E-6 Basic Pay (2026)

$4,612.80/mo
A E-6 (enlisted) with over 8 years of service earns $4,612.80 a month — $55,354 a year — in basic pay for 2026. Basic pay rises with years of service; the full step table is below.
Basic pay only — BAH + BAS ($476.95/mo BAS) are added on top, tax-free

This page shows 2026 military basic pay for the enlisted paygrade E-6. Basic pay for E-6 increases with years of service; at the Over 8 years-of-service level, a E-6 earns $4,612.80 per month, or $55,354 per year.

Years of serviceMonthlyAnnual
2 or less$3,401.10$40,813
Over 2$3,743.10$44,917
Over 3$3,908.10$46,897
Over 4$4,068.90$48,827
Over 6$4,235.70$50,828
Over 8$4,612.80$55,354
Over 10$4,759.50$57,114
Over 12$5,043.30$60,520
Over 14$5,130.30$61,564
Over 16$5,193.60$62,323
Over 18$5,267.70$63,212
Over 20$5,267.70$63,212
Over 22$5,267.70$63,212
Over 24$5,267.70$63,212
Over 26$5,267.70$63,212
Over 28$5,267.70$63,212
Over 30$5,267.70$63,212
Over 32$5,267.70$63,212
Over 34$5,267.70$63,212
Over 38$5,267.70$63,212
Over 40$5,267.70$63,212

Add BAH & BAS to E-6 basic pay

$5,089.75/mo
Basic pay$4,612.80
BAS (enlisted)$476.95
BAH (your area)
Total monthly cash$5,089.75
Annual (× 12)$61,077

Basic pay, BAS and BAH are exact 2026 DFAS/DoD figures — pick your housing area to pull the official BAH rate, or type an amount directly. BAH and BAS are tax-free; this shows gross cash, not take-home.

Related paygrades

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between basic pay and total pay for E-6?

Basic pay is the E-6 figure shown here; total compensation also includes housing (BAH) and subsistence (BAS) allowances, which are tax-free and added on top.

How do years of service affect E-6 pay?

For 2026, E-6 basic pay rises at set years-of-service milestones, so at the Over 8 level a E-6 earns $4,612.80 per month, or $55,354 per year.

Did E-6 pay change for 2026?

Yes. E-6 basic pay was updated for 2026 under the annual across-the-board raise, and at the Over 8 level it is $4,612.80 per month.

Is E-6 basic pay before or after tax?

The E-6 figures are gross basic pay for 2026, before tax or withholding, and allowances such as BAH and BAS are separate and tax-free.

Source: DFAS DFAS 2026 Basic Pay Table · effective January 1, 2026. Rates current as of July 20, 2026. Reference figures for general information — official pay is set by your agency, DFAS or OPM. See methodology.