PAY GRADE

In the United States Military, a Pay Grade is the rate at which all military members receive their basic pay. It is also a way to compare ranks, which may have different names in the different services. A servicemember's basic pay is determined strictly by pay grade and the amount of time they have been in the military (known as time in service).

There are 3 tiers: Enlisted (E), Warrant Officer (W), and Comissioned Officer (O)

All US military services have pay grades E-1 through E-9 and Commissioned Officer grades O-1 through O-10; all but the Air Force have Warrant Officer Pay Grades (W).

Individuals who were enlisted but then receive a comission, may, for a few years, be paid at a different rate, (O-1E, O-2E), but this doesn't change their rank (and is usually not an issue accept strictly in matters of pay).

The names of the enlisted ranks vary from service to service, but the officer ranks carry the same names in all but the Navy.

Pay Grade is essential when determining a member's entitlements such as basic pay, BAH, or to determine seniority among a group of members from different services. This article belongs in one or more categories. ...

Army

E-1 Private
E-2 Private
E-3 Private First Class
E-4 Specialist or Corporal (Same Pay Grade, different ranks)
E-5 Sergeant
E-6 Staff Sergeant
E-7 Sergeant First Class
E-8 Master Sergeant
E-9 Sergeant Major
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A private is a military soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... Corporal is a rank (equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4) in use by several militaries, police forces or other uniformed organizations around the world. ... This article is about the rank of sergeant. ...

W-1 Warrant Officer One
W-2 Chief Warrant Officer Two
W-3 Chief Warrant Officer Three
W-4 Chief Warrant Officer Four
W-5 Chief Warrant Officer Five

O-1 Second Lieutenant
O-2 First Lieutenant
O-3 Captain
O-4 Major
O-5 Lieutenant Colonel
O-6 Colonel
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General

Navy

E-1 Seaman Recruit
E-2 Seaman Apprentice
E-3 Seaman
E-4 Petty Officer Third Class
E-5 Petty Officer Second Class
E-6 Petty Officer First Class
E-7 Chief Petty Officer
E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer
E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer
The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ...

W-1 Warrant Officer One
W-2 Chief Warrant Officer Two
W-3 Chief Warrant Officer Three
W-4 Chief Warrant Officer Four
W-5 Chief Warrant Officer Five

O-1 Ensign
O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade
O-3 Lieutenant
O-4 Lieutenant Commander
O-5 Commander
O-6 Captain
O-7 Rear Admiral Lower Half
O-8 Rear Admiral Upper Half
O-9 Rear Admiral
O-10 Admiral

Marine Corps

E-1 Private
E-2 Private First Class
E-3 Lance Corporal
E-4 Corporal
E-5 Sergeant
E-6 Staff Sergeant
E-7 Gunnery Sergeant
E-8 Master Sergeant
E-9 Master Gunnery Sergeant or Sergeant Major
United States Marine Corps seal The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ...

W-1 Warrant Officer One
W-2 Chief Warrant Officer Two
W-3 Chief Warrant Officer Three
W-4 Chief Warrant Officer Four
W-5 Chief Warrant Officer Five

O-1 Second Lieutenant
O-2 First Lieutenant
O-3 Captain
O-4 Major
O-5 Lieutenant Colonel
O-6 Colonel
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General

Air Force

E-1 Airman Basic
E-2 Airman
E-3 Airman First Class
E-4 Senior Airman
E-5 Staff Sergeant
E-6 Technical Sergeant
E-7 Master Sergeant
E-8 Senior Master Sergeant
E-9 Chief Master Sergeant
The United States Air Force (or USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ...

O-1 Second Lieutenant
O-2 First Lieutenant
O-3 Captain
O-4 Major
O-5 Lieutenant Colonel
O-6 Colonel
O-7 Brigadier General
O-8 Major General
O-9 Lieutenant General
O-10 General

See Also