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	2022 Pay Range
E-1	No Insignia	Airman Basic	AB	Enlisted Airman	$1,833 per month
E-2		Airman	Amn	Enlisted Airman	$2,055 per month
E-3		Airman First Class	A1C	Enlisted Airman	$25,927 - $29,228 per year
E-4		Senior Airman	SrA	Enlisted Airman	$28,721 - $34,866 per year
E-5		Staff Sergeant	SSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$31,324 - $44,453 per year
E-6		Technical Sergeant	TSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$34,193 - $52,960 per year
E-7		Master Sergeant	MSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$39,532 - $71,053 per year
E-8		Senior Master Sergeant	SMSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$56,869 - $81,108 per year
E-9		Chief Master Sergeant	CMSgt	Noncommissioned Officer	$69,469 - $107,867 per year
E-9		Command Chief Master Sergeant	CCM	Noncommissioned Officer	$69,469 - $107,867 per year
E-9		Chief Master Sergeant Of The Air Force	CMSAF	Noncommissioned Officer (Special)	$69,469 - $107,867 per year
O-1		Second Lieutenant	2d Lt	Commissioned Officer	$41,728 - $52,506 per year
O-2		First Lieutenant	1st L	Commissioned Officer	$48,078 - $66,532 per year
O-3		Captain	Capt	Commissioned Officer	$55,638 - $90,522 per year
O-4		Major	Maj	Field Officer	$63,284 - $105,664 per year
O-5		Lieutenant Colonel	Lt Co	Field Officer	$73,346 - $124,610 per year
O-6		Colonel	Col	Field Officer	$87,984 - $155,754 per year
O-7		Brigadier General	Brig	General Officer	$116,021 - $173,347 per year
O-8		Major General	Maj G	General Officer	$139,626 - $201,290 per year
O-9		Lieutenant General	Lt Ge	General Officer	$197,338 - $203,699 per year
O-10		General	Gen	General Officer	$16,975 per month
O-10		General of the Air Force	GAF	General Officer	$16,975 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