W-3 Pay 2026 (Chief Warrant Officer 3)
W-3 basic pay in 2026 ranges from $5,223.30 to $9,162.60 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 W-3 Pay 2026
Pay grade W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) 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.
W-3 pay chart 2026 by years of service
Monthly basic pay for pay grade W-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 | $5,223.30 | $62,680 | $2,611.65 | $174.11 | $696.44 |
| Over 2 | $5,440.50 | $65,286 | $2,720.25 | $181.35 | $725.40 |
| Over 3 | $5,664.30 | $67,972 | $2,832.15 | $188.81 | $755.24 |
| Over 4 | $5,736.90 | $68,843 | $2,868.45 | $191.23 | $764.92 |
| Over 6 | $5,970.90 | $71,651 | $2,985.45 | $199.03 | $796.12 |
| Over 8 | $6,431.10 | $77,173 | $3,215.55 | $214.37 | $857.48 |
| Over 10 | $6,910.50 | $82,926 | $3,455.25 | $230.35 | $921.40 |
| Over 12 | $7,136.40 | $85,637 | $3,568.20 | $237.88 | $951.52 |
| Over 14 | $7,397.70 | $88,772 | $3,698.85 | $246.59 | $986.36 |
| Over 16 | $7,665.90 | $91,991 | $3,832.95 | $255.53 | $1,022.12 |
| Over 18 | $8,150.40 | $97,805 | $4,075.20 | $271.68 | $1,086.72 |
| Over 20 | $8,476.50 | $101,718 | $4,238.25 | $282.55 | $1,130.20 |
| Over 22 | $8,671.80 | $104,062 | $4,335.90 | $289.06 | $1,156.24 |
| Over 24 | $8,879.70 | $106,556 | $4,439.85 | $295.99 | $1,183.96 |
| Over 26 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
| Over 28 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
| Over 30 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
| Over 32 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
| Over 34 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
| Over 36 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
| Over 38 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
| Over 40 | $9,162.60 | $109,951 | $4,581.30 | $305.42 | $1,221.68 |
W-3 rank by branch
| Branch | Rank title |
|---|---|
| Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force | Chief Warrant Officer 3 |
Pay grade determines pay; the title depends on the service.
W-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | 4,056.60 | 4,611.00 | 4,859.10 | 5,584.20 | 6,069.30 | 6,564.90 | 7,010.10 | 7,010.10 | 7,010.10 | 7,010.10 |
| W-2 | 4,621.80 | 5,193.30 | 5,286.00 | 6,051.00 | 6,509.40 | 7,005.00 | 7,437.00 | 7,714.20 | 7,714.20 | 7,714.20 |
| W-3 | 5,223.30 | 5,664.30 | 5,736.90 | 6,431.10 | 7,136.40 | 7,665.90 | 8,476.50 | 8,879.70 | 9,162.60 | 9,162.60 |
| W-4 | 5,719.80 | 6,328.50 | 6,502.20 | 7,098.00 | 7,848.30 | 8,619.90 | 9,228.90 | 10,032.00 | 10,445.40 | 10,653.60 |
| W-5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10,169.70 | 11,070.30 | 11,495.10 | 12,070.80 |
What W-3 total pay includes
- Basic pay: $5,223.30 to $9,162.60 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 a W-3 make in 2026?
W-3 basic pay in 2026 is $5,223.30 a month ($62,680 a year) at the lowest rate and $9,162.60 a month ($109,951 a year) at the highest. With over 4 years of service it is $5,736.90 a month.
What rank is W-3?
W-3 is Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force.
How much is W-3 pay per paycheck?
Military pay is issued twice a month. At $5,736.90 a month (over 4 years of service), each mid-month and end-of-month payment is about $2,868.45 of basic pay before taxes and allowances.
How much is W-3 drill pay for the Guard and Reserve?
One drill pays 1/30 of monthly basic pay. For W-3 with over 4 years of service that is $191.23 per drill and $764.92 for a standard four-drill weekend.
Does W-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 W-3 pay the same in every branch?
Yes. Basic pay for W-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 W-3 to W-4?
At over 4 years of service, W-3 pays $5,736.90 a month and W-4 pays $6,502.20, a raise of $765.30 a month ($9,184 a year) in basic pay.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Check your Leave and Earnings Statement or DFAS for official pay.