Chief Master Sergeant Pay 2026
In the Air Force and Space Force, a Chief Master Sergeant is pay grade E-9, the top rank, above Senior Master Sergeant. Abbreviated CMSgt in the Air Force and Space Force. Monthly basic pay in 2026 is E-9: $6,910.20 to $10,729.20, depending on years of service. Annual pay is monthly × 12.
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 Chief Master Sergeant?
The title is one pay grade; the other branches use different titles for it (see below). Grades come from the defense.gov rank insignia page.
| Branch | Pay grade | Branch pay chart | Other titles at this grade in the branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | E-9 | Air Force pay chart 2026 | First Sergeant, Command Chief Master Sergeant |
| Space Force | E-9 | Space Force pay chart 2026 | None |
Chief Master Sergeant pay 2026 at E-9: monthly basic pay by years of service
E-9 is Chief Master Sergeant pay in the Air Force and Space Force. Monthly basic pay is $6,910.20 to $10,729.20; annual is monthly × 12, $82,922.40 to $128,750.40 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap. DFAS lists no E-9 basic pay for 10 years of service or less.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 10 to 12 years | $6,910.20 | $82,922.40 | $230.34 | $921.36 |
| Over 12 to 14 years | $7,066.50 | $84,798.00 | $235.55 | $942.20 |
| Over 14 to 16 years | $7,263.60 | $87,163.20 | $242.12 | $968.48 |
| Over 16 to 18 years | $7,496.10 | $89,953.20 | $249.87 | $999.48 |
| Over 18 to 20 years | $7,730.70 | $92,768.40 | $257.69 | $1,030.76 |
| Over 20 to 22 years | $8,105.10 | $97,261.20 | $270.17 | $1,080.68 |
| Over 22 to 24 years | $8,423.10 | $101,077.20 | $280.77 | $1,123.08 |
| Over 24 to 26 years | $8,756.70 | $105,080.40 | $291.89 | $1,167.56 |
| Over 26 to 30 years | $9,267.90 | $111,214.80 | $308.93 | $1,235.72 |
| Over 30 to 34 years | $9,730.20 | $116,762.40 | $324.34 | $1,297.36 |
| Over 34 to 38 years | $10,217.40 | $122,608.80 | $340.58 | $1,362.32 |
| Over 38 years | $10,729.20 | $128,750.40 | $357.64 | $1,430.56 |
Drill pay is 1/30 of monthly basic pay per drill period, four drills for a usual weekend. BAS for enlisted is $476.95 a month ($5,723.40 a year, monthly × 12) in 2026, paid on top of basic pay. See the full E-9 pay page and the BAS rates.
Chief Master Sergeant 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | $6,910.20 to $10,729.20 | $7,324.80 to $11,373.00 | $7,158.90 to $11,115.60 |
Every grade and column is on the 2027 military pay chart.
Positions and senior enlisted advisors
A Command Chief Master Sergeant is a position held at E-9 in the Air Force, not a separate pay grade; it is paid from the same table as a Chief Master Sergeant.
The Air Force's senior enlisted advisor is the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF): a single position at E-9, not a title shared by every E-9, paid $11,166.90 a month at any length of service.
The Space Force's senior enlisted advisor is the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF): a single position at E-9, not a title shared by every E-9, paid $11,166.90 a month at any length of service.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major | Master Gunnery Sergeant, Sergeant Major | Master Chief Petty Officer, Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer | Chief Master Sergeant, First Sergeant, Command Chief Master Sergeant | Chief Master Sergeant | Master Chief Petty Officer, Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer |
Promotion path from Chief Master Sergeant
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.
- Air Force: previous Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), $1,003.20 a month less; no higher title in this group, at over 10 to 12 years of service.
- Space Force: previous Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), $1,003.20 a month less; no higher title in this group, at over 10 to 12 years of service.
All titles are on the military rank pay page; the full table is the military pay chart 2026.
Chief Master Sergeant pay questions
How much does an Air Force Chief Master Sergeant make in 2026?
An Air Force Chief Master Sergeant is pay grade E-9. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-9: $6,910.20 to $10,729.20 a month ($82,922.40 to $128,750.40 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 Chief Master Sergeant make in 2026?
A Space Force Chief Master Sergeant is pay grade E-9. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-9: $6,910.20 to $10,729.20 a month ($82,922.40 to $128,750.40 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a CMSgt make in 2026?
CMSgt is the Air Force and Space Force abbreviation for Chief Master Sergeant, as the defense.gov rank insignia page prints them. A Chief Master Sergeant is pay grade E-9 in the Air Force and Space Force, paid $6,910.20 to $10,729.20 a month at E-9, depending on years of service.
Is a Chief Master Sergeant an E-9?
Yes. In the Air Force and Space Force, a Chief Master Sergeant is pay grade E-9, paid $6,910.20 to $10,729.20 a month in 2026. Every branch uses the same basic pay table by grade; only the title differs.
How much does the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force make in 2026?
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) is a single E-9 position, paid $11,166.90 a month in 2026 ($134,002.80 a year, monthly × 12) at any length of service, instead of the E-9 years-of-service rates. The rate is the senior enlisted advisor note in the DFAS enlisted basic pay table. Basic pay only; allowances and special pays are separate.
How much does the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force make in 2026?
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF) is a single E-9 position, paid $11,166.90 a month in 2026 ($134,002.80 a year, monthly × 12) at any length of service, instead of the E-9 years-of-service rates. The rate is the senior enlisted advisor note in the DFAS enlisted basic pay table. Basic pay only; allowances and special pays are separate.
How much is Chief Master Sergeant drill pay for a weekend?
A drill period is 1/30 of monthly basic pay, so a four-drill weekend for Chief Master Sergeant is $921.36 to $1,430.56 at E-9, depending on years of service.
What will Chief Master Sergeant pay be in 2027?
Not final, and neither scenario is an official DFAS table. E-9: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $7,324.80 to $11,373.00; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $7,158.90 to $11,115.60.