Key Takeaways
- The 2027 military pay raise is still being negotiated. The House NDAA backs Trump's tiered proposal: 7% for E-5 and below, 6% for E-6 through O-3, and 5% for O-4 and above.
- The Senate NDAA counters with a flat 3.6% raise for all ranks - far less than the White House requested.
- A House-Senate conference will reconcile the two bills. The final NDAA is expected by December 2026.
- The 2026 military pay raise was confirmed at 3.8% for all pay grades, signed into law as part of the $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act.
- Civilian federal employees on the GS pay scale face a proposed 0% pay freeze in 2027 - a sharp contrast to even the Senate's 3.6% floor for military. See our 2027 GS pay raise update.
The military pay raise for 2026 was confirmed at 3.8% for all pay grades. For 2027, the White House proposed a tiered raise up to 7%, the House backed it, and the Senate countered with a flat 3.6%. Final figures won’t be set until the NDAA conference wraps in late 2026.
2027 Military Pay Raise: House vs. Senate Standoff
The Trump administration’s FY2027 defense budget request proposed a tiered pay raise for military members — the largest increases going to junior enlisted troops who face the greatest financial pressure:
- E-5 and below: 7% pay raise
- E-6 through O-3: 6% pay raise
- O-4 and above: 5% pay raise
The House Armed Services Committee embraced the tiered structure in both its NDAA authorization and defense appropriations bills. The reasoning: junior enlisted members in the barracks forego housing allowances and rely on military dining — a materially different financial situation than senior officers.
The Senate Armed Services Committee rejected the tiered approach and proposed a flat 3.6% raise for all ranks instead. The Senate cited the 2024 Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, which warned that eliminating pay increases in lower grades weakens performance incentives. Historically, the Senate has also rejected large tiered proposals — in 2024 they pushed back on a 19.5% House proposal for junior enlisted, with the final 2025 NDAA landing at 14.5% cumulative for E-1 through E-4.
The Senate bill also boosts bonuses: aviator incentive pay up to $60,000/year (from $50,000), hostile fire pay $450 → $600/month, and imminent danger pay $275 → $400/month.
What Each Scenario Would Mean in Annual Base Pay
The table below shows approximate annual pay impact at key grades under both proposals, using DFAS 2026 base pay figures (under 2 years service) as the baseline. Does not include BAH, BAS, or other allowances.
| Pay Grade | 2026 Annual Base | Senate (3.6%) | House Tier | House Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | ~$24,400 | ~$25,279 | 7% | ~$26,108 |
| E-3 | ~$27,864 | ~$28,867 | 7% | ~$29,815 |
| E-5 | ~$36,522 | ~$37,837 | 7% | ~$39,079 |
| E-6 | ~$44,724 | ~$46,333 | 6% | ~$47,407 |
| O-1 | ~$43,152 | ~$44,705 | 6% | ~$45,741 |
| O-3 | ~$70,068 | ~$72,590 | 6% | ~$74,272 |
| O-4 | ~$82,656 | ~$85,631 | 5% | ~$86,789 |
| O-6 | ~$115,560 | ~$119,700 | 5% | ~$121,338 |
Approximate figures based on DFAS 2026 base pay tables. Actual amounts vary by years of service. See dfas.mil for exact figures.
For comparison, civilian federal employees on the GS pay scale face a proposed 0% freeze in 2027 — see the full 2027 GS pay raise breakdown for details on the civilian side of this divide.
Key Dates for 2027 Military Pay
- June–July 2026: Senate NDAA heads to Senate floor; House-Senate conference committee forms
- Fall 2026: Conference committee reconciles tiered vs. flat raise debate
- December 2026: NDAA signed into law, setting 2027 pay rates effective January 1
I’ll update this page when the conference agreement is reached. Subscribe here to get notified.
2026 Military Pay Charts: 3.8% Raise Confirmed
The military pay raise for 2026 was confirmed at 3.8%, aligning with the Employment Cost Index (ECI). It was included in the $900 billion 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law. The raise applied to all pay grades across the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
The 2026 VA disability rates also increased with a 2.6% Cost-of-Living Adjustment.
2026 Military Pay Chart — Under 20 Years of Service (all pay grades):
2026 Military Pay Chart — 20 or More Years of Service:
2025 Military Pay Chart: 4.5% (Plus 10% for Junior Enlisted)
The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act included a 4.5% pay raise for military workers. An additional 10% increase applied to junior enlisted service members (E-1 through E-4) effective April 1, 2025 — bringing their total 2025 increase to 14.5%. This two-step structure was designed to address financial hardship for the lowest-paid service members.
2025 Military Pay Chart — Under 20 Years of Service:
2025 Military Pay Chart — 20 or More Years of Service:
2024 Military Pay Chart: 5.2%
The 5.2% basic pay raise in 2024 was one of the largest in the last decade, implemented to combat high inflation. Final pay charts are sourced from DFAS.
2024 Military Pay Chart — Under 20 Years of Service:
2024 Military Pay Chart — 20 or More Years of Service:
2023 Military Pay Chart: 4.6%
2023 Military Pay Chart — Under 20 Years of Service:
2023 Military Pay Chart — 20 or More Years of Service:
2022 Military Pay Charts: 2.7%
Congress approved the FY2022 NDAA confirming a 2.7% pay increase for active members of the armed forces. It also established a $15 minimum wage for covered service and construction contracts.
2022 Military Pay Chart — Under 20 Years of Service:
2022 Military Pay Chart — 20 or More Years of Service:
2021 Military Pay Charts: 3.0%
The 2021 NDAA was passed with a veto-proof majority, confirming a 3.0% pay increase in line with the latest COLA adjustment.
2021 Military Pay Chart — Under 20 Years of Service:
2021 Military Pay Chart — Over 20 Years of Service:
Military Pay Raise History
| Year | Raise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | TBD | House: 5–7% tiered; Senate: 3.6% flat. NDAA conference pending. |
| 2026 | 3.8% | All grades. ECI-aligned. $900B NDAA. |
| 2025 | 4.5% (+10% E1–E4) | Junior enlisted received additional 10% from April 1, 2025 |
| 2024 | 5.2% | Largest raise in several years; inflation-driven |
| 2023 | 4.6% | Reflects high inflation period |
| 2022 | 2.7% | $15 minimum wage added for service contracts |
| 2021 | 3.0% | NDAA passed with veto-proof majority |
| 2020 | 3.1% | Matching ECI benchmark |
| 2019 | 2.6% | Largest in 9 years at the time |
| 2018 | 2.4% | — |
| 2017 | 2.1% | — |