Introduction to Army Pay Grades
The United States Army uses a pay grade system to determine the salary of its personnel. This system is based on the rank and time in service of the individual. In 2015, the Army pay grades were an essential aspect of military compensation, providing a standardized method for calculating pay. The pay grades are divided into three main categories: enlisted, warrant officer, and officer.
Enlisted Pay Grades
The enlisted pay grades range from E-1 (Private) to E-9 (Sergeant Major). Each pay grade has a corresponding rank and minimum time in service requirement. The 2015 enlisted pay grades were as follows:
- E-1: Private (PVT)
- E-2: Private Second Class (PV2)
- E-3: Private First Class (PFC)
- E-4: Specialist/Corporal (SPC/CPL)
- E-5: Sergeant (SGT)
- E-6: Staff Sergeant (SSG)
- E-7: Sergeant First Class (SFC)
- E-8: Master Sergeant/First Sergeant (MSG/1SG)
- E-9: Sergeant Major (SGM)
Warrant Officer Pay Grades
Warrant officers are technical experts in their field and hold a unique position in the Army. The 2015 warrant officer pay grades were:
- W-1: Warrant Officer 1 (WO1)
- W-2: Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2)
- W-3: Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3)
- W-4: Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4)
- W-5: Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5)
Officer Pay Grades
The officer pay grades range from O-1 (Second Lieutenant) to O-10 (General). Each pay grade has a corresponding rank and minimum time in service requirement. The 2015 officer pay grades were:
- O-1: Second Lieutenant (2LT)
- O-2: First Lieutenant (1LT)
- O-3: Captain (CPT)
- O-4: Major (MAJ)
- O-5: Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)
- O-6: Colonel (COL)
- O-7: Brigadier General (BG)
- O-8: Major General (MG)
- O-9: Lieutenant General (LTG)
- O-10: General (GEN)
2015 Army Pay Scale
The 2015 Army pay scale was based on the pay grade and time in service. The following table shows the monthly base pay for each pay grade:
| Pay Grade | Minimum Time in Service | Maximum Time in Service | Monthly Base Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | 0 years | 2 years | 1,570.80</td> </tr> <tr> <td>E-2</td> <td>2 years</td> <td>4 years</td> <td>1,765.50 |
| E-3 | 4 years | 6 years | 1,981.20</td> </tr> <tr> <td>E-4</td> <td>6 years</td> <td>8 years</td> <td>2,244.90 |
| E-5 | 8 years | 10 years | 2,541.60</td> </tr> <tr> <td>E-6</td> <td>10 years</td> <td>12 years</td> <td>2,899.10 |
| E-7 | 12 years | 14 years | 3,302.50</td> </tr> <tr> <td>E-8</td> <td>14 years</td> <td>16 years</td> <td>3,755.40 |
| E-9 | 16 years | 18 years | 4,236.60</td> </tr> <tr> <td>W-1</td> <td>0 years</td> <td>2 years</td> <td>3,054.30 |
| W-2 | 2 years | 4 years | 3,444.90</td> </tr> <tr> <td>W-3</td> <td>4 years</td> <td>6 years</td> <td>3,924.60 |
| W-4 | 6 years | 8 years | 4,504.50</td> </tr> <tr> <td>W-5</td> <td>8 years</td> <td>10 years</td> <td>5,146.40 |
| O-1 | 0 years | 2 years | 3,287.10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>O-2</td> <td>2 years</td> <td>4 years</td> <td>3,781.20 |
| O-3 | 4 years | 6 years | 4,394.80</td> </tr> <tr> <td>O-4</td> <td>6 years</td> <td>8 years</td> <td>5,139.30 |
| O-5 | 8 years | 10 years | 6,054.90</td> </tr> <tr> <td>O-6</td> <td>10 years</td> <td>12 years</td> <td>7,161.30 |
| O-7 | 12 years | 14 years | 8,641.10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>O-8</td> <td>14 years</td> <td>16 years</td> <td>10,223.40 |
| O-9 | 16 years | 18 years | 12,391.80</td> </tr> <tr> <td>O-10</td> <td>18 years</td> <td>20 years</td> <td>15,075.60 |
The pay scale was adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living and other factors.
📝 Note: The pay rates listed are for the 2015 fiscal year and do not include non-monetary benefits, special pays, or allowances.
In summary, the Army pay grades in 2015 were an essential aspect of military compensation, providing a standardized method for calculating pay. The pay grades were divided into three main categories: enlisted, warrant officer, and officer. The pay scale
