Military Pay Raise: 2026 and History
The 2026 military pay raise is 3.8% for every grade. How it is set, what it is worth, and how it compares with prior years.
Last reviewed on October 1, 2026Every January 1, basic pay for all grades rises by the same percentage. The 2026 raise is 3.8%, applied to every cell of the pay chart. Here is how the raise is set, what it means in dollars, and how it compares to past years.
How the Raise Is Set
Under 37 U.S.C. 1009, the automatic raise matches the year-over-year change in the Employment Cost Index (ECI) for private-industry wages and salaries, measured over the 12 months ending in the third quarter of the year two years before the raise takes effect (the 2026 raise reflects ECI growth through Q3 2024). The President's budget proposes a figure and Congress can override it in the National Defense Authorization Act. The final rates take effect through an Executive Order signed in late December.
What the 3.8% Raise Means in Dollars
Selected examples comparing the 2025 and 2026 official tables.
| Grade | 2025 monthly | 2026 monthly | Monthly increase | Annual increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 (>4 mo) | $2,319.00 | $2,407.20 | $88.20 | $1,058.40 |
| E-4 (>4 yrs) | $3,524.70 | $3,658.50 | $133.80 | $1,605.60 |
| E-6 (>10 yrs) | $4,585.20 | $4,759.50 | $174.30 | $2,091.60 |
| W-2 (>6 yrs) | $5,380.80 | $5,585.40 | $204.60 | $2,455.20 |
| E-7 (>20 yrs) | $6,017.10 | $6,245.70 | $228.60 | $2,743.20 |
Military Pay Raise History (2016–2026)
*2025 also included an additional targeted raise for junior enlisted members effective April 1, 2025.
| Year (effective Jan 1) | Across-the-board raise |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.8% |
| 2025 | 4.5%* |
| 2024 | 5.2% |
| 2023 | 4.6% |
| 2022 | 2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.0% |
| 2020 | 3.1% |
| 2019 | 2.6% |
| 2018 | 2.4% |
| 2017 | 2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.3% |
Pay Raise FAQ
The 2026 raise was 3.8% for all grades, effective January 1, 2026. It was authorized in the FY2026 NDAA and published in the Executive Order adjusting rates of pay.
By law (37 U.S.C. 1009) the default raise equals the annual change in the Employment Cost Index (ECI) for private-industry wages and salaries. The President may propose a different figure and Congress can set its own amount in the NDAA.
The 2027 rate is set through the FY2027 NDAA and appropriations process and becomes official when the President signs the year-end Executive Order, usually in late December. This site will publish the 2027 tables once the official schedule is released.
In addition to the 4.5% raise on January 1, 2025, junior enlisted members received a further targeted increase on April 1, 2025 under the FY2025 NDAA, bringing the total 2025 increase for the most junior grades to roughly 14.5%. Those higher rates carried into 2026 and received the 3.8% raise on top.