Senior Master Sergeant Pay 2026
In the Air Force and Space Force, a Senior Master Sergeant is pay grade E-8, between Master Sergeant and Chief Master Sergeant. Abbreviated SMSgt in the Air Force and Space Force. Monthly basic pay in 2026 is E-8: $5,656.50 to $8,067.30, 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 Senior 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-8 | Air Force pay chart 2026 | First Sergeant |
| Space Force | E-8 | Space Force pay chart 2026 | None |
Senior Master Sergeant pay 2026 at E-8: monthly basic pay by years of service
E-8 is Senior Master Sergeant pay in the Air Force and Space Force. 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.
Senior 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-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
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-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 Senior 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 Master Sergeant (E-7), $606.60 a month less; next Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), $1,003.20 a month more, at over 10 to 12 years of service.
- Space Force: previous Master Sergeant (E-7), $606.60 a month less; next Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), $1,003.20 a month more, 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.
Senior Master Sergeant pay questions
How much does an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant make in 2026?
An Air Force Senior 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 Space Force Senior Master Sergeant make in 2026?
A Space Force Senior 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 SMSgt make in 2026?
SMSgt is the Air Force and Space Force abbreviation for Senior Master Sergeant, as the defense.gov rank insignia page prints them. A Senior Master Sergeant is pay grade E-8 in the Air Force and Space Force, paid $5,656.50 to $8,067.30 a month at E-8, depending on years of service.
Is a Senior Master Sergeant an E-8?
Yes. In the Air Force and Space Force, a Senior Master Sergeant is pay grade E-8, paid $5,656.50 to $8,067.30 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 Senior Master Sergeant?
In the Air Force, Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), paid $1,003.20 a month more at over 10 to 12 years of service. In the Space Force, Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), paid $1,003.20 a month more at over 10 to 12 years of service.
How much is Senior Master Sergeant drill pay for a weekend?
A drill period is 1/30 of monthly basic pay, so a four-drill weekend for Senior Master Sergeant is $754.20 to $1,075.64 at E-8, depending on years of service.
What will Senior Master Sergeant pay be in 2027?
Not final, and neither scenario is an official DFAS table. 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.