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Air Force Airman First Class Pay

E-3 Enlisted Airman, U.S. Air Force
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Salary of a Airman First Class How much does an E-3 Airman First Class in the Air Force get paid?

A Airman First Class is a enlisted airman in the United States Air Force at DoD paygrade E-3. A Airman First Class receives a monthly basic pay salary starting at $2,161 per month, with raises up to $2,436 per month once they have served for over 3 years.

In addition to basic pay, Airman First Classs may receive additional pay allowances for housing and food, as well as special incentive pay for hostile fire and dangerous duties.


Including the most common pay allowances, the average total compensation for a Airman First Class may range from $46,128.59 to $49,429.79 per year as of 2024.

Air Force Airman First Class 2024 Salary Air Force Airman First Class Basic Pay Table for 2024
Years Experience Monthly Basic Pay Yearly Basic Pay Drill Pay Hazard Pay
Starting Pay$2,160.60 / mo$25,927.20 / yr$72.02 / drill$150.00
Over 2 years$2,296.50 / mo$27,558.00 / yr$76.55 / drill$150.00
Over 3 years$2,435.70 / mo$29,228.40 / yr$81.19 / drill$150.00

Additional Pay & Allowances for an E-3

In addition to Basic Pay, a Airman First Class may be eligible to receive several types of allowances and incentive pay.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

Basic Allowance for Housing is a monthly payment meant to subsidize a servicemember's housing while deployed. The amount of BAH received each month depends on the location in which they live.

The average Basic Housing Allowance for a Airman First Class with dependants is $1,624.68, or $1,276.47 with no dependants.

Basic Allowance for Subsistance (BAS)

All enlisted members of the Air Force receive a monthly allowance for food and drink of $406.98.

Enlisted members' BAS is higher than officers' BAS, as enlisted members are generally responsible for buying their own food.

Hazard Pay / Hostile Fire Pay

A Airman First Class may receive hazard pay of $150.00 / mo while serving in an active combat zone or subject to hostile fire or other hazards.


Military Discounts & Benefits for Airmen:

In addition to basic pay and allowances, active-duty airmen, veterans, and even their families are eligible for hundreds of discounts and additional benefits offered by organizations and private companies like JetBlue , United Airlines , Verizon , and hundreds more.

Learn more about Military Discounts

Salary of a Airman First Class Airman First Class Pay Calculator for 2024

As this page shows, the total compensation paid to an Air Force Airman First Class is significantly more than just basic pay. This simple pay calculator can estimate the total compensation for a Airman First Class by adding basic pay to housing allowance (BAH) and subsistance allowance (BAS), the two largest payments received by most airmen.

Air Force Airman First Class Pay Calculator Air Force Airman First Class Salary Calculator
E-3 Basic Pay with years service $25,927.20 per year
Average BAH allowance (no dependants) $15,317.63 per year
Average BAS allowance (enlisted) $4,883.76 per year
Total Estimated Compensation $46,128.59 per year

The Government civilian employee equivalent of a Airman First Class is paid under the General Schedule paygrade. To learn more, see this Air Force ranks to civilian General Schedule grades conversion table .