E-9 Pay 2026
The highest enlisted grade, held by command senior enlisted leaders and service-level advisors. In 2026, E-9 basic pay runs $6,910 to $10,729 per month ($82,920–$128,748/year) by years of service — see the full chart, allowances, and total compensation below.
E-9 pay at a glance (2026)
2026 DFAS basic pay plus tax-free allowances for E-9 (enlisted).
Who is an E-9?
E-9 is the top of the enlisted pay scale. Members are the most senior NCOs in the force, advising commanders and shaping enlisted policy. Basic pay rises out to 38+ years of service.
Civilian GS equivalent: approximately GS-9 to GS-10. Sergeant Major/Master Chief; GS-9 to GS-10, non-supervisory senior NCO. This equivalence is an approximation used during federal hiring, not an official conversion.
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2026 E-9 basic pay by years of service
Monthly and annual basic pay. Allowances (BAH, BAS) are added on top and are tax-free.
| Years of service | Monthly basic pay | Annual basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 years | $6,910 | $82,920 |
| 12 years | $7,067 | $84,804 |
| 14 years | $7,264 | $87,168 |
| 16 years | $7,496 | $89,952 |
| 18 years | $7,731 | $92,772 |
| 20 years | $8,105 | $97,260 |
| 22 years | $8,423 | $101,076 |
| 24 years | $8,757 | $105,084 |
| 26–28 years | $9,268 | $111,216 |
| 30–32 years | $9,730 | $116,760 |
| 34–36 years | $10,217 | $122,604 |
| Over 38 years | $10,729 | $128,748 |
Source: FedTools 2026 analysis of the DFAS military basic pay table (3.8% increase effective January 1, 2026). Consecutive service brackets with identical pay are shown as a single row.
What an E-9 really earns: a total-pay example
Basic pay alone understates military compensation. Here is the full 2026 picture for an E-9 at 26 years of service, using the national-average BAH and a 22% marginal federal tax rate. Regular Military Compensation (RMC) is the DoD standard from 37 U.S.C. 101(25): basic pay + BAH + BAS + the federal income tax advantage on the tax-free allowances.
To net the same take-home pay in the private sector or a federal civilian job, an E-9 at 26 years would need a gross salary of roughly $144,175, because a civilian pays federal income tax on their entire salary while a service member does not pay it on BAH or BAS. That gap is the number to use when weighing a civilian job offer.
Calculate your exact E-9 pay
Enter your years of service and your actual BAH from your LES to see your full Regular Military Compensation and the civilian-equivalent gross salary.
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Frequently asked questions: E-9 pay
How much does an E-9 make in 2026?
In 2026, an E-9 earns monthly basic pay of $6,910 to $10,729 depending on years of service, which is $82,920 to $128,748 per year in basic pay alone. Basic pay is only one piece of the total: an E-9 also receives BAS of $480.35/month ($5,764/year) and a tax-free housing allowance (BAH) that averages roughly $1,662/month. Adding those allowances and the federal tax advantage on them brings an E-9 at 26 years of service to a Regular Military Compensation of about $144,175.
What is the E-9 basic pay raise for 2026?
All pay grades, including E-9, received a 3.8% basic pay increase effective January 1, 2026, under the 2026 DFAS military pay tables. The raise applies across every years-of-service bracket. Basic pay is set annually by Congress and is separate from allowances such as BAH and BAS.
What GS grade is equivalent to an E-9?
Using the military-to-civilian pay grade equivalence chart, an E-9 maps approximately to GS-9 to GS-10. Sergeant Major/Master Chief; GS-9 to GS-10, non-supervisory senior NCO. This is an approximation used by HR specialists during federal hiring, not an official conversion. Actual GS placement depends on job duties, education, and agency discretion. Use the Military-to-GS Pay Translator to compare your Regular Military Compensation against a locality-adjusted GS salary.
Does an E-9 pay taxes on BAH and BAS?
No. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) are not subject to federal income tax. That tax exemption is worth real money: at a 22% marginal rate, the roughly $25,708 an E-9 receives in annual allowances carries a federal tax advantage of about $7,251. That is why comparing E-9 basic pay directly to a civilian salary understates true military compensation, and why the DoD Regular Military Compensation figure adds the tax advantage back in.