ADF Pay Rates by Rank
Yearly salaries for every rank in the Australian Defence Force’s Permanent Forces, with Army, Navy and Air Force equivalents side by side, the 3% pay rise from 5 November 2026, and links to a take-home pay calculator for each service.
Rank equivalence and pay table
Each range runs from the lowest pay grade and increment for the rank to the highest. Your exact salary depends on your pay grade (1 to 10, set by your job and skill grade) and increment (usually one step for each year at the rank). For example, Defence’s own example of a Lieutenant at pay grade 4 with one increment is paid $111,517, within the $91,778 – $156,316 range.
| Army | Navy | Air Force | From 6 November 2025 | From 5 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||||
| Colonel | Captain | Group Captain | $186,934 – $248,376 | $192,542 – $255,827 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander | $159,440 – $220,780 | $164,223 – $227,403 |
| Major | Lieutenant Commander | Squadron Leader | $130,007 – $193,476 | $133,907 – $199,280 |
| Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant | $106,257 – $179,912 | $109,445 – $185,309 |
| Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant | Flying Officer | $91,778 – $156,316 | $94,531 – $161,005 |
| Second Lieutenant | Acting Sub-Lieutenant | Pilot Officer | $87,091 – $145,493 | $89,704 – $149,858 |
| Warrant officers | ||||
| Service Warrant Officer | Service Warrant Officer | Service Warrant Officer | $169,795 | $174,889 |
| Warrant Officer Class 1 | Warrant Officer Class 1 equivalent | Warrant Officer Class 1 equivalent | $117,408 – $169,795 | $120,930 – $174,889 |
| Other ranks | ||||
| Warrant Officer Class 2 | Chief Petty Officer | Flight Sergeant | $109,733 – $158,815 | $113,025 – $163,579 |
| Staff Sergeant | — | — | $106,734 – $153,925 | $109,936 – $158,543 |
| Sergeant | Petty Officer | Sergeant | $97,575 – $148,091 | $100,502 – $152,534 |
| Corporal | Leading Seaman | Corporal | $86,966 – $137,047 | $89,575 – $141,158 |
| Lance Corporal | — | — | $81,612 – $128,802 | $84,060 – $132,666 |
| Private Proficient | Able Seaman | Leading Aircraftman | $80,341 – $127,530 | $82,751 – $131,356 |
| Private | Seaman | Aircraftman | $79,096 – $126,292 | $81,469 – $130,081 |
Sources: Schedule B.3: Officer salary rates, Schedule B.10: Service Warrant Officer and Warrant Officer Class 1 salary rates and Schedule B.12: Other rank salary rates, Defence Pay and Conditions Manual, rates as at 6 November 2025; new rates from Defence’s pay rates starting November 2026, checked 13 October 2026. Senior officers, specialist officers, trainees and Reserves have separate scales.
Take-home pay by service
Each service has its own page with every rank’s salary, fortnightly take-home pay and a calculator for your rank, pay point, allowances and HECS-HELP.
Army
15 ranks on this scale, paid $81,469 – $255,827 a year from 5 November 2026. Army pay rates and take-home pay calculator →
Navy
13 ranks on this scale, paid $81,469 – $255,827 a year from 5 November 2026. Navy pay rates and take-home pay calculator →
Air Force
13 ranks on this scale, paid $81,469 – $255,827 a year from 5 November 2026. Air Force pay rates and take-home pay calculator →
Allowances overview
Members are paid fortnightly. On top of salary, they may be eligible for allowances based on where they’re posted, the work they do or their family circumstances, and for extra pay or bonuses for specialist skills. Members who carry out the duties of a higher rank may get higher duties allowance.
- Super: for members who joined on or after 1 July 2016, Defence contributes 16.4% of their income.
- Leave: 25 days of recreation leave a year.
- Health: free medical and dental care for Permanent Forces members.
Source: Pay and financial benefits in the Permanent Forces, Department of Defence, checked 13 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Private in the Army earn?
A Private in the Permanent Forces earns $79,096 – $126,292 a year at the rates from 6 November 2025, depending on pay grade and increment, rising to $81,469 – $130,081 from 5 November 2026. Trainees are paid from a separate trainee scale.
What are pay grades and increments?
There are 10 pay grades, set by your employment category and skill grade; a higher skill grade can move you to a higher pay grade. Within a rank you usually move up one increment for each 12 months of full-time service until you reach the top increment, and promotion restarts the cycle (Defence).
Do ADF members pay the Medicare levy?
Defence says members of the Permanent Forces generally don’t pay the Medicare levy and may not need private health insurance, because Defence covers their medical needs. The take-home pay calculators for each service leave the Medicare levy out (Defence).