Master Sergeant Pay 2026
A Master Sergeant is pay grade E-7 in the Air Force and Space Force and E-8 in the Army and Marine Corps. Abbreviated MSG in the Army and MSgt in the Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force. Monthly basic pay in 2026 is E-7: $3,932.10 to $7,067.40; E-8: $5,656.50 to $8,067.30, depending on years of service.
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 Master Sergeant?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | E-7 | Air Force pay chart 2026 | First Sergeant |
| Space Force | E-7 | Space Force pay chart 2026 | None |
| Army | E-8 | Army pay chart 2026 | First Sergeant |
| Marine Corps | E-8 | Marine Corps pay chart 2026 | First Sergeant |
Master Sergeant pay 2026 at E-7: monthly basic pay by years of service
E-7 is Master Sergeant pay in the Air Force and Space Force. Monthly basic pay is $3,932.10 to $7,067.40; annual is monthly × 12, $47,185.20 to $84,808.80 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 | $3,932.10 | $47,185.20 | $131.07 | $524.28 |
| Over 2 to 3 years | $4,291.50 | $51,498.00 | $143.05 | $572.20 |
| Over 3 to 4 years | $4,456.20 | $53,474.40 | $148.54 | $594.16 |
| Over 4 to 6 years | $4,673.10 | $56,077.20 | $155.77 | $623.08 |
| Over 6 to 8 years | $4,843.80 | $58,125.60 | $161.46 | $645.84 |
| Over 8 to 10 years | $5,135.70 | $61,628.40 | $171.19 | $684.76 |
| Over 10 to 12 years | $5,300.40 | $63,604.80 | $176.68 | $706.72 |
| Over 12 to 14 years | $5,591.70 | $67,100.40 | $186.39 | $745.56 |
| Over 14 to 16 years | $5,835.00 | $70,020.00 | $194.50 | $778.00 |
| Over 16 to 18 years | $6,000.90 | $72,010.80 | $200.03 | $800.12 |
| Over 18 to 20 years | $6,177.30 | $74,127.60 | $205.91 | $823.64 |
| Over 20 to 22 years | $6,245.70 | $74,948.40 | $208.19 | $832.76 |
| Over 22 to 24 years | $6,475.20 | $77,702.40 | $215.84 | $863.36 |
| Over 24 to 26 years | $6,598.20 | $79,178.40 | $219.94 | $879.76 |
| Over 26 years | $7,067.40 | $84,808.80 | $235.58 | $942.32 |
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-7 pay page and the BAS rates.
Master Sergeant pay 2026 at E-8: monthly basic pay by years of service
E-8 is Master Sergeant pay in the Army and Marine Corps. Monthly basic pay is $5,656.50 to $8,067.30; annual is monthly × 12, $67,878.00 to $96,807.60 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap. DFAS lists no E-8 basic pay for 8 years of service or less.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 8 to 10 years | $5,656.50 | $67,878.00 | $188.55 | $754.20 |
| Over 10 to 12 years | $5,907.00 | $70,884.00 | $196.90 | $787.60 |
| Over 12 to 14 years | $6,061.80 | $72,741.60 | $202.06 | $808.24 |
| Over 14 to 16 years | $6,247.20 | $74,966.40 | $208.24 | $832.96 |
| Over 16 to 18 years | $6,448.20 | $77,378.40 | $214.94 | $859.76 |
| Over 18 to 20 years | $6,811.20 | $81,734.40 | $227.04 | $908.16 |
| Over 20 to 22 years | $6,995.40 | $83,944.80 | $233.18 | $932.72 |
| Over 22 to 24 years | $7,308.30 | $87,699.60 | $243.61 | $974.44 |
| Over 24 to 26 years | $7,481.70 | $89,780.40 | $249.39 | $997.56 |
| Over 26 to 30 years | $7,908.90 | $94,906.80 | $263.63 | $1,054.52 |
| Over 30 years | $8,067.30 | $96,807.60 | $268.91 | $1,075.64 |
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-8 pay page and the BAS rates.
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-7 | $3,932.10 to $7,067.40 | $4,167.90 to $7,491.30 | $4,073.70 to $7,321.80 |
| E-8 | $5,656.50 to $8,067.30 | $5,995.80 to $8,551.20 | $5,860.20 to $8,357.70 |
Every grade and column is on the 2027 military pay chart.
Rank notes from the defense.gov insignia page
Leadership responsibility significantly increases in the midlevel enlisted ranks, recognized by the terms noncommissioned officer and petty officer. An Army sergeant, an Air Force staff sergeant and a Marine corporal are considered NCO ranks; the Navy equivalent, petty officer, is achieved at petty officer third class.
At E-8 the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force have two positions at the same paygrade. Whether one is, for example, a senior master sergeant or a first sergeant in the Air Force depends on the person's job.
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-7 | Sergeant First Class | Gunnery Sergeant | Chief Petty Officer | Master Sergeant, First Sergeant | Master Sergeant | Chief Petty Officer |
| E-8 | Master Sergeant, First Sergeant | Master Sergeant, First Sergeant | Senior Chief Petty Officer | Senior Master Sergeant, First Sergeant | Senior Master Sergeant | Senior Chief Petty Officer |
Promotion path from 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.
- Army: previous Sergeant First Class (E-7), $606.60 a month less; next Sergeant Major (E-9), $1,003.20 a month more, at over 10 to 12 years of service.
- Marine Corps: previous Gunnery Sergeant (E-7), $606.60 a month less; next Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9), Sergeant Major (E-9), $1,003.20 a month more, at over 10 to 12 years of service.
- Air Force: previous Technical Sergeant (E-6), $522.90 a month less; next Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), $520.80 a month more, at over 8 to 10 years of service.
- Space Force: previous Technical Sergeant (E-6), $522.90 a month less; next Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), $520.80 a month more, at over 8 to 10 years of service.
All titles are on the military rank pay page; the full table is the military pay chart 2026.
Master Sergeant pay questions
How much does an Army Master Sergeant make in 2026?
An Army Master Sergeant is pay grade E-8. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-8: $5,656.50 to $8,067.30 a month ($67,878.00 to $96,807.60 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 Master Sergeant make in 2026?
A Marine Corps Master Sergeant is pay grade E-8. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-8: $5,656.50 to $8,067.30 a month ($67,878.00 to $96,807.60 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 Master Sergeant make in 2026?
An Air Force Master Sergeant is pay grade E-7. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-7: $3,932.10 to $7,067.40 a month ($47,185.20 to $84,808.80 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 Master Sergeant make in 2026?
A Space Force Master Sergeant is pay grade E-7. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-7: $3,932.10 to $7,067.40 a month ($47,185.20 to $84,808.80 a year, monthly × 12), depending on years of service. Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does an MSG or MSgt make in 2026?
MSG is the Army abbreviation and MSgt is the Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force abbreviation for Master Sergeant, as the defense.gov rank insignia page prints them. A Master Sergeant is pay grade E-7 in the Air Force and Space Force and E-8 in the Army and Marine Corps, paid $3,932.10 to $7,067.40 a month at E-7 or $5,656.50 to $8,067.30 a month at E-8, depending on years of service.
Is a Master Sergeant an E-7 or E-8?
It depends on the branch. A Master Sergeant is pay grade E-7 in the Air Force and Space Force and E-8 in the Army and Marine Corps. Pay follows the grade, not the title, so the same title is paid $3,932.10 to $7,067.40 at E-7 or $5,656.50 to $8,067.30 at E-8 a month in 2026.
What is the next rank after a Master Sergeant?
In the Army, Sergeant Major (E-9), paid $1,003.20 a month more at over 10 to 12 years of service. In the Marine Corps, Master Gunnery Sergeant or Sergeant Major (E-9), paid $1,003.20 a month more at over 10 to 12 years of service. In the Air Force, Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), paid $520.80 a month more at over 8 to 10 years of service. In the Space Force, Senior Master Sergeant (E-8), paid $520.80 a month more at over 8 to 10 years of service.
How much is Master Sergeant drill pay for a weekend?
A drill period is 1/30 of monthly basic pay, so a four-drill weekend for Master Sergeant is $524.28 to $942.32 at E-7 or $754.20 to $1,075.64 at E-8, depending on years of service.
What will Master Sergeant pay be in 2027?
Not final, and neither scenario is an official DFAS table. E-7: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $4,167.90 to $7,491.30; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $4,073.70 to $7,321.80. E-8: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $5,995.80 to $8,551.20; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $5,860.20 to $8,357.70.