---
title: "You May Be Surprised How Much Each Rank in the US Air Force Is Paid"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/209617376.md"
description: "US Air Force ranks and their corresponding pay are detailed in this article. The highest-paid ranks are Colonels through Generals, with annual pay exceeding $150,000. The article also mentions the recruiting goals of the Air Force and the importance of understanding pay for those considering a career in the military. Overall, the article provides an overview of the basic pay of Air Force ranks."
datetime: "2024-07-23T15:10:13.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/209617376.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/209617376.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/209617376.md)
---

> Supported Languages: [简体中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/209617376.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/209617376.md)


# You May Be Surprised How Much Each Rank in the US Air Force Is Paid

The US Army Signal Corps formed an Aeronautical Division in 1907, thus establishing what would later become the US Air Force in 1947. This arm of the US Military has been the youngest until the Space Force was established in 2019. Beginning in WWI, fixed-winged aircraft were involved in ground attacks, and the greatest air force in the world was born. Like all US military personnel, Air Force members are paid a minimum basic pay based on rank and years of service. The Department of Defense budget increased that pay by 5.2% in 2024 — the highest increase of the past two decades.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2024 basic pay tables from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service for the Department of Defense and Air Force ranks from the DOD to find every rank in the USAF and what they’re paid. These ranks were matched with pay grades and are ordered by the maximum possible annual base pay (we used the monthly pay to calculate annual pay), with the minimum pay used as a tiebreaker.

All military members receive a basic allowance for subsistence, which amounts to about $3,803 a year for officers and $5,523 a year for enlisted personnel. There are also other allowances for Air Force members, depending on the different roles. For example, there can be clothing allowances of hundreds to well over $1,000. There can be hazardous duty incentive pay of $150 to $250 a month, depending on rank. There are also aviation incentive pay and critical skill incentive pay.

As for the basic pay, the ranks of Airman Basic through Senior Airman make the least. These service members are usually either in some kind of training (basic or specialized) or on their initial assignment. They are followed by Staff Sergeants through Master Sergeants or First Sergeants, who often take on leadership responsibility and are termed noncommissioned officers. The highest ranking enlisted Air Force ranks are Chief Master Sergeant through Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

Commissioned ranks are generally the highest paid in the USAF, especially the higher the rank. The highest-paid ranks in the USAF are Colonels through Generals — a four-star rank. They can make over $150,000 a year. Generals who have 20 years of experience or more and vast amounts of personnel under their command can make over $200,000 a year in basic pay. To compare, the average CEO pay is $258,900, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(It is important to note that the O-1E to O-3E officers – those with previous enlisted active-duty service – get paid extra to acknowledge their service time and experience.)

## Why Are We Covering This

The U.S. military services collectively missed recruiting goals by about 41,000 recruits in 2023, the DOD noted recently. While the Air Force tries to attract recruits by paying enlistment bonuses of up to $50,000, it is also important for those considering a career in the Air Force to know about pay. While initial wages may seem low, these are basic pays and do not include any allowances many personnel received, in addition to different benefits and career training. Here we aim to at least provide an overview of the basic pay of Air Force ranks.

-   **Pay with yrs of service:** $1,339.50 a month or $16,074.00 a year
-   **Pay with 40 years of service:** a month or $0.00 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $0.00

-   **Pay with <4 mos yrs of service:** $1,865.10 a month or $22,381.20 a year
-   **Pay with 40 years of service:** a month or $0.00 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $0.00

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $2,017.20 a month or $24,206.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $2,017.20 a month or $24,206.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $24,206.40
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $24,206.40
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $24,206.40

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $2,261.10 a month or $27,133.20 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $2,261.10 a month or $27,133.20 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $27,133.20
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $27,133.20
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $27,133.20

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $2,377.50 a month or $28,530.00 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $2,680.20 a month or $32,162.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $32,162.40
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $32,162.40
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $32,162.40

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $2,633.70 a month or $31,604.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $3,197.40 a month or $38,368.80 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $36,795.60
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $38,368.80
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $38,368.80

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $2,872.20 a month or $34,466.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $4,076.40 a month or $48,916.80 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $40,388.40
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $48,625.20
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $48,916.80

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $3,826.20 a month or $45,914.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $4,814.70 a month or $57,776.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $57,776.40
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $57,776.40
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $57,776.40

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $3,135.60 a month or $37,627.20 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $4,856.40 a month or $58,276.80 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $45,010.80
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $52,653.60
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $58,276.80

-   **Pay with 4 yrs of service:** $4,814.70 a month or $57,776.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $5,978.10 a month or $71,737.20 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $57,776.40
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $66,308.40
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $71,737.20

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $4,408.50 a month or $52,902.00 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $6,100.80 a month or $73,209.60 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $71,737.20
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $73,209.60
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $73,209.60

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $3,624.90 a month or $43,498.80 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $6,515.70 a month or $78,188.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $51,699.60
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $58,636.80
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $69,094.80

-   **Pay with 4 yrs of service:** $5,978.10 a month or $71,737.20 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $7,065.00 a month or $84,780.00 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $71,737.20
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $79,473.60
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $84,780.00

-   **Pay with 8 yrs of service:** $5,214.90 a month or $62,578.80 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $7,437.30 a month or $89,247.60 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $65,347.20
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $77,389.20

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $5,102.10 a month or $61,225.20 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $8,301.00 a month or $99,612.00 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $81,673.20
-   **Annual pay with over 10 years of service:** $92,660.40
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $99,612.00

-   **Pay with 4 yrs of service:** $6,806.10 a month or $81,673.20 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $8,859.00 a month or $106,308.00 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $81,673.20
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $92,660.40
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $106,308.00

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $5,803.20 a month or $69,638.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $9,689.10 a month or $116,269.20 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $87,184.80
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $104,209.20
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $116,269.20

-   **Pay with 10 yrs of service:** $6,370.50 a month or $76,446.00 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $9,891.30 a month or $118,695.60 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $76,446.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $89,665.20

-   **Pay with 10 yrs of service:** $6,370.50 a month or $76,446.00 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $9,891.30 a month or $118,695.60 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $76,446.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $89,665.20

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $6,725.70 a month or $80,708.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $11,426.70 a month or $137,120.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $98,395.20
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $109,836.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $133,117.20

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $8,067.90 a month or $96,814.80 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $14,282.40 a month or $171,388.80 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $113,338.80
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $119,296.80
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $152,125.20

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $10,638.90 a month or $127,666.80 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $15,895.80 a month or $190,749.60 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $138,528.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $150,890.40
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $186,051.60

-   **Pay with <2 yrs of service:** $12,803.70 a month or $153,644.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $18,458.10 a month or $221,497.20 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $162,950.40
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $175,701.60
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $205,747.20

-   **Pay with 20 yrs of service:** $18,096.00 a month or $217,152.00 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $18,491.70 a month or $221,900.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $217,152.00

-   **Pay with 20 yrs of service:** $18,491.70 a month or $221,900.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $18,491.70 a month or $221,900.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over four years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over ten years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $221,900.40

-   **Pay with 20 yrs of service:** $18,491.70 a month or $221,900.40 a year
-   **Pay with 40 yrs of service:** $18,491.70 a month or $221,900.40 a year
-   **Annual pay with over 4 years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over 10 years of service:** $0.00
-   **Annual pay with over 20 years of service:** $221,900.40

## **ALERT: Take This Retirement Quiz Now (Sponsored)**

Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:  
1\. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz  
2\. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.  
3\. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Take the retirement quiz right here.

The post You May Be Surprised How Much Each Rank in the US Air Force Is Paid appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

### Related Stocks

- [Paymentus Holdings, Inc. (PAY.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PAY.US.md)

## Related News & Research

- [Assessing Paymentus Holdings (PAY) Valuation After Mixed Momentum And Rich P/E Ratio](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280671752.md)
- [5 Simple ETFs to Buy With $1,000 and Hold for a Lifetime](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281345615.md)
- [BUZZ-Rosenblatt says finding partner for Snap's smart glasses unit tough](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281357569.md)
- [BUZZ-Street View: Nike's turnaround remains work in progress](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281331333.md)
- [GRAPHIC-Apple's 50-year journey from garage to tech titan](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281342951.md)