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, a defined benefit 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% for Regulars) is already included in published military salaries to compensate for the unique conditions of service.
2026/27 pay award: The Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body recommended, and the Government confirmed, a 3.6% pay award for 2026/27, backdated to 1 April 2026 — the third consecutive above-inflation increase. GOV.UK confirmed this lifted the starting salary for the most junior non-commissioned ranks to £27,282/year and junior officers to £35,926/year, with the average salary across all personnel rising to approximately £45,710. The detailed rank-by-rank tables below are the last fully confirmed scale (2025/26, shown as published); apply the 3.6% uplift as an approximate guide to 2026/27 rates, but confirm exact current spinal points for your rank via the official GOV.UK armed forces pay tables before relying on a precise figure.
Other Ranks Pay Scales (2025/26, confirmed baseline — see 2026/27 note above)
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, confirmed baseline — see 2026/27 note above)
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 |
| 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 | 71.5% of pensionable pay, 52.3% from 1 April 2027 |
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) |