1949-1951 U.S. Military Basic Pay Charts
Public Law 81-351, the "Career Compensation Act of 1949", signed by President Truman on the 12th of October 1949, was the first legislation that standardized and incorporated the use of the "E", "O", and "W" pay grades for Servicemember's pay.
1948 Pay | 1952 Pay | Pay Raises
The United States military pay scales below are for the years 1949 through 1951 for active components of the Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard.
The pay rates are monthly, US dollar.
1949-1951 Enlisted Basic Military Pay Chart
| Pay Grade | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | Over 2 | Over 3 | Over 4 | Over 6 | |
| E-7 | 198.45 | 198.45 | 198.45 | 205.80 | 213.15 |
| E-6 | 169.05 | 169.05 | 169.05 | 176.40 | 183.75 |
| E-5 | 139.65 | 147.00 | 147.00 | 154.35 | 161.70 |
| E-4 | 117.60 | 124.95 | 124.95 | 132.30 | 139.65 |
| E-3 | 95.55 | 102.90 | 102.90 | 110.25 | 117.60 |
| E-2 | 82.50 | 90.00 | 90.00 | 97.50 | 105.00 |
| E-1 | 80.00 | 87.50 | 87.50 | 95.00 | 95.00 |
| E-1 under 4 months |
75.00 | ||||
| Pay Grade | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 8 | Over 10 | Over 12 | Over 14 | Over 16 | |
| E-7 | 220.50 | 227.85 | 235.20 | 242.55 | 249.90 |
| E-6 | 191.10 | 205.80 | 213.15 | 220.50 | 235.20 |
| E-5 | 169.05 | 175.81 | 183.46 | 191.10 | 198.74 |
| E-4 | 147.00 | 154.35 | 161.70 | 169.05 | 176.40 |
| E-3 | 124.95 | 132.30 | 139.65 | 147.00 | 147.00 |
| E-2 | 112.50 | 120.00 | 120.00 | 120.00 | 120.00 |
| E-1 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 |
| Pay Grade | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 18 | Over 20 | Over 22 | Over 24 | Over 26 | |
| E-7 | 264.60 | 264.60 | 279.30 | 279.30 | 294.00 |
| E-6 | 249.90 | 249.90 | 259.90 | 259.90 | 259.90 |
| E-5 | 206.39 | 206.39 | 236.96 | 236.96 | 236.96 |
| E-4 | 191.10 | 191.10 | 191.10 | 191.10 | 191.10 |
| E-3 | 147.00 | 147.00 | 147.00 | 147.00 | 147.00 |
| E-2 | 120.00 | 120.00 | 120.00 | 120.00 | 120.00 |
| E-1 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 | 95.00 |
1949-1951 Officer Basic Military Pay Chart
| Pay Grade | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | Over 2 | Over 3 | Over 4 | Over 6 | |
| O-10 See Note 1 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 |
| O-9 See Note 1 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 |
| O-8 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 |
| O-7 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 769.50 |
| O-6 | 570.00 | 570.00 | 570.00 | 570.00 | 570.00 |
| O-5 | 456.00 | 456.00 | 456.00 | 456.00 | 456.00 |
| O-4 | 384.75 | 384.75 | 384.75 | 384.75 | 384.75 |
| O-3 | 313.50 | 313.50 | 313.50 | 327.75 | 342.00 |
| O-2 | 249.38 | 263.63 | 263.63 | 277.88 | 292.13 |
| O-1 | 213.75 | 228.00 | 228.00 | 242.25 | 256.50 |
| Warrant Officers | |||||
| Under 2 | Over 2 | Over 3 | Over 4 | Over 6 | |
| W-4 | 320.10 | 320.10 | 320.10 | 320.10 | 334.65 |
| W-3 | 291.00 | 291.00 | 291.00 | 291.00 | 298.28 |
| W-2 | 254.63 | 254.63 | 254.63 | 254.63 | 254.63 |
| W-1 | 210.98 | 210.98 | 210.98 | 210.98 | 218.25 |
| Pay Grade | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 8 | Over 10 | Over 12 | Over 14 | Over 16 | |
| O-10 See Note 1 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 |
| O-9 See Note 1 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 |
| O-8 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 |
| O-7 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 769.50 |
| O-6 | 570.00 | 570.00 | 570.00 | 570.00 | 584.25 |
| O-5 | 456.00 | 456.00 | 470.25 | 484.50 | 498.75 |
| O-4 | 399.00 | 413.25 | 427.50 | 441.75 | 456.00 |
| O-3 | 356.25 | 370.50 | 384.75 | 399.00 | 413.25 |
| O-2 | 306.38 | 320.63 | 334.88 | 349.13 | 349.13 |
| O-1 | 270.75 | 285.00 | 299.25 | 313.50 | 313.50 |
| Warrant Officers | |||||
| Over 8 | Over 10 | Over 12 | Over 14 | Over 16 | |
| W-4 | 349.20 | 363.75 | 378.30 | 392.85 | 407.60 |
| W-3 | 305.55 | 312.83 | 320.10 | 327.38 | 334.65 |
| W-2 | 261.90 | 269.18 | 276.45 | 283.73 | 291.00 |
| W-1 | 225.53 | 232.80 | 240.08 | 247.35 | 254.63 |
| Pay Grade | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 18 | Over 22 | Over 24 | Over 26 | Over 30 | |
| O-10 See Note 1 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 954.75 |
| O-9 See Note 1 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 954.75 |
| O-8 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 926.25 | 954.75 |
| O-7 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 769.50 | 798.00 | 826.50 |
| O-6 | 612.75 | 641.25 | 641.25 | 669.75 | 698.25 |
| O-5 | 527.25 | 555.75 | 555.75 | 584.25 | 584.25 |
| O-4 | 484.50 | 498.75 | 498.75 | 513.00 | 513.00 |
| O-3 | 427.50 | 441.75 | 441.75 | 441.75 | 441.75 |
| O-2 | 349.13 | 349.13 | 349.13 | 349.13 | 349.13 |
| O-1 | 313.50 | 313.50 | 313.50 | 313.50 | 313.50 |
| Warrant Officers | |||||
| Over 18 | Over 22 | Over 24 | Over 26 | Over 30 | |
| W-4 | 421.95 | 436.50 | 436.50 | 451.05 | 465.60 |
| W-3 | 349.20 | 363.75 | 363.75 | 378.30 | 392.85 |
| W-2 | 305.55 | 320.10 | 320.10 | 334.65 | 349.20 |
| W-1 | 269.18 | 283.73 | 283.73 | 298.28 | 298.28 |
Note 1: Although not indicated as part of law for the years concerned, for purposes of separation, the pay grades O-9 and O-10 indicate those serving at the rank of lieutenant general and vice admiral or General and Admiral respectively. The following pay grades receive an additional "Personal Money Allowance": lieutenant general or vice admiral (O-9), $41.66 per month; General and Admiral O-10, $183.33 per month; Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Commandant of the Coast Guard (O-10), $333.33 per month.
E pay scale is Enlisted, W scale is Warrant Officer, O scale is Commissioned Officer.
Effective October 1, 1949 to April 30, 1952.
