Private Pay 2026
A Private is pay grade E-1 in the Army and Marine Corps and E-2 in the Army. Abbreviated PV2 in the Army. Monthly basic pay in 2026 is E-1: $2,407.20; E-2: $2,697.90. 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 Private?
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 | E-1 | Army pay chart 2026 | None |
| Marine Corps | E-1 | Marine Corps pay chart 2026 | None |
| Army | E-2 | Army pay chart 2026 | None |
Private pay 2026 at E-1: monthly basic pay
E-1 is Private pay in the Army and Marine Corps. Monthly basic pay is $2,407.20; annual is monthly × 12, $28,886.40 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any length of service | $2,407.20 | $28,886.40 | $80.24 | $320.96 |
An E-1 with less than 4 months of active duty is paid $2,225.70 a month; the E-1 row applies after 4 months, at $2,407.20 a month.
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-1 pay page and the BAS rates.
Private pay 2026 at E-2: monthly basic pay
E-2 is Private pay in the Army. Monthly basic pay is $2,697.90; annual is monthly × 12, $32,374.80 a year. An asterisk marks pay held at an Executive Schedule cap.
| Years of service | Monthly | Annual (monthly × 12) | 1 drill | 4 drills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any length of service | $2,697.90 | $32,374.80 | $89.93 | $359.72 |
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-2 pay page and the BAS rates.
Private 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-1 | $2,407.20 | $2,575.80 | $2,493.90 |
| E-2 | $2,697.90 | $2,886.90 | $2,795.10 |
Every grade and column is on the 2027 military pay chart.
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-1 | Private | Private | Seaman Recruit | Airman Basic | Specialist 1 | Seaman Recruit |
| E-2 | Private | Private First Class | Seaman Apprentice | Airman | Specialist 2 | Seaman Apprentice |
Promotion path from Private
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: no lower title in this group; next Private First Class (E-3), $500.10 a month more, at over 4 to 6 years of service.
- Marine Corps: no lower title in this group; next Private First Class (E-2), $290.70 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.
Private pay questions
How much does an Army Private make in 2026?
An Army Private is pay grade E-1 and E-2. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-1: $2,407.20 a month ($28,886.40 a year, monthly × 12); E-2: $2,697.90 a month ($32,374.80 a year, monthly × 12). Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a Marine Corps Private make in 2026?
A Marine Corps Private is pay grade E-1. Basic pay under the DFAS table effective January 1, 2026 is E-1: $2,407.20 a month ($28,886.40 a year, monthly × 12). Basic pay only; BAH, BAS and special pays are separate.
How much does a PV2 make in 2026?
PV2 is the Army abbreviation for Private, as the defense.gov rank insignia page prints them. A Private is pay grade E-1 in the Army and Marine Corps and E-2 in the Army, paid $2,407.20 a month at E-1 or $2,697.90 a month at E-2.
Is a Private an E-1 or E-2?
It depends on the branch. A Private is pay grade E-1 in the Army and Marine Corps and E-2 in the Army. Pay follows the grade, not the title, so the same title is paid $2,407.20 at E-1 or $2,697.90 at E-2 a month in 2026.
What is the next rank after a Private?
In the Army, Private First Class (E-3), paid $500.10 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service. In the Marine Corps, Private First Class (E-2), paid $290.70 a month more at over 4 to 6 years of service.
How much does an E-1 make in the first 4 months?
An E-1 with less than 4 months of active duty is paid $2,225.70 a month; the E-1 row applies after 4 months, at $2,407.20 a month.
How much is Private drill pay for a weekend?
A drill period is 1/30 of monthly basic pay, so a four-drill weekend for Private is $320.96 at E-1 or $359.72 at E-2.
What will Private pay be in 2027?
Not final, and neither scenario is an official DFAS table. E-1: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $2,575.80; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $2,493.90. E-2: 2027 (7-6-5 tiered raise) gives $2,886.90; 2027 (3.6% raise) gives $2,795.10.