Armed Forces Comparative Pay Grades and Ranks

Updated: January 4, 2023
In this Article

    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.

    See 2024 military pay rates and charts here.

    Pay Grade & Ranks By Branch of Service

    Pay GradeArmyNavyMarine CorpsAir Force*Coast Guard
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSSpecialGeneral of the ArmyFleet Admiral (FADM)General of the ArmyGeneral of the ArmyFleet Admiral (FADM)
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO10GeneralAdmiralGeneralGeneralAdmiral
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO9Lieutenant GeneralVice AdmiralLieutenant GeneralLieutenant GeneralVice Admiral
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO8Major GeneralRear Admiral (Upper)Major GeneralMajor GeneralRear Admiral (Upper)
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO7Brigadier GeneralRear Admiral (Lower)Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralRear Admiral (Lower)
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO6ColonelCaptainColonelColonelCaptain
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO5Lieutenant ColonelCommanderLieutenant ColonelLieutenant ColonelCommander
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO4MajorLieutenant CommanderMajorMajorLieutenant Commander
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO3CaptainLieutenantCaptainCaptainLieutenant
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO2First LieutenantLieutenant Junior GradeFirst LieutenantFirst LieutenantLieutenant Junior Grade
    COMMISSIONED OFFICERSO1Second LieutenantEnsignSecond LieutenantSecond LieutenantEnsign
    WARRANT OFFICERSW5Chief Warrant OfficerChief Warrant OfficerChief Warrant Officer--Chief Warrant Officer
    WARRANT OFFICERSW4Chief Warrant OfficerChief Warrant OfficerChief Warrant Officer--Chief Warrant Officer
    WARRANT OFFICERSW3Chief WarrantChief Warrant OfficerChief Warrant--Chief Warrant Officer
    WARRANT OFFICERSW2Chief Warrant OfficerChief Warrant OfficerChief Warrant Officer--Chief Warrant Officer
    WARRANT OFFICERSW1Warrant OfficerWarrant OfficerWarrant Officer--Warrant Officer
    ENLISTED MEMBERSSenior Enlisted AdvisorsSergeant 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 MEMBERSE9Command 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 MEMBERSE8First 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 MEMBERSE7Sergeant First Class (SFC)Chief Petty Officer (CPO)Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt)Master Sergeant (MSgt)
    - or -
    First Sergeant (E-7)
    Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
    ENLISTED MEMBERSE6Staff Sergeant (SSG)Petty Officer First Class (PO1)Staff Sergeant (SSgt)Technical Sergeant(TSgt)Petty Officer First Class (PO1)
    ENLISTED MEMBERSE5Sergeant (SGT)Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)Sergeant (Sgt) StaffSergeant(SSgt)Petty Officer Second Class (PO2)
    ENLISTED MEMBERSE4Corporal (CPL)
    - or - Specialist (SPC)
    Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)Corporal (Cpl)Senior Airman(SrA)Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)
    ENLISTED MEMBERSE3Private First Class (PFC)Seaman (SN)Lance Corporal (LCpl)Airman First Class(A1C)Seaman (SN)
    ENLISTED MEMBERSE2Private (PV2)Seaman Apprentice (SA)Private First Class (PFC)Airman (Amn)Seaman Apprentice (SA)
    ENLISTED MEMBERSE1Private (PV1)Seaman Recruit (SR)Private (PVT)Airman Basic(ABSeaman Recruit (SR)

    *The Air Force does not have warrant officers.


    Written by Veteran.com Team