Captain Pay 2026
A Captain is pay grade O-3 in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force and O-6 in the Navy and Coast Guard. Abbreviated CPT in the Army, Capt in the Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, and CAPT in the Navy and Coast Guard. 2026 monthly basic pay: O-3: $5,534.10 to $9,004.20; O-6: $8,751.30 to $15,408.30.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Page reviewed against DFAS pay tables and defense.gov rank titles October 26, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Which pay grade is a Captain?
The title is in more than one pay grade, depending on the branch. Pay follows the grade, so check the branch row first. Grades come from the defense.gov rank insignia page.
| Branch | Pay grade | Branch pay chart | Other titles at this grade in the branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | O-3 | Army pay chart 2026 | None |
| Marine Corps | O-3 | Marine Corps pay chart 2026 | None |
| Air Force | O-3 | Air Force pay chart 2026 | None |
| Space Force | O-3 | Space Force pay chart 2026 | None |
| Navy | O-6 | Navy pay chart 2026 | None |
| Coast Guard | O-6 | Coast Guard pay chart 2026 | None |
Captain pay 2026 at O-3: monthly basic pay by years of service
O-3 is Captain pay in the Army and Marine Corps and Air Force and Space Force. Monthly basic pay is $5,534.10 to $9,004.20; annual is monthly × 12, $66,409.20 to $108,050.40 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years or less | $5,534.10 | $66,409.20 | $184.47 | $737.88 |
| Over 2 to 3 years | $6,273.90 | $75,286.80 | $209.13 | $836.52 |
| Over 3 to 4 years | $6,770.40 | $81,244.80 | $225.68 | $902.72 |
| Over 4 to 6 years | $7,382.70 | $88,592.40 | $246.09 | $984.36 |
| Over 6 to 8 years | $7,737.00 | $92,844.00 | $257.90 | $1,031.60 |
| Over 8 to 10 years | $8,125.50 | $97,506.00 | $270.85 | $1,083.40 |
| Over 10 to 12 years | $8,375.70 | $100,508.40 | $279.19 | $1,116.76 |
| Over 12 to 14 years | $8,788.20 | $105,458.40 | $292.94 | $1,171.76 |
| Over 14 years | $9,004.20 | $108,050.40 | $300.14 | $1,200.56 |
Drill pay is 1/30 of monthly basic pay per drill period, four drills for a usual weekend. BAS for officer (commissioned and warrant) is $328.48 a month ($3,941.76 a year, monthly × 12) in 2026, paid on top of basic pay. See the full O-3 pay page and the BAS rates.
Captain pay 2026 at O-6: monthly basic pay by years of service
O-6 is Captain pay in the Navy and Coast Guard. Monthly basic pay is $8,751.30 to $15,408.30; annual is monthly × 12, $105,015.60 to $184,899.60 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years or less | $8,751.30 | $105,015.60 | $291.71 | $1,166.84 |
| Over 2 to 3 years | $9,613.80 | $115,365.60 | $320.46 | $1,281.84 |
| Over 3 to 6 years | $10,245.00 | $122,940.00 | $341.50 | $1,366.00 |
| Over 6 to 8 years | $10,284.30 | $123,411.60 | $342.81 | $1,371.24 |
| Over 8 to 10 years | $10,725.00 | $128,700.00 | $357.50 | $1,430.00 |
| Over 10 to 14 years | $10,783.50 | $129,402.00 | $359.45 | $1,437.80 |
| Over 14 to 16 years | $11,396.40 | $136,756.80 | $379.88 | $1,519.52 |
| Over 16 to 18 years | $12,479.70 | $149,756.40 | $415.99 | $1,663.96 |
| Over 18 to 20 years | $13,115.40 | $157,384.80 | $437.18 | $1,748.72 |
| Over 20 to 22 years | $13,751.10 | $165,013.20 | $458.37 | $1,833.48 |
| Over 22 to 24 years | $14,112.90 | $169,354.80 | $470.43 | $1,881.72 |
| Over 24 to 26 years | $14,479.20 | $173,750.40 | $482.64 | $1,930.56 |
| Over 26 to 30 years | $15,188.70 | $182,264.40 | $506.29 | $2,025.16 |
| Over 30 years | $15,408.30* | $184,899.60 | $513.61 | $2,054.44 |
Basic pay for O-6 and below is limited to Executive Schedule Level V, $15,408.30 a month. The O-6 cells at that amount are marked with an asterisk.
Drill pay is 1/30 of monthly basic pay per drill period, four drills for a usual weekend. BAS for officer (commissioned and warrant) is $328.48 a month ($3,941.76 a year, monthly × 12) in 2026, paid on top of basic pay. See the full O-6 pay page and the BAS rates.
Captain pay in 2027: not final
Not final as of October 18, 2026. The President's tiered plan (7% for E-1 to E-5, 6% for E-6 to O-3, 5% for O-4 and above) would take effect January 1, 2027 unless Congress sets a different raise; the Senate Armed Services Committee's bill would set 3.6% for every grade. Neither is an official DFAS table.
| Pay grade | 2026 (official) | 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) | 2027 (3.6% raise) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-3 | $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 | $5,866.20 to $9,544.50 | $5,733.30 to $9,328.50 |
| O-6 | $8,751.30 to $15,408.30 | $9,189.00 to $15,408.30* | $9,066.30 to $15,408.30* |
Every grade and column is on the 2027 military pay chart.
Rank notes from the defense.gov insignia page
Commissioned officers hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps officers are called company grade officers in the paygrades of O-1 to O-3 (junior grade in the Navy).
Commissioned officers hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps officers are called field grade officers in the paygrades of O-4 to O-6 (mid-grade in the Navy).
Same pay grade, other branches
One pay grade has one basic pay and a different title in each branch. Select a title for its own page.
| Pay grade | Army | Marine Corps | Navy | Air Force | Space Force | Coast Guard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-3 | Captain | Captain | Lieutenant | Captain | Captain | Lieutenant |
| O-6 | Colonel | Colonel | Captain | Colonel | Colonel | Captain |
Promotion path from Captain
The next lower and next higher pay grade in each branch, as the defense.gov rank list orders them, with the monthly basic pay difference at the length of service stated for that branch.
- Army: previous First Lieutenant (O-2), $898.20 a month less; next Major (O-4), $498.30 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Marine Corps: previous First Lieutenant (O-2), $898.20 a month less; next Major (O-4), $498.30 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Navy: previous Commander (O-5), $1,350.90 a month less; next Rear Admiral Lower Half (O-7), $2,277.00 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Air Force: previous First Lieutenant (O-2), $898.20 a month less; next Major (O-4), $498.30 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Space Force: previous First Lieutenant (O-2), $898.20 a month less; next Major (O-4), $498.30 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Coast Guard: previous Commander (O-5), $1,350.90 a month less; next Rear Admiral Lower Half (O-7), $2,277.00 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
All titles are on the military rank pay page; the full table is the military pay chart 2026.
Captain pay questions
How much does an Army Captain make in 2026?
An Army Captain is pay grade O-3. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-3: $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 a month ($66,409.20 to $108,050.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a Marine Corps Captain make in 2026?
A Marine Corps Captain is pay grade O-3. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-3: $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 a month ($66,409.20 to $108,050.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a Navy Captain make in 2026?
A Navy Captain is pay grade O-6. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-6: $8,751.30 to $15,408.30 a month ($105,015.60 to $184,899.60 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does an Air Force Captain make in 2026?
An Air Force Captain is pay grade O-3. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-3: $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 a month ($66,409.20 to $108,050.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a Space Force Captain make in 2026?
A Space Force Captain is pay grade O-3. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-3: $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 a month ($66,409.20 to $108,050.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a Coast Guard Captain make in 2026?
A Coast Guard Captain is pay grade O-6. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-6: $8,751.30 to $15,408.30 a month ($105,015.60 to $184,899.60 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a CPT, Capt or CAPT make in 2026?
CPT is the Army abbreviation, Capt is the Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force abbreviation, and CAPT is the Navy and Coast Guard abbreviation for Captain, as the defense.gov rank insignia page prints them. A Captain is pay grade O-3 in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force and O-6 in the Navy and Coast Guard, paid $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 a month at O-3 or $8,751.30 to $15,408.30 a month at O-6, depending on years of service.
Is a Captain an O-3 or O-6?
It depends on the branch. A Captain is pay grade O-3 in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force and O-6 in the Navy and Coast Guard. Pay follows the grade, not the title, so the same title is paid $5,534.10 to $9,004.20 at O-3 or $8,751.30 to $15,408.30 at O-6 a month in 2026.
What is the next rank after a Captain?
In the Army, Major (O-4), paid $498.30 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Marine Corps, Major (O-4), paid $498.30 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Navy, Rear Admiral Lower Half (O-7), paid $2,277.00 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Air Force, Major (O-4), paid $498.30 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Space Force, Major (O-4), paid $498.30 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Lower Half (O-7), paid $2,277.00 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service.
How much is Captain drill pay for a weekend?
A drill period is 1/30 of monthly basic pay, so a four-drill weekend for Captain is $737.88 to $1,200.56 at O-3 or $1,166.84 to $2,054.44 at O-6, depending on years of service.
What will Captain pay be in 2027?
Not final, and neither scenario is an official DFAS table. O-3: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $5,866.20 to $9,544.50; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $5,733.30 to $9,328.50. O-6: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $9,189.00 to $15,408.30; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $9,066.30 to $15,408.30.