The Armed Forces pay rise 2026 is confirmed at 3.6% for 2026/27, with the increase applying from 1 April 2026. The Government accepted the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body’s recommendations in full, and the award is backdated to the start of April.
The change raises the starting salary for Other Ranks to £27,282, while junior officer starting pay increases to £35,926.
The average Armed Forces salary is expected to be around £45,710. Pensions already in payment are treated separately and increased by 3.8% from 6 April 2026.
Key Armed Forces Pay Changes For 2026
| Change | 2026 Rate/Position |
| Basic Armed Forces Pay | +3.6% |
| Effective Date | 1 April 2026 |
| Other Ranks Starting Salary | £27,282 |
| Junior Officer Starting Salary | £35,926 |
| Average Armed Forces Salary | Around £45,710 |
| Public Service Pensions In Payment | +3.8% |
| SFA Bands A–F Charges | +3.8% |
| SLA Grade 1 Charges | +3.8% |
| Selected Specialist Payments | +3.6% |
The Government’s June 2026 Armed Forces pay announcement confirms that the recommendations were accepted in full.
Last Updated: 17.09.2026
What Is The Confirmed Armed Forces Pay Rise For 2026?
The confirmed UK Armed Forces pay rise for 2026/27 is 3.6%.
The increase applies to members covered by the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body, including personnel across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. From the 2026 pay round, the AFPRB’s remit also includes the most senior officers.
The award applies from 1 April 2026 and is backdated to that date. This means eligible personnel do not lose the increase simply because the Government announcement was made later in the year.
Earlier references to a possible 3.8% serving-personnel increase should therefore not be confused with the final award. The confirmed basic-pay increase is 3.6%. The 3.8% figure remains relevant to public service pensions and certain accommodation charges.
How Much Will Armed Forces Personnel Earn In 2026?
The 3.6% increase does not produce one standard military salary because pay varies according to rank, trade, experience, increment level and specialist payments.
However, several headline figures show what changed.
| Pay Measure | 2025 | 2026 | Annual Increase |
| Other Ranks Initial Pay | £26,334 | £27,282 | £948 |
| Junior Officer Starting Pay | About £34,676 | £35,926 | £1,250 |
| Average Armed Forces Salary | About £44,060 | Around £45,710 | £1,650 |
The AFPRB salary tables confirm that Other Ranks initial pay rises from £26,334 to £27,282. The exact salary for someone already serving will depend on their individual position on the relevant pay spine.
Around 14,250 junior personnel are expected to benefit from the increase in Other Ranks starting pay.
Armed Forces Pay Rise 2025 Vs 2026
Recent Armed Forces pay awards have been considerably larger than those seen during earlier periods of pay restraint.
| Pay Year | Headline Increase |
| 2024/25 | 6% |
| 2025/26 | 4.5% |
| 2026/27 | 3.6% |
Although the 2026 increase is smaller than the previous two headline awards, the Government says most personnel have received a cumulative pay award of 14.1% since July 2024.
The percentages should not simply be added together when calculating the resulting salary because each year’s percentage is applied to the salary after previous increases.
For example, somebody’s actual increase will also depend on whether they have moved up an increment, changed rank or become eligible for additional payments.
What Is X-Factor In Armed Forces Pay?
X-Factor is an element of Armed Forces remuneration designed to recognise aspects of Service life that differ from normal civilian employment.
These can include restrictions on personal freedom, separation from family, operational demands, mobility and the requirement to accept conditions that would not normally apply to a civilian employee.
The AFPRB confirms that the full X-Factor rate remains 14.5% for full-time UK Regular personnel in the applicable remit group. Different rates may apply depending on commitment or seniority.
Importantly, the annual salary tables published by the AFPRB already include X-Factor where applicable. It should therefore not automatically be added another 14.5% on top of the published salary.
X-Factor is also described by the AFPRB as a pensionable addition to pay.
Which Armed Forces Allowances And Specialist Payments Increased In 2026?
The 3.6% increase is not limited to standard basic pay.
A number of targeted payments have also increased by 3.6% from 1 April 2026.
These include:
- Recruitment And Retention Payments
- Volunteer Reserves Training Bounty
- Defence Clinical Impact Awards
- Trainer And Associate Trainer Pay
- Cyber Skills Payments
- Engineering Supplement Payment
- Defence Human Intelligence Skills Payment
- Professional Supplement For Aircrew
- Nuclear Skills Supplements
- Relevant Compensatory Allowances
The complete set of recommendations appears in the 2026 AFPRB report, which covers standard pay alongside specialist remuneration and accommodation charges.
Personnel should not assume every allowance automatically rises by 3.6%. Eligibility and uprating arrangements differ depending on the type of payment.
What Pay Changes Apply To Armed Forces Nurses In 2026?
Military nursing received some of the most significant targeted changes in the 2026 pay round.
A new Nursing Professional Pay Spine is being introduced from 1 October 2026 for nursing ranks up to and including OF3. A separate Senior Nursing Officer Pay Spine will apply to OF4 to OF6 nurses.
The nurses’ Golden Hello increases to £50,000 from 1 April 2026, strengthening the financial incentive for direct entrants into areas where Defence faces workforce capability gaps.
The AFPRB also agreed that Recruitment and Retention Payment for Nursing should be removed 12 months after the new nursing pay spines are introduced.
Future nursing pay arrangements will move to a three-year review cycle, with the next dedicated review planned for Pay Round 2029.
What Changes Apply To Submariners In 2026?
The 2026 settlement also contains a targeted measure for Royal Navy submariners.
A second retention payment applies from 1 April 2026 for:
- OR7 Submariners With Between 14 And 16 Years’ Service
- OF3 Warfare And Engineer Submariners With 12 Years’ Service
This is separate from the general 3.6% pay uplift and is aimed specifically at retention within a highly specialised workforce.
Personnel should therefore distinguish between their new base salary and any retention payment for which they separately qualify.
Are Armed Forces Accommodation Charges Increasing In 2026?
Yes, some accommodation charges are increasing, although the changes differ according to accommodation type and standard.
| Accommodation | 2026 Increase |
| SFA CAAS Bands A–F | 3.8% |
| SFA Bands G And Below | No Increase |
| SLA Grade 1 | 3.8% |
| SLA Grade 2 | 2.5% |
| SLA Grade 3 | 1.3% |
| SLA Grade 4 | No Increase |
| Furniture Charges | No Increase |
Unlike the basic-pay increase, these accommodation increases are not backdated.
The AFPRB used the annual November CPI actual-rents housing component, which was 3.8%, when considering accommodation charges.
This matters when assessing the overall financial impact of the Armed Forces pay rise 2026.
A 3.6% increase in gross salary does not necessarily mean every household will see disposable income rise by exactly 3.6%, because tax, National Insurance, pension deductions, accommodation costs and personal circumstances can all affect take-home pay.
Armed Forces Pay Rise Vs Pension Increase In 2026
One of the easiest areas to misunderstand is the difference between serving pay and Armed Forces pensions.
They are not using the same percentage.
| Change | 2026 Increase |
| Serving Personnel Basic Pay | 3.6% |
| Public Service Pensions In Payment For A Full Year | 3.8% |
Public service pensions that have been in payment for a full year increased by 3.8% from 6 April 2026, reflecting the September 2025 CPI figure.
Pensions that had been in payment for less than a full year may receive a proportionate increase rather than the full 3.8%. HM Treasury’s 2026 public service pension increase guidance explains how the annual uprating is applied.
The pension uplift should therefore not be used to calculate the salary increase of somebody who is currently serving.
Is All Armed Forces Pay Pensionable?
Not necessarily.
Military remuneration can contain basic salary, X-Factor, specialist payments, recruitment and retention payments and allowances. These elements should not automatically be assumed to receive identical pension treatment.
X-Factor itself is described by the AFPRB as pensionable. However, the Review Body has raised a wider issue over the clarity of which parts of the evolving military remuneration package are and are not pensionable.
The AFPRB said this question is becoming more important as Defence makes greater use of skills-based pay.
Personnel receiving specialist or targeted payments should therefore check the relevant payment rules rather than assuming every additional payment will increase pensionable earnings.
Why Did The AFPRB Recommend A 3.6% Pay Rise?
The AFPRB does not decide the annual percentage by looking at inflation alone.
For the 2026 round, it considered recruitment, retention, civilian pay comparisons, Defence affordability, morale, the wider economy and the demands of Service life.
When the report was finalised, the AFPRB highlighted:
- CPI Inflation At 3.0%
- CPIH Inflation At 3.2%
- Median Wider-Economy Pay Awards At 3.2%
- Continuing Recruitment And Retention Pressures
- The Need To Maintain Civilian Pay Comparability
- The Financial Resources Available To Defence
The Review Body concluded that an award matching the wider-economy median of 3.2% risked weakening what it described as a fragile recovery in Armed Forces recruitment and retention. It consequently recommended 3.6%.
How Are Recruitment And Retention Affecting Armed Forces Pay?
Recruitment and retention continue to influence both the headline pay award and targeted payments.
The position has improved in some areas. Government figures published with the pay announcement show that more people are now joining than leaving overall, with total UK Armed Forces strength reported at 183,410 at the time of the June announcement.
However, the AFPRB’s assessment when preparing its report was more cautious. It said the trained strength of all three Services remained critically short of requirement and fragile, despite modest improvements.
That helps explain why the package combines a general pay increase with targeted measures for areas such as submariners, nurses, engineering, cyber capabilities and other specialist roles.
How Is Armed Forces Pay Decided?
Armed Forces pay is reviewed through an independent recommendation process rather than being determined solely by a fixed inflation formula.
The broad process involves:
- Evidence Is Submitted
The MOD and other stakeholders provide information covering workforce pressures, remuneration, affordability and economic conditions. - The AFPRB Reviews The Evidence
The independent Review Body considers pay comparisons, recruitment, retention, morale and Service conditions. - Recommendations Are Made
The AFPRB submits recommendations to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence. - The Government Responds
Ministers decide whether the recommendations will be accepted. - New Pay Rates Are Implemented
Approved rates are reflected through the military payroll system.
For 2026/27, the Government accepted the recommendations in full.
What Happens With The Armed Forces Pay Rise In 2027?
The 2027/28 Armed Forces pay round has already begun, but there is currently no confirmed percentage increase for 2027/28.
The Defence Secretary formally commenced the next pay round in July 2026. The MOD is expected to submit evidence covering available Defence funding, recruitment and retention, earnings and wider strategic priorities.
The important distinction for personnel is that:
- 6% Is Confirmed For 2026/27
- No Final 2027/28 Percentage Has Yet Been Confirmed
- Any Estimates For 2027 Should Not Be Treated As A Pay Award
What Should Armed Forces Personnel Check On Their Payslip?
Once the 2026 rates are reflected in pay, personnel should check more than the headline percentage.
Important items include:
- Basic Pay – Check that the correct new rate applies to your rank and increment.
- Backdated Pay – The basic-pay award applies from 1 April 2026.
- Specialist Payments – Confirm any applicable 3.6% increases.
- Retention Payments – Check separately where role-specific schemes apply.
- Accommodation Charges – Remember that applicable accommodation increases are not backdated.
- Pension Deductions – Increased pensionable pay can affect contribution amounts.
- Tax And National Insurance – A higher gross salary does not translate directly into the same percentage increase in take-home pay.
- JPA Information – Check that rank, increment, allowances and personal information remain accurate.
Where an amount appears incorrect, personnel should normally raise the matter through their Service administrative or HR channels.
Conclusion
The Armed Forces pay rise 2026 is confirmed at 3.6%, applying from 1 April 2026 and backdated to that date. It takes starting pay for Other Ranks to £27,282, junior officer starting pay to £35,926, and the average Armed Forces salary to around £45,710.
The headline figure is only one part of the 2026 package.
Several specialist and retention payments have also increased, military nurses receive major changes to their pay structure, selected submariners gain an additional retention measure and accommodation charges have changed according to their band or grade.
The biggest distinction is between serving pay and pensions. Serving personnel received the 3.6% basic-pay award, while qualifying public service pensions already in payment increased by 3.8%.
The next Armed Forces pay round is underway for 2027/28, but no final percentage for that year has yet been announced.
FAQs
How Much Is The Armed Forces Pay Rise In 2026?
The confirmed Armed Forces pay rise for 2026/27 is 3.6%. The Government accepted the AFPRB recommendation in full.
When Does The 2026 Armed Forces Pay Rise Start?
The increase applies from 1 April 2026, even though the formal announcement was made in June.
Is The Armed Forces Pay Rise Backdated To April 2026?
Yes. The 3.6% basic-pay award is backdated to 1 April 2026.
How Much Does A Soldier Earn In The UK In 2026?
Pay depends on rank, trade and experience. Initial pay for Other Ranks increased to £27,282 a year from 1 April 2026.
Are Armed Forces Pensions Increasing In 2026?
Yes. Public service pensions that qualify for the full annual increase rose by 3.8% from 6 April 2026.
Are Military Allowances Increasing In 2026?
Several specialist payments, Recruitment and Retention Payments and compensatory allowances increased by 3.6%, although not every military allowance automatically receives the same uplift.
Will There Be Another Armed Forces Pay Rise In 2027?
The 2027/28 pay review is underway, but no final Armed Forces pay-rise percentage for 2027/28 has yet been confirmed.
