Armed Forces Comparative Pay Grades and Ranks
Updated: January 3, 2023
Written by Veteran.com Team
This table provides a listing of military ranks by pay grade and branch of Military Service: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy. While pay grades are administrative classifications used primarily to standardize compensation across the military services, ranks indicate a level of responsibility (for personnel, equipment, and mission) which grows with each increase in rank.
Find the current 2023 military pay rates here.
Pay Grade & Ranks By Branch of Service
Pay Grade Army Navy Marine Corps Air Force* Coast Guard
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS Special General of the Army Fleet Admiral (FADM) General of the Army General of the Army Fleet Admiral (FADM)
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O10 General Admiral General General Admiral
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O9 Lieutenant General Vice Admiral Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Vice Admiral
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O8 Major General Rear Admiral (Upper) Major General Major General Rear Admiral (Upper)
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O7 Brigadier General Rear Admiral (Lower) Brigadier General Brigadier General Rear Admiral (Lower)
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O6 Colonel Captain Colonel Colonel Captain
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O5 Lieutenant Colonel Commander Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Commander
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O4 Major Lieutenant Commander Major Major Lieutenant Commander
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O3 Captain Lieutenant Captain Captain Lieutenant
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O2 First Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade First Lieutenant First Lieutenant Lieutenant Junior Grade
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS O1 Second Lieutenant Ensign Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Ensign
WARRANT OFFICERS W5 Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer -- Chief Warrant Officer
WARRANT OFFICERS W4 Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer -- Chief Warrant Officer
WARRANT OFFICERS W3 Chief Warrant Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant -- Chief Warrant Officer
WARRANT OFFICERS W2 Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer -- Chief Warrant Officer
WARRANT OFFICERS W1 Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Warrant Officer -- Warrant Officer
ENLISTED MEMBERS Senior Enlisted Advisors Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMC) Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPO-CG)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E9 Command Sergeant
Major (CSM)
- or - Sergeant Major (SGM)Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
- or - Force Command Master Chief Petty Officer (FORMC)Sergeant Major
- or - Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt)
- or - Fleet Command Master Chief Petty Officer (FLTMC)Command Chief
Master Sergeant (CMSgt)
- or - Chief Master
Sergeant (CCM)
- or -
First Sergeant (E-9)Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO)
- or -
Command Master Chief (CMC)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E8 First Sergeant (1SG)
- or - Master Sergeant (MSG)Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) First Sergeant (1stSgt)
- or - Master Sergeant (MSgt)Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt)
- or -
First Sergeant (E-8)Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E7 Sergeant First Class (SFC) Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Master Sergeant (MSgt)
- or -
First Sergeant (E-7)Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E6 Staff Sergeant (SSG) Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Technical Sergeant(TSgt) Petty Officer First Class (PO1)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E5 Sergeant (SGT) Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Sergeant (Sgt) StaffSergeant(SSgt) Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E4 Corporal (CPL)
- or - Specialist (SPC)Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) Corporal (Cpl) Senior Airman(SrA) Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E3 Private First Class (PFC) Seaman (SN) Lance Corporal (LCpl) Airman First Class(A1C) Seaman (SN)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E2 Private (PV2) Seaman Apprentice (SA) Private First Class (PFC) Airman (Amn) Seaman Apprentice (SA)
ENLISTED MEMBERS E1 Private (PV1) Seaman Recruit (SR) Private (PVT) Airman Basic(AB Seaman Recruit (SR)
*The Air Force does not have warrant officers.
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