Armed forces pay and pension
For the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and RAF: what you take home at every rank, what your pension will be worth, and guides to pay scales, X-Factor and the 2026 pay rise.
Armed forces pay calculator
Take-home for every rank and increment level, with trade supplements, allowances, tax-free payments and accommodation charges.
Armed forces pension calculator
What AFPS 15 builds for you at no cost, when it is paid, lump sums and whether you qualify for an Early Departure Payment.
Armed forces pay guides
Armed forces pay in 2026/27 at a glance
- 3.6% for all ranks from 1 April 2026, accepted in full and backdated.
- Recruits start on £27,282 and new officers on £35,925.
- All published salaries include X-Factor of 14.5%.
- Regulars pay nothing into the armed forces pension.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a soldier take home a month?
A new recruit on £27,282 takes home about £1,930 a month from April 2026, after tax and NI, before any accommodation or food charges. A Corporal starts on £40,989 and takes home about £2,753.
What is the armed forces pay rise for 2026?
3.6% on all military salaries from 1 April 2026, recommended by the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body and accepted in full. It follows 4.5% in 2025 and 6% in 2024.
Do armed forces personnel pay into their pension?
No. Regular service personnel pay nothing into the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015. Each year of service adds 1/47 of your pay to your pension, paid for entirely by the MOD.
What is X-Factor in military pay?
An addition to basic pay that recognises the conditions of service life that civilians do not face, such as being liable to deploy at short notice. The full rate is 14.5% of pay, and it is already included in the published salaries.
How much does a new officer earn?
New officers start on £35,925 at OF1 level 1 from April 2026. On level 2 (£42,948) take-home is about £2,870 a month.
What are trade supplements?
Other ranks are paid on one of four supplements, depending on the job evaluation for their trade. Supplement 1 covers most trades, and supplements 2 to 4 pay more for trades that need more skill. The difference grows with rank.
Are Army, Navy and RAF pay the same?
Yes. All three services use the same pay scales, matched by rank. A Corporal in the Army, a Leading Rating in the Navy and a Corporal in the RAF are paid on the same OR4 scale.
Is military pay taxed?
Yes, like any other pay, with Income Tax and National Insurance. Some allowances, such as the Operational Allowance paid on certain deployments, are tax-free.