O-5 Pay 2026 (Lieutenant Colonel)
O-5 basic pay in 2026 ranges from $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 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 O-5 Pay 2026
Pay grade O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel, Commander) 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-5 pay chart 2026 by years of service
Monthly basic pay for pay grade O-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 | $7,295.40 | $87,545 | $3,647.70 | $243.18 | $972.72 |
| Over 2 | $8,218.20 | $98,618 | $4,109.10 | $273.94 | $1,095.76 |
| Over 3 | $8,787.00 | $105,444 | $4,393.50 | $292.90 | $1,171.60 |
| Over 4 | $8,894.10 | $106,729 | $4,447.05 | $296.47 | $1,185.88 |
| Over 6 | $9,249.60 | $110,995 | $4,624.80 | $308.32 | $1,233.28 |
| Over 8 | $9,461.40 | $113,537 | $4,730.70 | $315.38 | $1,261.52 |
| Over 10 | $9,928.50 | $119,142 | $4,964.25 | $330.95 | $1,323.80 |
| Over 12 | $10,271.70 | $123,260 | $5,135.85 | $342.39 | $1,369.56 |
| Over 14 | $10,715.10 | $128,581 | $5,357.55 | $357.17 | $1,428.68 |
| Over 16 | $11,391.30 | $136,696 | $5,695.65 | $379.71 | $1,518.84 |
| Over 18 | $11,713.80 | $140,566 | $5,856.90 | $390.46 | $1,561.84 |
| Over 20 | $12,032.70 | $144,392 | $6,016.35 | $401.09 | $1,604.36 |
| Over 22 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 24 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 26 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 28 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 30 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 32 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 34 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 36 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 38 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
| Over 40 | $12,394.80 | $148,738 | $6,197.40 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
O-5 rank by branch
| Branch | Rank title |
|---|---|
| Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Navy and Coast Guard | Commander |
Pay grade determines pay; the title depends on the service.
O-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| O-6 | 8,751.30 | 10,245.00 | 10,245.00 | 10,725.00 | 10,783.50 | 12,479.70 | 13,751.10 | 14,479.20 | 15,188.70 | 15,408.30 |
| O-7 | 11,540.10 | 12,324.30 | 12,522.00 | 13,231.80 | 14,045.70 | 15,735.30 | 16,817.70 | 16,817.70 | 16,904.40 | 17,242.20 |
What O-5 total pay includes
- Basic pay: $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 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-5 make in 2026?
O-5 basic pay in 2026 is $7,295.40 a month ($87,545 a year) at the lowest rate and $12,394.80 a month ($148,738 a year) at the highest. With over 4 years of service it is $8,894.10 a month.
What rank is O-5?
O-5 is Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force; Commander in the Navy and Coast Guard.
How much is O-5 pay per paycheck?
Military pay is issued twice a month. At $8,894.10 a month (over 4 years of service), each mid-month and end-of-month payment is about $4,447.05 of basic pay before taxes and allowances.
How much is O-5 drill pay for the Guard and Reserve?
One drill pays 1/30 of monthly basic pay. For O-5 with over 4 years of service that is $296.47 per drill and $1,185.88 for a standard four-drill weekend.
Does O-5 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-5 pay the same in every branch?
Yes. Basic pay for O-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 O-5 to O-6?
At over 4 years of service, O-5 pays $8,894.10 a month and O-6 pays $10,245.00, a raise of $1,350.90 a month ($16,211 a year) in basic pay.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Check your Leave and Earnings Statement or DFAS for official pay.