Commander Pay 2026
In the Navy and Coast Guard, a Commander is pay grade O-5, between Lieutenant Commander and Captain. Abbreviated CDR in the Navy and Coast Guard. Monthly basic pay in 2026 is O-5: $7,295.40 to $12,394.80, depending on years of service. Annual pay is monthly × 12. Pay follows the grade, not the title: every branch uses the same DFAS table.
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 Commander?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy | O-5 | Navy pay chart 2026 | None |
| Coast Guard | O-5 | Coast Guard pay chart 2026 | None |
Commander pay 2026 at O-5: monthly basic pay by years of service
O-5 is Commander pay in the Navy and Coast Guard. Monthly basic pay is $7,295.40 to $12,394.80; annual is monthly × 12, $87,544.80 to $148,737.60 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 | $7,295.40 | $87,544.80 | $243.18 | $972.72 |
| Over 2 to 3 years | $8,218.20 | $98,618.40 | $273.94 | $1,095.76 |
| Over 3 to 4 years | $8,787.00 | $105,444.00 | $292.90 | $1,171.60 |
| Over 4 to 6 years | $8,894.10 | $106,729.20 | $296.47 | $1,185.88 |
| Over 6 to 8 years | $9,249.60 | $110,995.20 | $308.32 | $1,233.28 |
| Over 8 to 10 years | $9,461.40 | $113,536.80 | $315.38 | $1,261.52 |
| Over 10 to 12 years | $9,928.50 | $119,142.00 | $330.95 | $1,323.80 |
| Over 12 to 14 years | $10,271.70 | $123,260.40 | $342.39 | $1,369.56 |
| Over 14 to 16 years | $10,715.10 | $128,581.20 | $357.17 | $1,428.68 |
| Over 16 to 18 years | $11,391.30 | $136,695.60 | $379.71 | $1,518.84 |
| Over 18 to 20 years | $11,713.80 | $140,565.60 | $390.46 | $1,561.84 |
| Over 20 to 22 years | $12,032.70 | $144,392.40 | $401.09 | $1,604.36 |
| Over 22 years | $12,394.80 | $148,737.60 | $413.16 | $1,652.64 |
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-5 pay page and the BAS rates.
Commander 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-5 | $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 | $7,660.20 to $13,014.60 | $7,557.90 to $12,840.90 |
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 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-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander |
Promotion path from Commander
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.
- Navy: previous Lieutenant Commander (O-4), $1,013.10 a month less; next Captain (O-6), $1,350.90 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Coast Guard: previous Lieutenant Commander (O-4), $1,013.10 a month less; next Captain (O-6), $1,350.90 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.
Commander pay questions
How much does a Navy Commander make in 2026?
A Navy Commander is pay grade O-5. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-5: $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 a month ($87,544.80 to $148,737.60 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 Commander make in 2026?
A Coast Guard Commander is pay grade O-5. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is O-5: $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 a month ($87,544.80 to $148,737.60 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a CDR make in 2026?
CDR is the Navy and Coast Guard abbreviation for Commander, as the defense.gov rank insignia page prints them. A Commander is pay grade O-5 in the Navy and Coast Guard, paid $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 a month at O-5, depending on years of service.
Is a Commander an O-5?
Yes. In the Navy and Coast Guard, a Commander is pay grade O-5, paid $7,295.40 to $12,394.80 a month in 2026. Every branch uses the same basic pay table by grade; only the title differs.
What is the next rank after a Commander?
In the Navy, Captain (O-6), paid $1,350.90 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Coast Guard, Captain (O-6), paid $1,350.90 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service.
How much is Commander drill pay for a weekend?
A drill period is 1/30 of monthly basic pay, so a four-drill weekend for Commander is $972.72 to $1,652.64 at O-5, depending on years of service.
What will Commander pay be in 2027?
Not final, and neither scenario is an official DFAS table. O-5: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $7,660.20 to $13,014.60; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $7,557.90 to $12,840.90.