The United States Air Force serves as the aerial and cyberspace warfare branch of the military. It was divided from the U.S. Army in the early 20th century in order to support changing technology as equipment went into the air.
The USAF has a structure for how it ranks its service members. The ranking is important as it not only assigns roles and responsibilities but also relates to how much you get paid.
Here is a detailed outline of Air Force rankings and 2023 pay.
Air Force Ranks And Pay For 2023 – Enlisted
| Insignia | Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation | 2023 Minimum Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 +4 months | Airman Basic | AB | $1,917.60 | |
 | E-2 | Airman | Amn | $2,149.20 |
 | E-3 | Airman First Class | A1C | $2,259.90 |
 | E-4 | Senior Airman | SrA | $2,503.50 |
 | E-5 | Staff Sergeant | SSgt | $2,730.30 |
 | E-6 | Technical Sergeant | TSgt | $2,980.50 |
 | E-7 | Master Sergeant | MSgt | $3,445.80 |
 | E-8 | Senior Master Sergeant | SMSgt | $4,957.20 |
 | E-9 | Chief Master Sergeant | CMSgt | $6,055.50 |
 | E-9 | Command Chief Master Sergeant | CCM | $6,055.50 |
 | E-9 | Chief Master Sergeant Of The Air Force | CMSAF | $6,055.50 |
The pay in the United States Air Force improves the longer you serve, just like most occupations. As you will notice in the charts (below) the base pay steadily increases yet eventually reaches a cap for each ranking.
Here is a detailed breakdown of USAF ranks and pay based on years served:
Related Article – Air Force Grooming Standards: Haircuts, Mustaches, Beards, And More
Years 2 – 6
| Pay Grade | Less than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 +4 months | $1,917.60 | $1917.60 | $1917.60 | $1917.60 | $1917.60 |
| E-2 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 |
| E-3 | $2,259.90 | $2,402.10 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 |
| E-4 | $2,503.50 | $2,631.60 | $2,774.10 | $2,914.80 | $3,039.30 |
| E-5 | $2,730.30 | $2,914.20 | $3,055.20 | $3,199.20 | $3,423.90 |
| E-6 | $2,980.50 | $3,279.90 | $3,424.80 | $3,656.50 | $3,711.90 |
| E-7 | $3,445.80 | $3,760.80 | $3,905.10 | $4,095.30 | $4,244.70 |
Years 8 – 16
| Pay Grade | Over 8 Years | Over 10 Years | Over 12 Years | Over 14 Years | Over 16 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 |
| E-2 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 |
| E-3 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 |
| E-4 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 |
| E-5 | $3,658.50 | $3,851.70 | $3,874.80 | $3,874.80 | $3,874.80 |
| E-6 | $4,042.20 | $4,170.90 | $4,419.90 | $4,496.10 | $4,551.30 |
| E-7 | $4,500.60 | $4,644.90 | $4,900.50 | $5,113.50 | $5,258.70 |
| E-8 | $4,957.20 | $5,176.50 | $5,312.10 | $5,474.70 | $5,650.80 |
| E-9 | N/A | $6,055.50 | $6,192.90 | $6,365.70 | $6,568.80 |
Years 18 – 26
| Pay Grade | Over 18 Years | Over 20 Years | Over 22 Years | Over 24 Years | Over 26 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 | $1,917.60 |
| E-2 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 | $2,149.20 |
| E-3 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 | $2,547.60 |
| E-4 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 | $3,039.30 |
| E-5 | $3,874.80 | $3,874.80 | $3,874.80 | $3,874.80 | $3,874.80 |
| E-6 | $4,616.40 | $4,616.40 | $4,616.40 | $4,616.40 | $4,616.40 |
| E-7 | $5,413.50 | $5,473.20 | $5,674.50 | $5,782.50 | $6,193.50 |
| E-8 | $5,968.80 | $6,130.20 | $6,404.40 | $6,556.50 | $6,930.90 |
| E-9 | $6,774.90 | $7,102.80 | $7,381.50 | $7,673.70 | $8,121.60 |
30+ Years
| Pay Grade | Over 30 Years | Over 34 Years | Over 38 Years | Over 40 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-8 | $7,069.80 | $7,069.80 | $7,069.80 | $7,069.80 |
| E-9 | $8,526.90 | $8,953.80 | $9,402.30 | $9,402.30 |
The pay rates posted above do not include a variety of bonuses and benefits exclusive to the U.S. Air Force.
Additional incentives, pay, and bonuses may also include:
-
- Uniform allowances
- Family separation allowance
- Hardship duty pay
- Re-Enlistment bonuses
- Quick ship bonuses
- BAH – Basic Allowance for Housing
- Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus
Please check with your local Air Force recruiter to learn more about pay and benefits.
Related Article – Air Force Jobs List: A List Of All Jobs In The Air Force
Air Force Ranks And Pay For 2023 – Officer
Let’s examine the ranking structure for officers in the Air Force:
| Insignia | Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation | Minimum Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | O-1 | Second Lieutenant | 2d Lt | $3,637.20 |
 | O-2 | First Lieutenant | 1st Lt | $4,190.70 |
 | O-3 | Captain | Capt | $4,849.80 |
 | O-4 | Major | Maj | $5,516.40 |
 | O-5 | Lieutenant Colonel | Lt Co | $6,393.30 |
 | O-6 | Colonel | Col | $7,669.20 |
 | O-7 | Brigadier General | Brig | $10,113.00 |
 | O-8 | Major General | Maj G | $12,170.70 |
 | O-9 | Lieutenant General | Lt Ge | $17,201.40 |
 | O-10 | General | Gen | $17,675.10 |
Along with the pay charts for enlisted personnel, the above figures for monthly pay are the bare minimums. The good news is that you will at least earn that much and more depending on how many years you have served.
Years 2 – 6
| Pay Grade | Less Than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $3,637.20 | $3,786.00 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 |
| O-2 | $4,190.70 | $4,772.70 | $5,496.90 | $5,682.60 | $5,799.30 |
| O-3 | $4,849.80 | $5,497.80 | $5,933.40 | $6,469.80 | $6,780.30 |
| O-4 | $5,516.40 | $6,385.20 | $6,812.10 | $6,906.30 | $7,301.70 |
| O-5 | $6,393.30 | $7,202.10 | $7,700.40 | $7,794.30 | $8,105.70 |
| O-6 | $7,669.20 | $8,425.20 | $8,978.10 | $8,978.10 | $9,012.60 |
| O-7 | $10,113.00 | $10,582.80 | $10,800.30 | $10,973.40 | $11,286.00 |
| O-8 | $12,170.70 | $11,570.00 | $12,834.30 | $12,908.10 | $13,238.40 |
Years 8 – 16
| Pay Grade | Over 8 Years | Over 10 Years | Over 12 Years | Over 14 Years | Over 16 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 |
| O-2 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 |
| O-3 | $7,120.50 | $7,340.10 | $7,701.60 | $7,890.60 | $7,890.60 |
| O-4 | $7,726.20 | $8,254.80 | $8,665.50 | $8,951.10 | $9,115.50 |
| O-5 | $8,291.40 | $8,700.60 | $9,001.80 | $9,389.70 | $9,982.80 |
| O-6 | $9,398.70 | $9,450.00 | $9,450.00 | $9,967.00 | $10,936.20 |
| O-7 | $11,595.30 | $11,952.60 | $12,308.70 | $12,666.60 | $13,789.50 |
| O-8 | $13,789.50 | $13,918.20 | $14,441.70 | $14,592.60 | $15,043.50 |
Years 18 – 26
| Pay Grade | Over 18 Years | Over 20 Years | Over 22 Years | Over 24 Years | Over 26 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 | $4,576.80 |
| O-2 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 | $5,799.30 |
| O-3 | $7,890.60 | $7,890.60 | $7,890.60 | $7,890.60 | $7,890.60 |
| O-4 | $9,210.30 | $9,210.30 | $9,210.30 | $9,210.30 | $9,210.30 |
| O-5 | $10,265.40 | $10,544.70 | $10,861.80 | $10,861.80 | $10,861.80 |
| O-6 | $11,493.60 | $12,050.40 | $12,367.50 | $12,688.80 | $13,310.70 |
| O-7 | $14,737.80 | $14,737.80 | $14,737.80 | $14,737.80 | $14,813.70 |
| O-8 | $15,696.50 | $16,298.10 | $16,700.10 | $16,700.10 | $16,700.10 |
| O-9 | N/A | $17,201.40 | $17,449.80 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 |
| O-10 | N/A | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 |
30+ Years
| Pay Grade | Over 30 Years | Over 34 Years | Over 38 Years | Over 40 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | $13,576.50 | $13,576.50 | $13,576.50 | $13,576.50 |
| O-7 | $15,110.10 | $15,110.10 | $15,110.10 | $15,110.10 |
| O-8 | $17,118.30 | $17,545.80 | $17,545.80 | $17,545.80 |
| O-9 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 |
| O-10 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 | $17,675.10 |
Related Article: Air Force Height And Weight Requirements
Conclusion
There is a lot to the pay structure in the U.S. Air Force depending on ranking and years served.
The article breaks just the surface of USAF pay and rankings. Please contact a local recruiter to receive more details about expected monthly pay and other military benefits.
References
- 5 Worst Jobs in the Air Force - June 20, 2024
- 4 Steps For Visiting An Air Force Recruiter Near You - June 19, 2024
- Air Force Safety Specialist (1S0X1) - June 19, 2024
