1922-1940 U.S. Military Enlisted Base Pay Charts
On June 10, 1922, President Warren G. Harding approved the "Joint Service Pay Readjustment Act of 1922" which included a pay raise for enlisted personnel and created the first pay tables for officer and enlisted personnel in which pay was based on longevity, and not just pay grade.
The United States enlisted military pay scales effective July 1, 1922 to September 30, 1940 for active components of the Navy, Coast Guard, Army, and Marine Corps.
The pay rates are monthly, US dollar.
1922-1940 Enlisted Military Base Pay Chart
| Grade note 1 | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 | Over 4 | Over 8 | Over 12 | Over 16 | |
| 1st note 2 |
126.00 | 138.60 | 144.90 | 151.20 | 157.50 |
| 2nd | 84.00 | 92.40 | 96.60 | 100.80 | 105.00 |
| 3rd | 72.00 | 79.20 | 82.80 | 86.40 | 90.00 |
| 4th | 54.00 | 59.40 | 62.10 | 64.80 | 67.50 |
| 5th | 42.00 | 46.20 | 48.30 | 50.40 | 52.50 |
| 6th | 30.00 | 33.00 | 34.50 | 36.00 | 37.50 |
| 7th | 21.00 | 23.10 | 24.15 | 25.20 | 26.25 |
| Grade note 1 | Years of Service | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 | Over 4 | Over 8 | Over 12 | Over 16 | Over 20 | |
| 1st | 126.00 | 132.30 | 138.60 | 144.90 | 151.20 | 157.50 |
| 2nd | 84.00 | 88.20 | 92.40 | 96.60 | 100.80 | 105.00 |
| 3rd | 72.00 | 75.60 | 79.20 | 82.80 | 86.40 | 90.00 |
| 4th | 54.00 | 56.70 | 59.40 | 62.10 | 64.80 | 67.50 |
| 5th | 42.00 | 44.10 | 46.20 | 48.30 | 50.40 | 52.50 |
| 6th | 30.00 | 31.50 | 33.00 | 34.50 | 36.00 | 37.50 |
| 7th | 21.00 | 22.05 | 23.10 | 24.15 | 25.20 | 26.25 |
| Grade | Years of Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 4 | See note 3 | ||||
| 1st | 30.00 | ||||
| 2nd | 25.00 | ||||
| 3rd | 20.00 | ||||
| 4th | 15.00 | ||||
| 5th | 6.00 | ||||
| 6th | 3.00 | ||||
Note 1: The "E" and "O" pay grades did not come about until the approval of the "Career Compensation Act of 1949"; however, for comparison purposes, the 1st Grade, is the same as today's E-7; 7th Grade is the same as E-1.
Note 2: Chief Petty Officers under acting appointment shall be included in the first grade at a monthly base pay of $99.
Note 3: Enlisted men of the Army and the Marine Corps shall receive pay for specialists' ratings upon completion of the first four years of service.
Effective July 1, 1922 to September 30, 1940.