $4,062.75 | $270.85 | $1,083.40 |
| Over 10 | $8,375.70 | $100,508 | $4,187.85 | $279.19 | $1,116.76 |
| Over 12 | $8,788.20 | $105,458 | $4,394.10 | $292.94 | $1,171.76 |
| Over 14 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 16 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 18 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 20 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 22 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 24 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 26 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 28 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 30 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 32 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 34 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 36 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 38 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
| Over 40 | $9,004.20 | $108,050 | $4,502.10 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
O-3 rank by branch
| Branch | Rank title |
|---|---|
| Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force | Captain |
| Navy and Coast Guard | Lieutenant |
Pay grade determines pay; the title depends on the service.
O-3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | 4,150.20 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 | 5,222.40 |
| O-2 | 4,782.00 | 6,272.40 | 6,484.50 | 6,617.70 | 6,617.70 | 6,617.70 | 6,617.70 | 6,617.70 | 6,617.70 | 6,617.70 |
| O-3 | 5,534.10 | 6,770.40 | 7,382.70 | 8,125.50 | 8,788.20 | 9,004.20 | 9,004.20 | 9,004.20 | 9,004.20 | 9,004.20 |
| O-4 | 6,294.60 | 7,773.60 | 7,881.00 | 8,816.40 | 9,888.30 | 10,401.60 | 10,509.90 | 10,509.90 | 10,509.90 | 10,509.90 |
| O-5 | 7,295.40 | 8,787.00 | 8,894.10 | 9,461.40 | 10,271.70 | 11,391.30 | 12,032.70 | 12,394.80 | 12,394.80 | 12,394.80 |
What O-3 total pay includes
- Basic pay: $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 a month, taxable.
- BAS: $328.48 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 O-3 make in 2026?
O-3 basic pay in 2026 is $5,534.10 a month ($66,409 a year) at the lowest rate and $9,004.20 a month ($108,050 a year) at the highest. With over 4 years of service it is $7,382.70 a month.
What rank is O-3?
O-3 is Captain in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force; Lieutenant in the Navy and Coast Guard.
How much is O-3 pay per paycheck?
Military pay is issued twice a month. At $7,382.70 a month (over 4 years of service), each mid-month and end-of-month payment is about $3,691.35 of basic pay before taxes and allowances.
How much is O-3 drill pay for the Guard and Reserve?
One drill pays 1/30 of monthly basic pay. For O-3 with over 4 years of service that is $246.09 per drill and $984.36 for a standard four-drill weekend.
Does O-3 pay include BAH and BAS?
No. The figures are basic pay only. In 2026 the Basic Allowance for Subsistence is $328.48 a month for officers, and the Basic Allowance for Housing depends on duty station and dependents. Both are tax-free. Look up housing with the BAH calculator.
Is O-3 pay the same in every branch?
Yes. Basic pay for O-3 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 O-3 to O-4?
At over 4 years of service, O-3 pays $7,382.70 a month and O-4 pays $7,881.00, a raise of $498.30 a month ($5,980 a year) in basic pay.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Check your Leave and Earnings Statement or DFAS for official pay.