An E-3 earns $2,836.80 to $3,198.00 a month in basic pay, depending on years of service. That's $34,042 to $38,376 a year, the same at every duty station.
Basic pay · 2026Official
E-3, under 2 yearsMonthly, before allowances
$2,836.80
a month · $34,042 a year · $1,418.40 per paycheck (twice a month)
paybook · EO 14368Not affiliated with the U.S. government
01 · By years of service
Years of service
Monthly
Yearly
vs 2025
Under 2
$2,836.80
$34,042
+$352.20
Over 2
$3,015.00
$36,180
+$374.40
Over 3 to 40
$3,198.00
$38,376
+$397.20
2026 monthly basic pay. "Over 4" means more than 4 years of service. 2025 figures are the January rates. Source: EO 14368, Schedule 8. BAS: DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Ch. 25. BAH depends on your duty station; see BAH by area.