Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do Soldiers Earn in the UK? — 2026 Military Pay Guide
Complete guide to British Army, Royal Navy, and RAF salaries in the UK for 2026. Private to general pay scales, specialist pay, operational allowances, X-Factor supplement, pension, and military career progression.
The UK Armed Forces offer structured pay with generous benefits including subsidised housing, an excellent pension, and operational allowances. Here’s what soldiers, sailors, and airmen/women earn.
For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.
Military Pay Structure Overview
All three services — British Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), and Royal Air Force — use the same pay scales. The X-Factor supplement (14.5%) is already included in published military salaries to compensate for the unique conditions of service.
Other Ranks Pay Scales (2025/26)
Lower Ranks
| Rank | Pay Range |
|---|
| Private (Level 1 - on enlistment) | £23,496 |
| Private (Level 2) | £24,312 |
| Private (Level 3) | £25,200 |
| Private (Level 4 - competent) | £26,016 |
| Lance Corporal (Level 1) | £29,352 |
| Lance Corporal (Level 5) | £33,168 |
Senior Ranks
| Rank | Pay Range |
|---|
| Corporal (Level 1) | £33,999 |
| Corporal (Level 7) | £38,406 |
| Sergeant (Level 1) | £40,488 |
| Sergeant (Level 7) | £46,428 |
| Staff Sergeant / Colour Sergeant (Level 1) | £43,605 |
| Staff Sergeant (Level 7) | £49,131 |
| Warrant Officer Class 2 (Level 1) | £46,851 |
| Warrant Officer Class 2 (Level 7) | £51,744 |
| Warrant Officer Class 1 (Level 1) | £51,744 |
| Warrant Officer Class 1 (Level 7) | £55,908 |
Higher and Lower Pay Bands
Some trades are paid on Higher or Lower pay bands:
| Band | Example Trades |
|---|
| Higher band | Infantry, Armoured, Paratroopers, Engineers, Signals |
| Lower band | Catering, Logistics (some), Administrative |
Difference is typically £1,000-£3,000 at each rank level.
Officers Pay Scales (2025/26)
Commissioned Officers
| Rank | Pay Range |
|---|
| Officer Cadet (at Sandhurst/BRNC/Cranwell) | £28,936 |
| Second Lieutenant / Sub Lieutenant | £29,268-£31,728 |
| Lieutenant | £33,660-£37,404 |
| Captain / Flight Lieutenant | £35,188-£46,200 |
| Major / Lieutenant Commander / Squadron Leader | £52,668-£58,596 |
| Lieutenant Colonel / Commander / Wing Commander | £65,820-£82,152 |
| Colonel / Captain (RN) / Group Captain | £89,316-£97,884 |
| Brigadier / Commodore / Air Commodore | £107,172-£114,420 |
| Major General / Rear Admiral / Air Vice-Marshal | £120,000-£140,000 |
| Lieutenant General / Vice Admiral / Air Marshal | £140,000-£160,000 |
| General / Admiral / Air Chief Marshal | £170,000-£185,000 |
| Chief of the Defence Staff | £250,000+ |
Specialist and Additional Pay
Specialist Pay Supplements
| Supplement | Annual Amount |
|---|
| Flying pay (pilots) | £10,000-£17,000 |
| Submarine pay | £5,500-£17,000 |
| Diving pay | £5,000-£8,000 |
| Parachute pay | £5,000-£6,500 |
| Special Forces pay | Classified — estimated £7,000-£15,000+ |
| Mountain Leader pay (RM) | Additional supplement |
| Northern Ireland Resident’s Supplement | £1,200/year |
| Recruitment and Retention Payment | Varies by trade/shortage |
Operational Allowances
| Allowance | Daily/Rate |
|---|
| Longer Separation Allowance | ~£9.60/day |
| Operational Allowance (deployed) | Up to £29.02/day (tax-free) |
| Unpleasant Living Allowance | Up to £7.64/day |
| Hardship Allowance | Up to £23.29/day |
| Council Tax Relief | Up to £21.60/day when deployed |
Operational allowances are tax-free, significantly boosting take-home pay on deployment.
Accommodation and Living Costs
Subsidised Housing
| Accommodation Type | Monthly Charge |
|---|
| Single Living Accommodation (SLA) — Grade 1 | £80-£130/month |
| SLA — Grade 4 | £30-£60/month |
| Service Family Accommodation — Grade 1 (best) | £400-£600/month |
| SFA — Grade 4 | £200-£350/month |
| Food charges (living in) | ~£5-£7/day |
Comparison to Civilian Costs
| Expense | Military | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|
| Single room | £80-£130/month | £500-£1,200/month |
| Family home | £200-£600/month | £800-£2,000/month |
| Food (if in barracks) | £150-£210/month | £250-£400/month |
| Council tax | Often exempt | £100-£250/month |
| Gym | Free on base | £25-£60/month |
Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS 15)
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Type | Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) |
| Accrual rate | 1/47 per year (one of the best) |
| Normal Pension Age | 60 |
| Revaluation | CPI each year |
| Death in service | Lump sum (4x salary) + survivor pension |
| Ill-health benefits | Available at enhanced rates |
| Employer contribution rate | ~46%+ (very generous) |
Early Departure Payment (EDP)
Available after 20 years’ service from age 40:
| Component | Amount |
|---|
| Lump sum | 2.25x annual pension value |
| Income | 34% of deferred pension, paid immediately |
| Full pension | Payable from age 60 |
Example Pension
| Scenario | Annual Pension at 60 |
|---|
| 22 years at average £35,000 | ~£16,400 |
| 30 years at average £40,000 | ~£25,500 |
| Officer, 25 years at average £55,000 | ~£29,300 |
Career Progression (British Army Example)
| Stage | Time in Service | Rank | Salary |
|---|
| Recruit | 0-6 months | Private (training) | £23,496 |
| Trained soldier | 6 months-4 years | Private | £25,200-£26,016 |
| Junior NCO | 3-8 years | Lance Corporal | £29,352-£33,168 |
| NCO | 6-12 years | Corporal | £33,999-£38,406 |
| Senior NCO | 10-18 years | Sergeant | £40,488-£46,428 |
| Warrant Officer | 15-25 years | WO2/WO1 | £46,851-£55,908 |
| Late Entry Officer | 18+ years | Captain-Major | £35,000-£58,000 |
How to Join
Entry Routes
| Route | Requirements |
|---|
| Soldier (Other Ranks) | GCSEs for most trades (some require none) |
| Army Apprentice | GCSEs including Maths and English |
| Gap Year Commission | A-levels, 1-year officer commission |
| Officer (Sandhurst) | Minimum 2 A-levels (degree preferred) |
| Graduate Officer | Degree |
| Army Reserve | Part-time (same entry standards) |
Age Requirements
| Entry Type | Age Range |
|---|
| Army Regular (soldier) | 16-49 (role dependent) |
| Army Regular (officer) | 18-29 (up to 32 with degree) |
| Royal Navy | 16-39 (varies by trade) |
| RAF | 16-39 (varies by trade) |
| Army Reserve | 18-52 |
Reserve Forces Pay
| Detail | Amount |
|---|
| Annual training bounty | £470-£1,866/year (depending on commitment met) |
| Daily training rate | Same as regular pay for rank (pro-rated) |
| Mobilisation pay | Regular pay rates |
| Minimum commitment | 27 days/year |
Summary
| Rank | Annual Salary |
|---|
| Private (new) | £23,496-£26,016 |
| Corporal | £33,999-£38,406 |
| Sergeant | £40,488-£46,428 |
| Warrant Officer Class 1 | £51,744-£55,908 |
| Captain (Officer) | £35,188-£46,200 |
| Major | £52,668-£58,596 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | £65,820-£82,152 |
| Brigadier | £107,172-£114,420 |
| Pension | Available from 60 (EDP from 40 with 20 years) |