Rank pay · Army
Army E-6 basic pay, 2026 rates
Monthly basic pay for E-6 by cumulative years of service. Basic pay is the same across branches (37 U.S.C. § 203(a)(1)). Items that are not published on this site are listed below with no figures.
- Grade
- E-6
- Branch
- Army
- Rates
- 2026, EO 14368, Schedule 8
- Checked
- 2026-11-01
Monthly base pay, 2026 rates
2 years or less
$3,401.10
Over 6 years
$4,235.70
Over 12 years
$5,043.30
E-6 basic pay by cumulative years of service
| Years of service (DFAS column) | Monthly base pay | Annual base pay | Step change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years or less | $3,401.10 | $40,813.20 | — |
| Over 2 years | $3,743.10 | $44,917.20 | +$342.00 |
| Over 3 years | $3,908.10 | $46,897.20 | +$165.00 |
| Over 4 years6 years | $4,068.90 | $48,826.80 | +$160.80 |
| Over 6 years | $4,235.70 | $50,828.40 | +$166.80 |
| Over 8 years | $4,612.80 | $55,353.60 | +$377.10 |
| Over 10 years | $4,759.50 | $57,114.00 | +$146.70 |
| Over 12 years | $5,043.30 | $60,519.60 | +$283.80 |
| Over 14 years | $5,130.30 | $61,563.60 | +$87.00 |
| Over 16 years | $5,193.60 | $62,323.20 | +$63.30 |
| Over 18 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | +$74.10 |
| Over 20 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 22 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 24 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 26 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 28 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 30 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 32 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 34 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 36 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 38 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
| Over 40 years | $5,267.70 | $63,212.40 | Capped (no step) |
Monthly basic pay, 2026 rates. Dashes mark cells DFAS does not show. View the full 2026 chart.
Total monthly compensation example
Example location: FORT LIBERTY/POPE, NC (NC182), DTMO 2025 rates. Basic pay is the Over 4 years column.
| Component | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Basic pay (Over 4 years) | $4,068.90 |
| BAH, with dependents (NC182) | $2,016.00 |
| BAS, enlisted (2025 DFAS) | $465.77 |
| Total of the components shown | $6,550.67 |
Source: DTMO 2025 BAH rates. Components shown only; no tax or take-home figure is calculated.
Cross-grade comparison (monthly base pay)
| Years of service | E-5 | E-6 | E-7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years (column “Over 3”) | $3,775.80 | $3,908.10 | $4,456.20 |
| 8 years (column “Over 6”) | $4,110.00 | $4,235.70 | $4,843.80 |
| 12 years (column “Over 10”) | $4,395.30 | $4,759.50 | $5,300.40 |
Tools and reference
BAH calculator
Estimate monthly BAH by housing area, grade, and dependency status. Results use the 2025 DTMO table; DTMO’s 2026 rates are not imported. Open the BAH calculatorBasic allowance for subsistence (BAS)
Enlisted BAS is $465.77 per month for 2025 and $476.95 for 2026 (DFAS). Officer BAS is not shown on this enlisted page. DFAS BAS ratesBranch and rank details
Pending verified sources
These sections are not published until each one is checked against its official source. No figures are shown for them.| Grade | Army | Navy / Coast Guard | Marine Corps | Air Force | Space Force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-6 | Staff Sergeant | Petty Officer, 1st Class | Staff Sergeant | Technical Sergeant | Technical Sergeant |
Source: DoD FMR Volume 7A, Comparable Grades (June 2026).
Army promotion timing (E-6)
Time in service and time in grade for E-6, from AR 600-8-19. These are minimums; selection depends on the board.
| Zone | Time in service (TIS) | Time in grade (TIG) |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary zone | 46 months | 6 months |
| Primary zone | 70 months | 16 months |
| Mandatory list integration | 82 months | 22 months |
Mandatory prerequisites (SGT and SSG recommendation (AR 600-8-19 para 3-6c))
- Qualified in the career progression MOS (DA Pam 611-21). (3-6c(1))
- Proficiency at the unit-led Army Warrior Tasks, shown in the digital Job Book. (3-6c(2))
- High school diploma or equivalent (GED). (3-6c(3))
- Requisite PME for the next rank. This paragraph does not name the course. (3-6c(4))
- Eligible to reenlist. (3-6c(6))
- A passing record Army Fitness Test. (3-6c(7))
- Not command-referred to the Army Substance Abuse Program (self-referred Soldiers remain eligible). (3-6c(9))
- Not flagged (AR 600-8-2). (3-6c(10))
- Recommended by a promotion board. Board eligibility and pin-on timing are shown in the tables above. (chap. 3)
BLC is not a pin-on requirement for SGT. BLC graduates recommended for SGT receive 150 promotion points; commandant's list adds 20 and distinguished honor or distinguished leadership graduates add 40 (para 3-15a(1)).
Combat Lifesaver (CLI) course: not listed in AR 600-8-19.
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Time in grade | 18 months |
| Time in service | NA |
| Cumulative enlisted service | NA |
| Professional military education for board eligibility / pin-on | BLC / BLC |
Source: AR 600-8-19, Enlisted Promotions and Demotions (6 March 2026; effective 6 April 2026).
Special and incentive pays (official DFAS tables)
Official DFAS tables. Rates apply only to members who meet each pay's qualification rules; these are not grade-specific.
Hazardous duty incentive pay (HDIP), other than aerial flights
DFAS page updated March 5, 2026
| Duty or level | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Parachute duty, static line | $150 |
| Army static line (October 1, 2025 to May 20, 2029) | $200 |
| Military free fall | $240 |
| Flight deck, demolition, toxic fuels or pesticides, VBSS, polar flight operations, WMD civil support team | $150 |
Foreign language proficiency bonus (FLPB), by ILR skill level and modality
DFAS page updated May 18, 2026
| Duty or level | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| ILR skill level 1 (per modality) | $0 or $50 |
| ILR skill level 2 (per modality) | $0, $50, or $100 |
| ILR skill level 2+ | $200 |
| ILR skill level 3 | $300 |
| ILR skill level 3+ | $350 |
| ILR skill level 4 or higher | $400 |
Imminent danger pay (IDP)
Statute: current text of 37 U.S.C. 310(b)(3), retrieved 2026-11-01
| Duty or level | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Maximum per month, paid at 1/30 per qualifying day (37 U.S.C. 310(b)) | $225 |
- Special duty assignment pay (SDAP): not verified. DoD FMR Volume 7A, Chapter 8 (August 2025) sets the rules and a cap of $750 per month for SDAP, but no rate table. Army SDAP levels are set by Army message ALARACT 084/2021, which is not publicly available. Stitch's $75 to $450 range is not used.