Time spent at sea on a posted vessel.
Australian Defence Force · Cross-Service
Same base salary. Different titles.
One table to compare.
Every NATO pay grade earns identical base salary across Navy, Army and Air Force — the difference is in titles and allowances. For example, OR-5 covers Petty Officer (Navy), Sergeant (Army), and Sergeant (Air Force) — all on the same base pay. Use the table below to line up ranks across services, or jump straight to a per-service pay table.
- Pay grades
- OR-2 → OF-8
- Rank rows
- 18
- Super
- 16.4%
- Latest increase
- +3.4%
Enlisted + Officer range
Across all three services
vs 12% civilian SG
Effective 6 November 2025
Quick lookup
Pick a rank, see the equivalents
Choose a service and rank to see the matching titles in the other two services and the shared base salary at that NATO pay grade.
NATO pay grade
OR-5
Base salary / yr
$97,575 – $148,091
Cross-service rank ladder
Cross-Service Rank Equivalencies
Ranks at the same NATO pay grade earn identical base salary across Navy, Army and Air Force. Ceremonial OF-9 ranks (Admiral, General, Air Chief Marshal) are omitted because no pay rates are published.
On top of base pay
Pay & Conditions ManualADF allowances and benefits
ADF superannuation
16.4%vs 12% civilian standard(+4.4pp)
ADF members receive a 16.4% employer super rate — well above the standard Super Guarantee.
Service-specific cash allowancesWhat each service pays on top of shared base salary
Navy2
Qualified submariners on submarine postings.
Army2
Paid while exercising or operating in the field.
Compensates the unique demands of military service.
Air Force2
Aircrew performing flying duties — rate by category.
Retention payment for specific aircrew specialisations.
Shared cash allowancesAvailable across Navy, Army and Air Force
Warlike and non-warlike operations — rate by zone and threat level.
Remote postings such as Darwin, Townsville, Tindal.
Non-cash benefitsHousing, healthcare and support — same for every service
- ADF Health (medical and dental)IncludedAll permanent members
- Defence housing (DHA)DHADefence Housing Australia
- Uniforms and kitIssuedMaintained at Defence cost
- Tax-free deploymentOperationalOn certified deployments
- Retention bonusConditionalSpecialist trades
- Fully paid trainingLifelongTrade, leadership, degree pathways
Rates and eligibility set by ADF Pay and Conditions.
What enlisted ranks actually do
Enlisted ranks form the backbone of the ADF workforce. Members enter as recruits and progress through increasingly senior positions based on time in service, qualifications, and demonstrated leadership.
OR-2Seaman / Private / Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman
Entry-level rank for members who have completed initial employment training. Performs core duties under direct supervision while building foundational skills in their trade or specialisation.
OR-3Able Seaman / Private Proficient / Leading Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman
Qualified junior member who has demonstrated proficiency in their trade. Carries out specialist or general duties with less direct supervision than the entry-level rank.
OR-4Leading Seaman / Corporal
First supervisory rank, responsible for leading small teams and coordinating day-to-day work within a section. Expected to mentor junior members and manage task-level outcomes.
OR-5Petty Officer / Sergeant
Senior non-commissioned rank that leads sections and manages technical or operational work. Responsible for training, discipline, and welfare of subordinate members.
Compare basics
Frequently asked
What does the ADF rank chart show?
The ADF rank chart maps every Navy, Army and Air Force rank to a shared NATO pay code — OR-2 through OR-9 for enlisted members and OF-1 through OF-8 for officers. Each NATO code defines a pay grade set by the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal, and members at the same pay grade earn identical base salary regardless of service. The table above lists every published rank; ceremonial OF-9 ranks (Admiral, General, Air Chief Marshal) are omitted because no pay rates are published for them.
What is a NATO rank code?
NATO rank codes provide a standardised way to compare military ranks across countries and services. Enlisted ranks use the OR (Other Ranks) prefix; officer ranks use OF (Officer). In the ADF, OR-4 covers Leading Seaman (Navy), Corporal (Army), and Corporal (Air Force) — all on the same pay grade. OR-5 covers Petty Officer, Sergeant, and Sergeant. OF-2 covers Lieutenant (Navy), Captain (Army), and Flight Lieutenant (Air Force).
What is an ADF pay grade?
An ADF pay grade is the salary tier attached to a NATO rank code, set by the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal. Pay grades span the OR family from OR-2 through OR-9 for enlisted members and the OF family from OF-1 through OF-8 for commissioned officers. Members at the same pay grade receive the same base salary regardless of service, with periodic increment steps within each grade reflecting time-in-grade and qualifications.
Why does the ADF rank chart skip OR-8?
The ADF's NATO mapping skips OR-8. OR-7 covers all ADF warrant officers, with internal tiers (A, B and C) for command appointments. OR-9 is reserved for the single most senior enlisted appointment in each service: Warrant Officer of the Navy, Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army, and Warrant Officer of the Air Force — one person holds each position at a time. The intermediate OR-8 band isn't used because no ADF rank sits between the warrant officer ladder and the apex appointment in the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal's pay structure.
Do Navy, Army and Air Force earn the same pay at the same rank?
At base salary, yes — every NATO pay grade pays the same across Navy, Army and Air Force. A Navy Petty Officer, an Army Sergeant and an Air Force Sergeant are all OR-5 equivalents on identical base pay. Total compensation can diverge because each service pays distinct allowances on top of base: Navy members on oceangoing or submarine postings receive seagoing and submarine allowances; Army members on field deployment receive field and combat allowances; Air Force aircrew receive flying allowances. A Navy submariner and an Army field engineer at the same rank can end up with materially different take-home pay even though their base salary matches.
What does CPL stand for in the ADF?
CPL stands for Corporal — an OR-4 ranked position in the Army and Air Force. Corporals are the first supervisory rank, leading small teams and mentoring junior members. The Navy equivalent at OR-4 is Leading Seaman (LS).
What is the highest rank in the ADF?
The highest ceremonial rank in each service is Admiral (Navy), General (Army), and Air Chief Marshal (Air Force) — all NATO OF-9. These ranks are rarely held and do not appear in published pay tables. The highest rank with published pay rates is OF-8: Vice Admiral (VADM) in the Navy, Lieutenant General (LTGEN) in the Army, and Air Marshal (AIRMSHL) in the Air Force.
Are ADF rank titles the same across all three services?
No — each service keeps its own rank titles. A Navy Petty Officer (PO), Army Sergeant (SGT) and Air Force Sergeant (SGT) all sit at NATO OR-5 with the same pay, but carry different titles and traditions. The ADF rank chart above lists every NATO code with the three service-equivalent titles side by side.
What is the difference between ADF warrant officer tiers?
ADF warrant officers at NATO OR-7 are split into tiers (A, B, and C) reflecting increasing responsibility and organisational influence. Tier A provides specialist expertise and team leadership. Tier B holds broader supervisory roles. Tier C represents the highest warrant level focused on strategic advice and standards. All three tiers share the OR-7 NATO code and base pay, with allowances and command appointments differentiating them.