E-1 Basic Pay Rates 2026
How much is basic pay for pay grade E-1 in 2026?
Basic pay for pay grade E-1 in 2026 starts at $2,407.20 per month at the 2 or less step, and tops out at $2,407.20 per month ($28,886.40 per year). Basic pay is the taxable core of military pay, set by pay grade and years of service only; housing and food allowances are paid on top of it. The full official 2026 table for pay grade E-1, at every years-of-service step the table publishes.
Basic pay for pay grade E-1 in 2026 starts at $2,407.20 per month at the 2 or less step, and tops out at $2,407.20 per month ($28,886.40 per year). Basic pay is the taxable core of military pay, set by pay grade and years of service only; housing and food allowances are paid on top of it.
Last updated: October 2026
E-1 basic pay lookup
Preset to a mid-career step. Steps follow the official table headings: pay at the "Over 10" step applies once you have passed 10 years of service.
2026 basic pay table for E-1
The full official 2026 table for pay grade E-1, at every years-of-service step the table publishes. Steps marked n/a have no published rate, because the grade cannot be held that early in a career.
| Years of service | Monthly basic pay | Annual basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 2 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 3 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 4 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 6 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 8 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 10 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 12 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 14 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 16 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 18 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 20 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 22 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 24 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 26 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 28 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 30 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 32 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 34 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 36 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 38 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
| Over 40 | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 |
The E-1 rate does not change with years of service: it is $2,407.20 per month at every step in the 2026 table.
About the E-1 grade
Rank titles: Private (Army and Marine Corps), Seaman Recruit (Navy and Coast Guard), Airman Basic (Air Force and Space Force).
E-1 is the entry grade for enlisted service, held during initial training. Pay is the same at every year of service because almost no one stays at E-1 long; promotion to E-2 usually comes within the first year. Members with less than 4 months of active duty are paid a lower rate of $2,225.70 per month.
E-1 with less than 4 months of service
New members in their first 4 months on active duty are paid a lower E-1 rate of $2,225.70 per month. Once a member has served 4 months or more on active duty, the standard E-1 rate of $2,407.20 per month applies at every year of service.
Basic pay for other grades
Enlisted
- E-2 basic pay (starts at $2,697.90 per month, top rate $2,697.90)
- E-3 basic pay (starts at $2,836.80 per month, top rate $3,198.00)
- E-4 basic pay (starts at $3,142.20 per month, top rate $3,815.40)
- E-5 basic pay (starts at $3,342.90 per month, top rate $4,421.70)
- E-6 basic pay (starts at $3,401.10 per month, top rate $5,267.70)
- E-7 basic pay (starts at $3,932.10 per month, top rate $7,067.40)
- E-8 basic pay (starts at $5,656.50 per month, top rate $8,067.30)
- E-9 basic pay (starts at $6,910.20 per month, top rate $10,729.20)
Warrant officers
- W-1 basic pay (starts at $4,056.60 per month, top rate $7,010.10)
- W-2 basic pay (starts at $4,621.80 per month, top rate $7,714.20)
- W-3 basic pay (starts at $5,223.30 per month, top rate $9,162.60)
- W-4 basic pay (starts at $5,719.80 per month, top rate $10,653.60)
- W-5 basic pay (starts at $10,169.70 per month, top rate $13,308.30)
Commissioned officers
- O-1 basic pay (starts at $4,150.20 per month, top rate $5,222.40)
- O-2 basic pay (starts at $4,782.00 per month, top rate $6,617.70)
- O-3 basic pay (starts at $5,534.10 per month, top rate $9,004.20)
- O-4 basic pay (starts at $6,294.60 per month, top rate $10,509.90)
- O-5 basic pay (starts at $7,295.40 per month, top rate $12,394.80)
- O-6 basic pay (starts at $8,751.30 per month, top rate $15,408.30)
- O-7 basic pay (starts at $11,540.10 per month, top rate $17,242.20)
- O-8 basic pay (starts at $13,888.50 per month, top rate $18,999.90)
- O-9 basic pay (starts at $18,999.90 per month, top rate $18,999.90)
- O-10 basic pay (starts at $18,999.90 per month, top rate $18,999.90)
Prior-enlisted officers
- O-1E basic pay (starts at $5,222.40 per month, top rate $6,484.50)
- O-2E basic pay (starts at $6,484.50 per month, top rate $7,663.50)
- O-3E basic pay (starts at $7,382.70 per month, top rate $9,609.60)
See the full index of 2026 military basic pay charts, estimate total pay with the military pay calculator, look up housing rates on the 2026 BAH rates by location pages, or check the 2026 VA disability rates by rating.
E-1 basic pay FAQs
How much does an E-1 make per month in 2026?
An E-1 is paid $2,407.20 per month in basic pay at the 2 or less step in 2026, and a maximum of $2,407.20 per month. Basic pay is only one part of military compensation; housing (BAH) and food (BAS) allowances are paid on top of it.
How much does an E-1 make per year in 2026?
Basic pay for an E-1 runs from $28,886.40 per year at the 2 or less step to $28,886.40 per year at the top rate of $2,407.20 per month. Basic pay is taxable; BAH and BAS allowances are not, and they are paid in addition to these amounts.
When does E-1 basic pay stop increasing?
It does not rise with years of service at all: the E-1 rate is $2,407.20 per month at every years-of-service step in the 2026 table, so the only ways pay grows are promotion, an annual raise set by Congress, or special pays.
How much does an E-1 with less than 4 months of service make?
An E-1 who has served less than 4 months on active duty is paid $2,225.70 per month in 2026. After 4 months of active duty, the standard E-1 rate of $2,407.20 per month applies.