O-6 Pay 2026 (Colonel)
O-6 basic pay in 2026 ranges from $8,751.30 to $15,408.30 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-6 Pay 2026
Pay grade O-6 (Colonel, Captain) 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-6 pay chart 2026 by years of service
Monthly basic pay for pay grade O-6 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 | $8,751.30 | $105,016 | $4,375.65 | $291.71 | $1,166.84 |
| Over 2 | $9,613.80 | $115,366 | $4,806.90 | $320.46 | $1,281.84 |
| Over 3 | $10,245.00 | $122,940 | $5,122.50 | $341.50 | $1,366.00 |
| Over 4 | $10,245.00 | $122,940 | $5,122.50 | $341.50 | $1,366.00 |
| Over 6 | $10,284.30 | $123,412 | $5,142.15 | $342.81 | $1,371.24 |
| Over 8 | $10,725.00 | $128,700 | $5,362.50 | $357.50 | $1,430.00 |
| Over 10 | $10,783.50 | $129,402 | $5,391.75 | $359.45 | $1,437.80 |
| Over 12 | $10,783.50 | $129,402 | $5,391.75 | $359.45 | $1,437.80 |
| Over 14 | $11,396.40 | $136,757 | $5,698.20 | $379.88 | $1,519.52 |
| Over 16 | $12,479.70 | $149,756 | $6,239.85 | $415.99 | $1,663.96 |
| Over 18 | $13,115.40 | $157,385 | $6,557.70 | $437.18 | $1,748.72 |
| Over 20 | $13,751.10 | $165,013 | $6,875.55 | $458.37 | $1,833.48 |
| Over 22 | $14,112.90 | $169,355 | $7,056.45 | $470.43 | $1,881.72 |
| Over 24 | $14,479.20 | $173,750 | $7,239.60 | $482.64 | $1,930.56 |
| Over 26 | $15,188.70 | $182,264 | $7,594.35 | $506.29 | $2,025.16 |
| Over 28 | $15,188.70 | $182,264 | $7,594.35 | $506.29 | $2,025.16 |
| Over 30 | $15,408.30 | $184,900 | $7,704.15 | $513.61 | $2,054.44 |
| Over 32 | $15,408.30 | $184,900 | $7,704.15 | $513.61 | $2,054.44 |
| Over 34 | $15,408.30 | $184,900 | $7,704.15 | $513.61 | $2,054.44 |
| Over 36 | $15,408.30 | $184,900 | $7,704.15 | $513.61 | $2,054.44 |
| Over 38 | $15,408.30 | $184,900 | $7,704.15 | $513.61 | $2,054.44 |
| Over 40 | $15,408.30 | $184,900 | $7,704.15 | $513.61 | $2,054.44 |
O-6 rank by branch
| Branch | Rank title |
|---|---|
| Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force | Colonel |
| Navy and Coast Guard | Captain |
Pay grade determines pay; the title depends on the service.
O-6 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-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 |
| O-8 | 13,888.50 | 14,645.40 | 14,729.40 | 15,735.30 | 16,479.60 | 17,166.60 | 18,598.20 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90 |
What O-6 total pay includes
- Basic pay: $8,751.30 to $15,408.30 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-6 make in 2026?
O-6 basic pay in 2026 is $8,751.30 a month ($105,016 a year) at the lowest rate and $15,408.30 a month ($184,900 a year) at the highest. With over 4 years of service it is $10,245.00 a month.
What rank is O-6?
O-6 is Colonel in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force; Captain in the Navy and Coast Guard.
How much is O-6 pay per paycheck?
Military pay is issued twice a month. At $10,245.00 a month (over 4 years of service), each mid-month and end-of-month payment is about $5,122.50 of basic pay before taxes and allowances.
How much is O-6 drill pay for the Guard and Reserve?
One drill pays 1/30 of monthly basic pay. For O-6 with over 4 years of service that is $341.50 per drill and $1,366.00 for a standard four-drill weekend.
Does O-6 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-6 pay the same in every branch?
Yes. Basic pay for O-6 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-6 to O-7?
At over 4 years of service, O-6 pays $10,245.00 a month and O-7 pays $12,522.00, a raise of $2,277.00 a month ($27,324 a year) in basic pay.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Check your Leave and Earnings Statement or DFAS for official pay.