W-5 Basic Pay Rates 2026
How much is basic pay for pay grade W-5 in 2026?
Basic pay for pay grade W-5 in 2026 starts at $10,169.70 per month at the Over 20 step, and tops out at $13,308.30 per month ($159,699.60 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 W-5, at every years-of-service step the table publishes.
Basic pay for pay grade W-5 in 2026 starts at $10,169.70 per month at the Over 20 step, and tops out at $13,308.30 per month ($159,699.60 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
W-5 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 W-5
The full official 2026 table for pay grade W-5, 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 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 3 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 4 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 6 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 8 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 10 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 12 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 14 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 16 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 18 | n/a | n/a |
| Over 20 | $10,169.70 | $122,036.40 |
| Over 22 | $10,685.70 | $128,228.40 |
| Over 24 | $11,070.30 | $132,843.60 |
| Over 26 | $11,495.10 | $137,941.20 |
| Over 28 | $11,495.10 | $137,941.20 |
| Over 30 | $12,070.80 | $144,849.60 |
| Over 32 | $12,070.80 | $144,849.60 |
| Over 34 | $12,673.50 | $152,082.00 |
| Over 36 | $12,673.50 | $152,082.00 |
| Over 38 | $13,308.30 | $159,699.60 |
| Over 40 | $13,308.30 | $159,699.60 |
Pay at W-5 rises as years of service build, and tops out at $13,308.30 per month from the Over 38 step onward. After that step, staying at the grade does not raise basic pay again.
About the W-5 grade
Rank titles: Chief Warrant Officer 5.
W-5 is the highest and rarest warrant officer grade, held by master-level technical leaders. The table publishes no W-5 rate before the Over 20 step, and pay keeps rising to the Over 38 step, the highest pay of any non-officer grade.
Basic pay for other grades
Enlisted
- E-1 basic pay (starts at $2,407.20 per month, top rate $2,407.20)
- 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)
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.
W-5 basic pay FAQs
How much does a W-5 make per month in 2026?
A W-5 is paid $10,169.70 per month in basic pay at the Over 20 step in 2026, and a maximum of $13,308.30 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 a W-5 make per year in 2026?
Basic pay for a W-5 runs from $122,036.40 per year at the Over 20 step to $159,699.60 per year at the top rate of $13,308.30 per month. Basic pay is taxable; BAH and BAS allowances are not, and they are paid in addition to these amounts.
When does W-5 basic pay stop increasing?
W-5 basic pay tops out at the Over 38 step, at $13,308.30 per month. Staying at the grade beyond that step does not raise basic pay again; further growth comes from promotion or the annual raise set by Congress.
Is W-5 basic pay the same in every branch?
Yes. Basic pay is set only by pay grade and years of service, and the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard all pay from the same table. Rank titles differ by branch, but the dollar figure for a W-5 is identical everywhere.