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Updated June 4, 2024
Defense Primer: Military Officers
Grade and Rank
Company-grade or junior-grade officers (pay grades O-1
The Armed Forces are hierarchical organizations with
to O-3) typically lead units with several dozen to several
clearly defined levels of authority. The different levels for
hundred personnel, or serve as junior staff officers. They
officers are defined in law and called grades, while rank
make up about 55% of the officer corps.
refers to the order of precedence among those in different
Field-grade or mid-grade officers (pay grades O-4 to O-6)
grades and within the same grade (e.g., someone who has
typically lead units with several hundred to several
been a Major for three years outranks someone who has
thousand personnel, or serve as senior staff officers. They
been a Major for two years; see 10 U.S.C. §741). However,
make up about 36% of the officer corps. The number of
it is common for the term rank to be used as a synonym for
officers in these grades is limited by law (10 U.S.C. §523).
grade. Pay grade is an administrative classification that
General or flag officers (pay grades O-7 to O-10) may
determines certain rates of pay, but it is sometimes used to
lead units or organizations with several thousand to
indicate grade as well. For example, a Lieutenant
hundreds of thousands of personnel or serve as staff for the
Commander in the Navy may be referred to as an O-4. See
largest military organizations. General and flag officers
Figure 1.
make up just under 0.4% of the officer corps. The number
Numbers and Roles
of officers in these grades is limited by law (10 U.S.C.
Officers make up about 18% of the Armed Forces, with
§§525-526).
enlisted personnel making up the other 82%. Officers
Insignia
outrank all enlisted personnel. Table 1 below lists the
As shown in Figure 1, each officer grade in the Armed
number of active duty officers in each pay grade.
Forces has distinctive insignia, typically worn on the sleeve,
Warrant officers (pay grades W-1 to W-5) perform highly
shoulder, collar, and/or headgear (caps, berets, etc.).
technical or specialized work within their career field and
also, in the case of the Army, serve as helicopter pilots.
Warrant officers constitute about 9% of the officer corps.
Table 1. Active Duty Military Officers by Pay Grade (as of March 31, 2024)
Service
Pay Grade
Total
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Space Force
O-10
14
8
3
13
3
41
O-9
47
37
18
42
5
149
O-8
109
52
29
77
7
274
O-7
103
107
37
99
11
357
O-6
3,738
3,100
711
3,132
229
10,910
O-5
8,589
6,614
1,948
9,222
724
27,097
O-4
15,689
10,487
3,950
13,296
1,156
44,578
O-3
25,935
18,245
6,147
20,436
1,236
71,999
O-2
15,016
7,341
3,487
6,840
541
33,225
O-1
6,178
6,659
2,706
6,657
529
23,269
W-5
563
71
111
na
na
745
W-4
1,717
459
282
na
na
2,458
W-3
3,179
785
588
na
na
4,552
W-2
5,891
716
805
na
na
7,412
W-1
4,178
29
534
na
na
4,741
Total
91,486
54,710
21,356
59,814
4,441
231,807
Source: Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center. Note: Air Force and Space Force do not have Warrant Officers.
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Defense Primer: Military Officers
Figure 1. Pay Grade, Grade, and Insignia of Officers
Source: CRS adaption of Department of Defense web page: https://dod.defense.gov/About/Insignias/Officers/. The U.S. Coast Guard, which
normal y fal s under the Department of Homeland Security, uses the same names and insignia as the Navy.
CRS Report R44389, General and Flag Officers in the U.S. Armed
Resources
Forces: Background and Considerations for Congress.
10 U.S.C. §§101(b), 523, 525-526a, 741, 742.
Department of Defense Instruction 1310.01, Rank and
Seniority of Commissioned Officers.
Kristy N. Kamarck, Coordinator, Specialist in Military
CRS Report R44496, Military Officer Personnel Management: Key
Manpower
Concepts and Statutory Provisions.
Naomi A. Atughonu, Research Assistant
IF10685
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Defense Primer: Military Officers
Disclaimer
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