US U.S. military recruit (rank E-1)
How much does U.S. military recruit (rank E-1) make?
Answer: A new U.S. military recruit at rank E-1 earns about $28,886 a year in base pay.
Yearly salary (2026)
$28,886
Official statistics This is the lowest military pay rank's salary; housing and other allowances are extra.
U.S. military recruit (rank E-1)$28,886
Typical person in the US$50,980
About 0.6× the Typical person in the US.
Per month, day, hour and second
Based on pay of about $28,886 in 2026| Per month | $2,410 |
|---|---|
| Per day | $79.14 |
| Per hour | $3.30 |
Calculated This spreads the year evenly over every hour, including sleep and days off. It is not pay per hour worked.
Compared with others
One day of pay (about $79.14) is about 0.6 days of pay for the typical person in the US. Calculated
| Name | Year | Amount | U.S. military recruit (rank E-1) earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📊 New U.S. military officer (O-1) | 2026 | $49,800 Yearly salary | 0.6× |
| 📊 US 4-star general/admiral (O-10) | 2026 | $225,698 Yearly salary | 0.1× |
Ratios compare the same kind of figure (estimated total earnings with estimates, salary with salary), both in dollars (¥150 = $1). When years differ, each row shows its own year.
Who earns more?
Sources and data
Sources: dfas.mil. “Estimated” figures come from news or magazines, not from the person.