O-3 Pay 2027 (Projected) and 2026: Basic Pay by Years of Service
O-3 monthly basic pay by years of service
In 2026, O-3 basic pay runs from $5,534.10 a month at 2 or less years of service to $9,004.20 at over 14 years and beyond.
| Years of service | 2026 Official | 2027 Projected | Per year 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | $5,534.10 | $5,733.30 | $68,799.60 |
| Over 2 | $6,273.90 | $6,499.80 | $77,997.60 |
| Over 3 | $6,770.40 | $7,014.10 | $84,169.20 |
| Over 4 | $7,382.70 | $7,648.50 | $91,782.00 |
| Over 6 | $7,737.00 | $8,015.50 | $96,186.00 |
| Over 8 | $8,125.50 | $8,418.00 | $101,016.00 |
| Over 10 | $8,375.70 | $8,677.20 | $104,126.40 |
| Over 12 | $8,788.20 | $9,104.60 | $109,255.20 |
| Over 14 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 16 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 18 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 20 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 22 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 24 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 26 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 28 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 30 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 32 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 34 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 36 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 38 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
| Over 40 | $9,004.20 | $9,328.40 | $111,940.80 |
Source: Executive Order “Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay”, Schedule 8, Pay of the Uniformed Services, Part I (Federal Register, Dec 23, 2025). Checked October 17, 2026. Unofficial copy for general information. Verify with the Federal Register and your branch's pay office.
Unofficial estimates for general information only. Not financial, tax or legal advice. Your actual pay, allowances and benefits are set by your branch and DFAS. Always verify with the official source.
O-3 compared with O-2 and O-4
The table shows officer basic pay side by side. Tap a grade above the table to add it or hide it.
| Years of service | O-1 2026 | O-1 2027p | O-2 2026 | O-2 2027p | O-3 2026 | O-3 2027p | O-4 2026 | O-4 2027p | O-5 2026 | O-5 2027p | O-6 2026 | O-6 2027p | O-7 2026 | O-7 2027p | O-8 2026 | O-8 2027p | O-9 2026 | O-9 2027p | O-10 2026 | O-10 2027p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 or less | 4,150.20 | 4,299.60 | 4,782.00 | 4,954.20 | 5,534.10 | 5,733.30 | 6,294.60 | 6,521.20 | 7,295.40 | 7,558.00 | 8,751.30 | 9,066.30 | 11,540.10 | 11,955.50 | 13,888.50 | 14,388.50 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 2 | 4,320.00 | 4,475.50 | 5,446.20 | 5,642.30 | 6,273.90 | 6,499.80 | 7,286.40 | 7,548.70 | 8,218.20 | 8,514.10 | 9,613.80 | 9,959.90 | 12,076.20 | 12,510.90 | 14,343.90 | 14,860.30 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 3 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,272.40 | 6,498.20 | 6,770.40 | 7,014.10 | 7,773.60 | 8,053.40 | 8,787.00 | 9,103.30 | 10,245.00 | 10,613.80 | 12,324.30 | 12,768.00 | 14,645.40 | 15,172.60 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 4 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,484.50 | 6,717.90 | 7,382.70 | 7,648.50 | 7,881.00 | 8,164.70 | 8,894.10 | 9,214.30 | 10,245.00 | 10,613.80 | 12,522.00 | 12,972.80 | 14,729.40 | 15,259.70 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 6 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 7,737.00 | 8,015.50 | 8,332.20 | 8,632.20 | 9,249.60 | 9,582.60 | 10,284.30 | 10,654.50 | 12,878.70 | 13,342.30 | 15,106.50 | 15,650.30 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 8 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 8,125.50 | 8,418.00 | 8,816.40 | 9,133.80 | 9,461.40 | 9,802.00 | 10,725.00 | 11,111.10 | 13,231.80 | 13,708.10 | 15,735.30 | 16,301.80 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 10 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 8,375.70 | 8,677.20 | 9,420.00 | 9,759.10 | 9,928.50 | 10,285.90 | 10,783.50 | 11,171.70 | 13,639.20 | 14,130.20 | 15,882.00 | 16,453.80 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 12 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 8,788.20 | 9,104.60 | 9,888.30 | 10,244.30 | 10,271.70 | 10,641.50 | 10,783.50 | 11,171.70 | 14,045.70 | 14,551.30 | 16,479.60 | 17,072.90 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 14 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,214.40 | 10,582.10 | 10,715.10 | 11,100.80 | 11,396.40 | 11,806.70 | 14,454.30 | 14,974.70 | 16,651.80 | 17,251.30 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 16 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,401.60 | 10,776.10 | 11,391.30 | 11,801.40 | 12,479.70 | 12,929.00 | 15,735.30 | 16,301.80 | 17,166.60 | 17,784.60 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 18 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 11,713.80 | 12,135.50 | 13,115.40 | 13,587.60 | 16,817.70 | 17,423.10 | 17,911.80 | 18,556.60 | – | – | – | – |
| Over 20 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,032.70 | 12,465.90 | 13,751.10 | 14,246.10 | 16,817.70 | 17,423.10 | 18,598.20 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 22 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 14,112.90 | 14,621.00 | 16,817.70 | 17,423.10 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 24 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 14,479.20 | 15,000.50 | 16,817.70 | 17,423.10 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 26 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,188.70 | 15,408.30 | 16,904.40 | 17,513.00 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 28 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,188.70 | 15,408.30 | 16,904.40 | 17,513.00 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 30 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,408.30 | 15,408.30* | 17,242.20 | 17,862.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 32 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,408.30 | 15,408.30* | 17,242.20 | 17,862.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 34 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,408.30 | 15,408.30* | 17,242.20 | 17,862.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 36 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,408.30 | 15,408.30* | 17,242.20 | 17,862.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 38 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,408.30 | 15,408.30* | 17,242.20 | 17,862.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
| Over 40 | 5,222.40 | 5,410.40 | 6,617.70 | 6,855.90 | 9,004.20 | 9,328.40 | 10,509.90 | 10,888.30 | 12,394.80 | 12,841.00 | 15,408.30 | 15,408.30* | 17,242.20 | 17,862.90 | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* | 18,999.90 | 18,999.90* |
Monthly basic pay in US dollars. 2027p = projected (2026 + 3.6%), not official yet. A dash means the grade is not paid at that length of service. * Capped at the 2026 Executive Schedule limit; the 2027 limit is not set yet.
O-3 BAH and BAS in five large housing areas, 2026
Housing allowance (BAH) depends on the duty station ZIP code and dependents; BAS is $328.48 a month for every officer. Basic pay below is the projected 2027 amount at over 4 years.
| Housing area (DTMO name) | BAH with dependents | BAH without | Total with dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bragg/Pope, NC | $2,175.00 | $1,956.00 | $10,151.98 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,518.00 | $4,248.00 | $12,494.98 |
| Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA | $2,694.00 | $2,505.00 | $10,670.98 |
| Fort Hood, TX | $2,340.00 | $1,833.00 | $10,316.98 |
| Tacoma, WA | $3,123.00 | $2,784.00 | $11,099.98 |
Total = projected 2027 basic pay + 2026 BAS + 2026 BAH. 2027 BAH and BAS rates come out in December.
Source: DFAS, Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) rates, effective January 1, 2026 (copy from the Internet Archive; dfas.mil does not answer outside the US). Checked October 17, 2026. Unofficial copy for general information. Verify with DFAS.
Source: Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), 2026 BAH rates, official ASCII rate files (copy from the Internet Archive; travel.dod.mil does not answer outside the US). Checked October 17, 2026. Unofficial copy for general information. Verify with DTMO's BAH calculator.
Who is an O-3
O-3 usually follows about four years after commissioning. Many company-grade leaders and junior department heads hold this grade.
| Branch | O-3 title |
|---|---|
| Army | Captain |
| Marine Corps | Captain |
| Navy | Lieutenant |
| Air Force | Captain |
| Space Force | Captain |
| Coast Guard | Lieutenant |
Questions
How much does an O-3 make in 2027?
With over 4 years of service, O-3 basic pay is projected at $7,648.50 a month in 2027 ($91,782.00 a year), up from $7,382.70 in 2026. The projection uses the 3.6% raise from the legal formula; the official 2027 schedule is not out yet.
When does O-3 pay stop going up?
In the 2026 schedule, O-3 basic pay reaches its top rate of $9,004.20 a month at over 14 years of service. After that, more years do not raise O-3 basic pay; promotion does.
Does O-3 basic pay include housing and food?
No. Food (BAS) and housing (BAH) are separate, tax-free allowances paid on top of basic pay. BAS is $328.48 a month in 2026; BAH depends on your duty station ZIP code and dependents, for example $2,175.00 for an O-3 with dependents in the Fort Bragg/Pope, NC area.