Armed forces pay 2026/27
Service personnel received a 3.6% pay rise from 1 April 2026, the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body recommendation accepted in full. One tri-service structure covers the Army, Royal Navy and RAF, with pay at each rank depending on trade supplement and increment level, so the tables below show ranges rather than single points.
Award verified · ranges indicative · Written ministerial statement, 9 June 2026
| NATO code | Army | Royal Navy | RAF | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-2 | Private | Able Rating | Air Specialist (Class 1) | £27,282 – £41,164 |
| OR-3 | Lance Corporal | Leading Hand | Corporal (entry) | £35,310 – £41,164 |
| OR-4 | Corporal | Leading Hand (higher) | Corporal | £40,989 – £48,497 |
| OR-6 | Sergeant | Petty Officer | Sergeant | £46,022 – £56,611 |
| OR-7 | Staff Sergeant | Chief Petty Officer | Flight Sergeant | £51,615 – £65,249 |
| NATO code | Army | Royal Navy | RAF | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF-1 | Second Lieutenant / Lieutenant | Midshipman / Sub-Lieutenant | Pilot Officer / Flying Officer | £35,925 – £47,351 |
| OF-2 | Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant | £54,716 – £64,852 |
| OF-3 | Major | Lieutenant Commander | Squadron Leader | £68,624 – £81,960 |
| OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander | £95,850 – £110,806 |
| OF-5 | Colonel | Captain | Group Captain | £115,881 – £127,272 |
Ranges span the lowest increment on the lowest pay supplement to the highest on the highest, so most personnel sit inside them rather than at the ends. The exact matrix is in the AFPRB report and service pay statements; X-Factor (the 14.5% addition for the conditions of service life) is already inside these figures.
By service
Common questions
What is the armed forces pay rise for 2026/27?
3.6% for all ranks from 1 April 2026, the AFPRB recommendation accepted in full and announced on 9 June 2026, backdated to April. It is the third consecutive above-inflation award.
Why is forces pay shown as a range for each rank?
Under the Pay16 system, pay at a rank depends on your trade's pay supplement and your increment level within the rank, so two corporals in different trades can earn several thousand pounds apart. The published pay awards set the whole matrix; ranges are the honest way to summarise it.
Do soldiers pay for their pension?
No. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 is non-contributory: nothing is deducted from pay for it, which makes take-home pay higher than a same-salary civilian job with a typical pension contribution.
Is pay the same in the Army, Navy and RAF?
Yes. One tri-service pay structure covers all three services; only the rank names differ. A Royal Navy petty officer, an Army sergeant and an RAF sergeant are all OR-6 on the same scales.