§ 201. Pay grades: assignment to; general rules
Pay grades: assignment to; general rules
For the purpose of computing their basic pay, commissioned officers of the uniformed services (other than commissioned warrant officers) are assigned by the grade or rank in which serving to the following pay grades:
Pay grade
Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force
Navy, Coast Guard, and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Public Health Service
O–10
General
Admiral
Assistant Secretary for Health.
O–9
Lieutenant general
Vice admiral
Surgeon General.
O–8
Major general
Rear admiral
Deputy Surgeon General.
Assistant Surgeon General having rank of major general.
O–7
Brigadier general
Rear admiral (lower half)
Assistant Surgeon General having rank of brigadier general.
O–6
Colonel
Captain
Director grade.
O–5
Lieutenant colonel
Commander
Senior grade.
O–4
Major
Lieutenant commander
Full grade.
O–3
Captain
Lieutenant
Senior assistant grade.
O–2
1st lieutenant
Lieutenant (junior grade)
Assistant grade.
O–1
2d lieutenant
Ensign
Junior assistant grade.
For the purpose of computing their basic pay, warrant officers of the armed forces are assigned, by the warrant officer grade in which serving, to the following pay grades:
Pay Grade:
Warrant Officer Grade:
W–5
Chief Warrant Officer, W–5.
W–4
Chief Warrant Officer, W–4.
W–3
Chief Warrant Officer, W–3.
W–2
Chief Warrant Officer, W–2.
W–1
Warrant Officer, W–1.
Unless entitled to the basic pay of a higher pay grade, an aviation cadet of the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard is entitled to monthly basic pay at the lowest rate prescribed for pay grade E–4.
Unless he is entitled to the basic pay of a higher pay grade, an aviation pilot of the Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve is entitled to monthly basic pay at the rate prescribed for pay grade E–5.
Except as provided by subsections (c) and (d), enlisted members of the uniformed services shall, for the purpose of computing their basic pay, be distributed by the Secretary concerned in the various enlisted pay grades set forth in section 203 of this title. However, except as provided by section 307 of this title, an enlisted member may not be placed in pay grade E–8 or E–9 until he has completed at least 8 years or 10 years, respectively, of enlisted service computed under section 205 of this title.