What does an Army Major take home 2026/27?

On the £68,624 entry figure, take-home is about £50,359 a year or £4,197 a month, after Income Tax and National Insurance and with no pension deduction. At £81,960, the top increment available outside the RAF Engineer stream, it is about £58,094.

Why does the Major scale go higher for some officers?

Increments OF3-09 to OF3-13, running to £90,371, are open only to RAF Engineer Officers and only by selection. For every other Major the scale tops out at £81,960.

Do Majors pay pension contributions?

No. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 is non-contributory, which is unusual among public service schemes - NHS, teachers, police, fire and the Civil Service all deduct a member contribution. Take-home is therefore gross less Income Tax and National Insurance.

Army Major Salary 2026/27: OF-3 Take-Home

Major is OF-3 on the NATO scale, equivalent to an RAF Squadron Leader and a Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £68,624 to £81,960 across eight increment levels. The published OF-3 scale carries five further increments to £90,371, but the pay tables reserve those for RAF Engineer Officers by selection, so no Army Major reaches them. Figures include X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026.

Typical pay & take-home

OF3-05: £75,292
OF3-01 to OF3-08, the increments open to an Army Major: £68,624–£81,960
Take-home at median: £54,227 England, no pension applied — use the salary calculator for your scheme.

At the median for this profession, you earn about 93% above the UK full-time median (£39,039), placing you in the top 11% of UK earners.

See exact take-home for £75,292 →

The AFPRB scales after the 3.6% award, with the four trade supplements for Other Ranks and take-home on a non-contributory pension: Armed forces pay scales 2026/27, every rank →

What influences army major (of-3) pay

Officers have no trade supplements, so unlike the other ranks a Major on a given increment is paid one figure. Progression is by increment, from £68,624 at OF3-01 and OF3-02 up to £81,960 at OF3-08.

The published scale continues to £90,371, but increments OF3-09 to OF3-13 are restricted to RAF Engineer Officers by selection. A Major elsewhere in the Services tops out at £81,960, and quoting £90,371 as the rank maximum without that qualification overstates it for almost everyone holding it.

The whole range sits inside the 40% higher-rate band, which starts at £50,270. Nothing here reaches the £100,000 personal allowance taper.

X-Factor is already inside these figures. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 is non-contributory, so take-home is gross less Income Tax and National Insurance with no member contribution.

Career progression

Lieutenant (OF-1): £35,925 to £47,351.
Captain (OF-2): £54,716 to £64,852.
Major (OF-3): £68,624 to £81,960, or £90,371 for RAF Engineer Officers.
Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4): £95,850 to £110,806.
Colonel (OF-5): £115,881 to £127,272.

Frequently asked questions

What does an Army Major take home 2026/27?: On the £68,624 entry figure, take-home is about £50,359 a year or £4,197 a month, after Income Tax and National Insurance and with no pension deduction. At £81,960, the top increment available outside the RAF Engineer stream, it is about £58,094.
Why does the Major scale go higher for some officers?: Increments OF3-09 to OF3-13, running to £90,371, are open only to RAF Engineer Officers and only by selection. For every other Major the scale tops out at £81,960.
Do Majors pay pension contributions?: No. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 is non-contributory, which is unusual among public service schemes - NHS, teachers, police, fire and the Civil Service all deduct a member contribution. Take-home is therefore gross less Income Tax and National Insurance.

All UK professions →