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FederalPay.org
Air Force Ranks to Civilian GS Paygrades
Army 
Navy 
Marine Corps 
Coast Guard In many situations, when military personnel interact with civilian government employees, it's important to understand how the military rank hierarchy compares to the seniority structure among their civilian counterparts. Military Rank to Civilian equivalency tables are created by each branch of the military. These tables help civilian and military personnel determine proper conduct for social and diplomatic purposes when interacting with each other.
The comparison table below shows how Air Force ranks compare to civilian General Schedule paygrades in terms of respect and seniority. We have also provided comparitive pay ranges for civilian and military paygrades (based on Military Basic Pay and the civilian General Schedule pay table). Generally, civilian employees are paid more compared to someone they are equal to socially - but military personnel also get additional benefits, which are explained in the footnotes.
Please note that these rank-to-gs mappings can vary. Age, position, and experience level are a huge factor, and are often more significant than grade alone. If you have any feedback concerning this table, please contact us with your suggestions.
Chart of Air Force Ranks vs. Civilian General Schedule Equivalents
See military paygrade and the associated Air Force rank on the left, and equivalent General Schedule paygrade on the right.
| Pay Grade | Insignia | Air Force Rank | Basic Pay Range 1 | GS Grade | Civilian Pay Range 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | No Insignia | Airman Basic | $24,206 per year3 | GS-1 | $26,437 - $33,067 per year |
| E-2 |
|
Airman | $27,133 - $27,385 per year | GS-2 | $29,725 - $37,404 per year |
| E-3 |
|
Airman First Class | $28,530 - $32,162 per year | GS-3 | $32,435 - $42,170 per year |
| E-4 |
|
Senior Airman | $31,604 - $38,369 per year | GS-4 | $36,409 - $47,334 per year |
| E-5 |
|
Staff Sergeant | $34,466 - $48,917 per year | GS-5 | $40,736 - $52,957 per year |
| E-6 |
|
Technical Sergeant | $37,627 - $58,277 per year | GS-5 | $40,736 - $52,957 per year |
| E-7 |
|
Master Sergeant | $43,499 - $78,188 per year | GS-6 | $45,409 - $59,031 per year |
| E-8 |
|
Senior Master Sergeant | $62,579 - $89,248 per year | GS-6 | $45,409 - $59,031 per year |
| E-9 |
|
Chief Master Sergeant | $76,446 - $118,696 per year | GS-6 | $45,409 - $59,031 per year |
| E-9 |
|
Command Chief Master Sergeant | $76,446 - $118,696 per year | GS-6 | $45,409 - $59,031 per year |
| E-9 |
|
Chief Master Sergeant Of The Air Force | $76,446 - $118,696 per year | GS-6 | $45,409 - $59,031 per year |
| O-1 |
|
Second Lieutenant | $45,914 - $57,776 per year | GS-7 | $50,460 - $65,599 per year |
| O-2 |
|
First Lieutenant | $52,902 - $73,210 per year | GS-8 | $55,882 - $72,644 per year |
| O-2 |
|
First Lieutenant | $52,902 - $73,210 per year | GS-9 | $61,722 - $80,243 per year |
| O-3 |
|
Captain | $61,225 - $99,612 per year | GS-10 | $67,970 - $88,356 per year |
| O-3 |
|
Captain | $61,225 - $99,612 per year | GS-11 | $74,678 - $97,087 per year |
| O-4 |
|
Major | $69,638 - $116,269 per year | GS-12 | $89,508 - $116,362 per year |
| O-5 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel | $80,708 - $137,120 per year | GS-13 | $106,437 - $138,370 per year |
| O-5 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel | $80,708 - $137,120 per year | GS-14 | $125,776 - $163,514 per year |
| O-6 |
|
Colonel | $96,815 - $171,389 per year | GS-15 | $147,945 - $192,331 per year |
| O-7 |
|
Brigadier General | $127,667 - $190,750 per year | SES Level 5 | $184,900 per year |
| O-8 |
|
Major General | $153,644 - $221,497 per year | SES Level 4 | $197,200 per year |
| O-9 |
|
Lieutenant General | $217,152 - $221,900 per year | SES Level 3 | $209,600 per year |
| O-10 |
|
General | $221,900 per year3 | SES Levels 1 & 2 | $184,900 per year |
| O-10 |
|
General of the Air Force | $221,900 per year3 | SES Levels 1 & 2 | $184,900 per year |
Pay Range Notes
- Military pay displayed in this chart is based on the 2024 military basic pay table. Note that military servicemembers also receive housing and food allowances and/or incentive pay, which are both considerable portions of their overall compensation package.
- Civilian pay ranges are based on the current-year 2025 General Schedule pay table, adjusted for the Rest of U.S. pay locality. Civilians who work in an area with a high cost of living, like the San Francisco bay area, earn higher base pay.
- E-1 and E-2 are ranks that are generally held for a short amount of time, so there are no pay raises based on years of experience like those available to higher ranks.