Warrant Officer Pay 2026: W-1 to W-5 Charts
Warrant officers are the military's technical specialists, and their pay reflects it: in 2026 a W-1 starts at $4,057/month, while a senior W-5 earns up to $13,308/month — plus the same tax-free BAH and BAS as other officers.
2026 warrant officer basic pay (monthly)
| Grade | <2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $4,057 | $4,494 | $4,611 | $4,859 | $5,152 | $5,585 | $5,786 | $6,069 | $6,346 | $6,565 | $6,766 | $7,010 | $7,010 | $7,010 | $7,010 |
| W-2 | $4,622 | $5,059 | $5,194 | $5,286 | $5,586 | $6,052 | $6,282 | $6,509 | $6,787 | $7,005 | $7,201 | $7,437 | $7,592 | $7,714 | $7,714 |
| W-3 | $5,223 | $5,441 | $5,664 | $5,738 | $5,971 | $6,431 | $6,910 | $7,136 | $7,398 | $7,666 | $8,150 | $8,477 | $8,672 | $8,879 | $9,162 |
| W-4 | $5,720 | $6,152 | $6,329 | $6,503 | $6,802 | $7,098 | $7,398 | $7,848 | $8,244 | $8,620 | $8,928 | $9,228 | $9,669 | $10,032 | $10,445 |
| W-5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $10,170 | $10,686 | $11,070 | $11,495 |
W-5 pay begins at 20 years of service — chief warrant officers five are, by definition, deep-career specialists. Note that W-2 at 10 years ($6,282) out-earns an O-1 with the same time.
How warrant pay compares
- vs senior enlisted: a new W-1 ($4,057) starts above an E-6 with 8 years ($4,612).
- vs commissioned officers: mid-career warrants (W-3/W-4) overlap with O-3/O-4 pay, and prior-enlisted warrants typically carry many years of service into the table — meaning they enter at a high column, not the left edge.
- Allowances: warrant officers receive the officer BAS rate ($328.48 in 2026) and BAH at their own W-grade rates.
Flight pay for Army aviators
Most Army helicopter pilots are warrant officers and may receive Aviation Incentive Pay on top of basic pay — see our special pays guide.
Calculate full warrant officer take-home — pick your W grade and ZIP.
Calculate my pay →Frequently asked questions
How much does a warrant officer make in 2026?
From $4,057/month for a new W-1 to $13,308/month for a W-5 with 38 years, plus tax-free BAH and BAS.
Do warrant officers get officer BAS?
Yes — warrant officers receive the officer BAS rate ($328.48/month in 2026) and BAH at their own W-grade rates.
Do warrant officers out-earn enlisted?
Generally yes at the same point in a career — a starting W-1 ($4,057) earns more than an E-6 over 8 years ($4,612).