For the purpose of computing their basic pay, commissioned officers of the uniformed services (other than commissioned warrant officers) are assigned by the grade or rank in which serving to the following pay grades: Pay grade Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps Navy, Coast Guard, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Public Health Service O–10 General Admiral Assistant Secretary for Health. O–9 Lieutenant general Vice admiral Surgeon General. O–8 Major general Rear admiral Deputy Surgeon General. Assistant Surgeon General having rank of major general. O–7 Brigadier general Rear admiral (lower half) Assistant Surgeon General having of brigadier general. O–6 Colonel Captain Director grade. O–5 Lieutenant colonel Commander Senior . O–4 Major Lieutenant commander Full . O–3 Captain Lieutenant Senior assistant . O–2 1st lieu­tenant Lieutenant (junior ) Assistant . O–1 2d lieu­tenant Ensign Junior assistant .

For the purpose of computing their basic pay, warrant officers of the armed forces are assigned, by the warrant officer grade in which serving, to the following pay grades: Pay : Warrant Officer W–5  Chief Warrant Officer, W–5. W–4  Chief , W–4. W–3  Chief , W–3. W–2  Chief , W–2. W–1  , W–1.

Unless entitled to the basic pay of a higher pay grade, an aviation cadet of the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard is entitled to monthly basic pay at the lowest rate prescribed for pay grade E–4.

Unless he is entitled to the basic pay of a higher pay grade, an aviation pilot of the Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve is entitled to monthly basic pay at the rate prescribed for pay grade E–5.

Except as provided by subsections (c) and (d), enlisted members of the uniformed services shall, for the purpose of computing their basic pay, be distributed by the Secretary concerned in the various enlisted pay grades set forth in section 203 of this title. However, except as provided by section 307 of this title, an enlisted member may not be placed in pay grade E–8 or E–9 until he has completed at least 8 years or 10 years, respectively, of enlisted service computed under section 205 of this title.

(Pub. L. 87–649, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 453; Pub. L. 88–132, § 3(a), Oct. 2, 1963, 77 Stat. 212; Pub. L. 89–718, § 49(a)(1), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1121; Pub. L. 91–278, § 3(1), June 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 306; Pub. L. 95–79, title III, § 302(a)(1), July 30, 1977, 91 Stat. 326; Pub. L. 96–76, title III, § 313(a), Sept. 29, 1979, 93 Stat. 586; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §§ 506(3), 516(2), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2918, 2937; Pub. L. 97–86, title IV, § 405(c), Dec. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 1106; Pub. L. 98–94, title IX, § 932(d), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 650; Pub. L. 98–557, § 25(b)(1), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2872; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 514(d)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 101–502, § 5(k)(2), Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1289; Pub. L. 102–25, title VII, § 701(b)(1), (c), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 117; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VI, § 605, title XI, § 1111(b), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1374, 1491; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 515(d)(1)(B), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3236.)