1922-1942 U.S. Military Officer Base Pay Charts
The Joint Service Pay Readjustment Act of 1922, Public Law 67-235 signed by President Warren G. Harding on June 10, 1922, was the first pay legislation that dealt with compensation for all the armed services. In addition to increasing rates of pay for members of the armed services (officer and enlisted), "mainly due to higher costs of living, the 1922 Act created a system under which officers of general or flag rank were entitled to 'base pay' determined by rank, plus rental and subsistence allowances, whereas officers below general or flag rank were entitled to “base pay” at rates determined by pay periods, plus rental and subsistence allowances."[1]
1922 Enlisted Pay | Pay Raises
Remaining in effect for 20 years, the United States military officer base pay scales effective July 1, 1922 through May 1942 for active components of the Navy, Marines Corps, Army, and Coast Guard.
The pay rates are monthly, US dollar.
1922-1942 Military Officer Base Pay Chart
| Pay Period note 1 | Years of Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 3 | Over 3 | Over 6 | Over 9 | |
| 8th | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 |
| 7th | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 6th | 291.67 | 306.25 | 320.83 | 335.42 |
| 5th | 250.00 | 262.50 | 275.00 | 287.50 |
| 4th | 200.00 | 210.00 | 220.00 | 230.00 |
| 3rd | 200.00 | 210.00 | 220.00 | 230.00 |
| 2nd | 166.67 | 175.00 | 183.33 | 191.67 |
| 1st | 125.00 | 131.25 | 183.33 | 191.67 |
| Pay Period | Years of Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 12 | Over 15 | Over 18 | |
| 8th | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 |
| 7th | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 6th | 350.00 | 364.58 | 379.17 |
| 5th | 300.00 | 312.50 | 325.00 |
| 4th | 240.00 | 312.50 | 325.00 |
| 3rd | 240.00 | 250.00 | 325.00 |
| 2nd | 240.00 | 250.00 | 260.00 |
| 1st | 200.00 | 208.33 | 216.67 |
| Pay Period | Years of Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 21 | Over 24 | Over 27 | Over 30 | |
| 8th | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 | 666.67 |
| 7th | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 6th | 393.75 | 408.33 | 483.33 | 500.00 |
| 5th | 393.75 | 408.33 | 422.92 | 497.17 |
| 4th | 337.50 | 408.33 | 422.92 | 437.50 |
| 3rd | 337.50 | 350.00 | 362.50 | 375.00 |
| 2nd | 270.00 | 280.00 | 290.00 | 300.00 |
| 1st | 225.00 | 233.33 | 241.67 | 250.00 |
Note 1: The pay of the seventh and eighth pay periods shall be paid to the Flag and General Officer ranks.
The pay of the sixth period shall be paid to colonels of the Army, captains of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed twenty-six years' service, or whose first appointment in the permanent service was in a grade above that corresponding to captain in the Army, or who were appointed to the Regular Army under the provisions of the first sentence of section 24, Act of June 3, 1916, as amended by the Act of June 4, 1920; to officers of the Staff Corps of the Navy advanced by selection under existing laws to the rank or pay of captain; to lieutenant colonels of the Army, commanders of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade, and lieutenant commanders of the line and Engineer Corps of the Coast Guard who have completed thirty years' service; and to the Chief of Chaplains of the Army.
The pay of the fifth period shall be paid to colonels of the Army, captains of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who are not entitled to the pay of the sixth period; to lieutenant colonels of the Army, commanders of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed twenty years' service, or whose first appointment in the permanent service was in a grade above that corresponding to captain in the Army, or who were appointed to the Regular Army under the provisions of the first sentence of said section 24; to officers of the Staff Corps of the Navy advanced by selection under existing laws to the rank or pay of commander; and to majors of the Army, lieutenant commanders of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed twenty-three years' service: Provided, That lieutenant commanders of the Staff Corps of the Navy who were appointed between the dates of March 4, 1913, and June 7, 1916, in a grade above that of ensign, shall receive the pay of this pay period after completing twenty years' service.
The pay of the fourth period shall be paid to lieutenant of the Army, commanders of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who are not entitled to the pay of the fifth or sixth period; to majors of the Army, lieutenant commanders of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed fourteen years' service, or whose first appointment in the permanent service was in a grade above that corresponding to second lieutenant in the Army, or who were appointed to the Regular Army under the provisions of the first sentence of said section 24; to captains of the Army, lieutenants of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed seventeen years' service except those whose promotion is limited by law to this grade and who are not entitled under existing law to the pay and allowances of a higher grade; and to lieutenants of the Staff Corps of the Navy, and lieutenants and lieutenants (junior grade) of the line and Engineer Corps of the Coast Guard whose total commissioned service equals that of lieutenant commanders of the line of the Navy drawing the pay of this period.
The pay of the third period shall be paid to majors of the Army, lieutenant commanders of the Navy, an officers of corresponding grade who are not entitled to the pay of the fourth, fifth, or sixth period; to captains of the Army, lieutenants of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed seven years' service, or whose first appointment in the permanent service was in a grade above that corresponding to second lieutenant in the Army, or whose present rank dates from July 1, 1920, or earlier; to first lieutenants of the Army, lieutenants (junior grade) of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed ten years service; and to lieutenants (junior grade) of the line and Engineer Corps of the Coast Guard whose total commissioned service equals that of lieutenants of the line of the Navy drawing the pay of this period.
The pay of the second period shall be paid to captains of the Army, lieutenants of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who are not entitled to the pay of the third or fourth period; to first lieutenants of the Army, lieutenants (junior grade) of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed three years' service, or whose first appointment in the permanent service was in a grade above that corresponding to second lieutenant in the Army; and to second lieutenants of the Army, ensigns of the Navy, and officers of corresponding grade who have completed five years' service.
The pay of the first period shall be paid to all other commissioned officers.
Effective July 1, 1922 through May 1942.
