U.S. Air Force Ranks List - Lowest to Highest

U.S. Air Force: List of Ranks, Insignia, and Pay Range

An enlisted member enters the Air Force as an Airman Basic. After completing basic training, the enlisted recuits advances to Airman First Class. The next notable advancement is to a Noncommissioned Officer.

The highest rank attainable in the Air Force is the five-star General of the Air Force. In 1944, Congress created the rank General of the Air Force. The only person to hold this rank was Henry H. Arnold.

The table below lists all the standard ranks in the U.S. Air Force and their respective pay grades, insignias, abbreviations, and classifications. Click any rank to view detailed information about that rank's duties, pay, promotions, and more.

Air Force Ranks - Enlisted and Officer, from Lowest to Highest

Pay Grade	Insignia	Rank	Abbreviation	Classification	2017 Pay Range
E-1	No Insignia	Airman Basic	AB	Enlisted Airman	$1,600 per month
E-2		Airman	Amn	Enlisted Airman	$1,793 per month
E-3		Airman First Class	A1C	Enlisted Airman	$22,630 - $25,510 per year
E-4		Senior Airman	SrA	Enlisted Airman	$25,067 - $30,427 per year
E-5		Staff Sergeant	SSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$27,338 - $38,794 per year
E-6		Technical Sergeant	TSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$29,840 - $46,220 per year
E-7		Master Sergeant	MSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$34,502 - $62,010 per year
E-8		Senior Master Sergeant	SMSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$49,633 - $70,787 per year
E-9		Chief Master Sergeant	CMSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$60,631 - $94,136 per year
E-9		Command Chief Master Sergeant	CCM	Noncommissioned Officer	$60,631 - $94,136 per year
E-9		Chief Master Sergeant Of The Air Force	CMSAF	Noncommissioned Officer (Special)	$60,631 - $94,136 per year
O-1		Second Lieutenant	2d Lt	Commissioned Officer	$36,418 - $45,824 per year
O-2		First Lieutenant	1st L	Commissioned Officer	$41,958 - $58,068 per year
O-3		Captain	Capt	Commissioned Officer	$48,560 - $79,002 per year
O-4		Major	Maj	Field Officer	$55,231 - $92,218 per year
O-5		Lieutenant Colonel	Lt Co	Field Officer	$64,012 - $108,752 per year
O-6		Colonel	Col	Field Officer	$76,784 - $135,936 per year
O-7		Brigadier General	Brig	General Officer	$101,257 - $151,283 per year
O-8		Major General	Maj G	General Officer	$121,860 - $175,676 per year
O-9		Lieutenant General	Lt Ge	General Officer	$172,224 - $186,998 per year
O-10		General	Gen	General Officer	$15,583 per month
O-10		General of the Air Force	GAF	General Officer	$15,583 per month

To see how Air Force ranks compare to civilian employees, see our Air Force ranks to GS grades comparison table.

All Air Force Ranks