On this page 13 sections
- Pak Army ranks and salary in Pakistan at a glance
- Soldiers and non-commissioned officers
- Junior commissioned officers
- Commissioned officers
- What the BPS numbers really mean
- Pak Army pay scale 2026
- Allowances in 2026
- Take-home pay by rank (estimates)
- Benefits beyond salary
- Promotion path
- How to join the Pakistan Army
- Mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
The Pakistan Army has 18 ranks in three groups: soldiers and non-commissioned officers, junior commissioned officers, and commissioned officers. The lowest rank is Sepoy. The highest is Field Marshal, above General. This guide lists every rank with its insignia, its commonly used BPS equivalent, and its 2026 pay.
Pay is set by the Finance Division, not by the civilian BPS chart. The Army has its own pay scales. The BPS numbers in this guide are the equivalence most sources use, not an official military scale. The pay figures below come from the Finance Division’s 2026 notification.
Pak Army ranks and salary in Pakistan at a glance#
| Total ranks | 18, in three groups |
| Lowest rank | Sepoy (BPS-5) |
| Highest rank | Field Marshal (above General) |
| Sepoy starting basic pay | Rs 21,830 a month (2026 scale) |
| Sepoy take-home | About Rs 38,000 to 50,000 a month with allowances (estimate) |
| ARA-2026 | 7% on the new basic pay |
| 2nd Lieutenant | BPS-17, about Rs 65,000 to 85,000 a month (estimate) |
| General | Apex Scale, Rs 600,000+ a month (estimate) |
| How to join | Apply on joinpakarmy.gov.pk |
Soldiers and non-commissioned officers#
These are the other ranks. A soldier joins as a Sepoy and is promoted up the ladder. NCO insignia is worn on the sleeves. In combat uniform it is worn on the chest.
| Rank | Insignia | BPS equivalent |
| Sepoy (Sowar in the armoured corps) | None. Plain uniform. | BPS-5 |
| Lance Naik (Lance Daffadar) | One chevron (V-shaped stripe) | BPS-6 |
| Naik (Daffadar) | Two chevrons | BPS-7 |
| Havildar (Daffadar) | Three chevrons | BPS-8 |
Sepoy is the entry rank. A soldier is promoted to Lance Naik, then Naik, then Havildar. Havildar is the senior NCO rank. Senior Havildars hold appointments like Company Havildar Major and Battalion Havildar Major.
Junior commissioned officers#
JCOs are promoted from the ranks. They are the link between soldiers and officers. JCO insignia is worn on the shoulders, on a red and green stripe.
| Rank | Insignia | BPS equivalent |
| Naib Subedar (Naib Risaldar) | One pip on the stripe | BPS-14 |
| Subedar (Risaldar) | Two pips on the stripe | BPS-15 |
| Subedar Major (Risaldar Major) | Crescent and star on the stripe | BPS-16 |
Subedar Major is the highest rank a sepoy can reach without a commission. A soldier who wants to become an officer must pass the ISSB and join as a cadet. Our ISSB process guide explains the selection.
Commissioned officers#
Officers are commissioned after training at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. They start as Second Lieutenants and rise by time and merit. The table below lists all eleven officer ranks.
| Rank | Insignia | BPS equivalent |
| Second Lieutenant | One pip | BPS-17 |
| Lieutenant | Two pips | BPS-17 |
| Captain | Three pips | BPS-18 |
| Major | Crescent and star | BPS-18 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Crescent, star and pip | BPS-19 |
| Colonel | Two pips, crown, crossed sword and baton | BPS-20 |
| Brigadier | Three pips, crossed sword and baton | BPS-20 |
| Major General | Crossed sword and baton plus one pip | BPS-21 |
| Lieutenant General | Crossed sword and baton plus crescent and star | BPS-22 |
| General | Crossed sword and baton plus crescent, star and pip | Apex Scale |
| Field Marshal | Five stars | Above General |
A Major General is a two-star general. A Lieutenant General is a three-star general. The General is the four-star Chief of Army Staff. Field Marshal is a five-star rank, above General, and is rarely conferred.
What the BPS numbers really mean#
The BPS numbers above are the commonly used civilian equivalence. They are not an official military scale. The Army pays on its own scales, coded Z, Y and X in the Finance Division notification. Sepoy is Z-3. Lance Naik is Y-1. Naik is Y-2. Havildar is Y-3.
Some list Subedar Major as BPS-16, others as BPS-17. Some list Havildar as BPS-8, others as BPS-11. Some list the General as BPS-22, others as Apex Scale. Treat any single BPS table as an approximation. For the civilian pay chart, see our BPS 1-22 salary chart.
Pak Army pay scale 2026#
The Finance Division revised the Armed Forces pay scales from 1 July 2026. Basic pay was fixed point-to-point from the 2024 scales to the 2026 scales. The official figures for a Sepoy are:
| Sepoy (Z-3) | 2024 scale | 2026 scale |
| Starting basic pay | Rs 18,160 | Rs 21,830 |
| Annual increment | Rs 950 | Rs 1,150 |
| Maximum basic pay | Rs 46,660 | Rs 56,330 |
The Ad-hoc Relief Allowance 2026 is 7% on the new basic pay. For a Sepoy at the starting stage, that is Rs 1,528 a month. The old allowances were merged into the basic pay: ARA-2022 (15%) and ARA-2025 (10%) ceased. House Rent Allowance and other fixed percentage allowances stay frozen at their 30 June 2026 levels.
Allowances in 2026#
The Finance Division revised defence allowances by Office Memorandum No.41(1)R-5/2025 dated 21 July 2026, effective from 1 July 2026. The main monthly rates are:
| Allowance | Rate per month |
| Disturbance Pay | JCOs Rs 1,830; soldiers Rs 1,455 |
| CILQ (in lieu of quarters) | JCOs Rs 4,600; NCOs Rs 3,084; soldiers Rs 2,430 |
| Batman Allowance | JCOs and soldiers Rs 4,000 |
| Danger Money | Officers Rs 6,000; JCOs Rs 3,750; soldiers Rs 3,000 |
| Uniform monetization | JCOs and soldiers Rs 14,791 per year |
Officers in hard areas like Siachen or Waziristan get an additional hard area allowance of about 30 to 50% of basic pay. In the June 2025 budget, officers received a 50% Special Allowance on running basic pay, and soldiers and JCOs received a 20% increase in allowances.
Take-home pay by rank (estimates)#
Take-home pay is basic pay plus allowances, minus deductions. It varies by posting, allowances and deductions. The figures below are estimates from 2026 sources, not an official schedule.
| Rank | Estimated monthly take-home |
| Sepoy | Rs 38,000 to 50,000 |
| Lance Naik | Rs 45,000 to 52,000 |
| Naik | Rs 48,000 to 55,000 |
| Havildar | Rs 55,000 to 65,000 |
| Naib Subedar | Rs 65,000 to 75,000 |
| Subedar | Rs 75,000 to 85,000 |
| Subedar Major | Rs 90,000 to 105,000 |
| Second Lieutenant | Rs 65,000 to 85,000 |
| Major General | Rs 350,000+ |
| Lieutenant General | Rs 450,000+ |
| General | Rs 600,000+ |
Do not plan on a single exact figure. Two soldiers of the same rank can take home different amounts if one is posted in a hard area and the other is not. The official part of the pay is the basic pay on the 2026 scale. The rest is allowances.
Benefits beyond salary#
The salary is only part of the package. Army personnel get free medical treatment at CMH and military hospitals for themselves and their family, including parents, spouse and children. They get a monthly ration of atta, ghee, sugar and rice. They get accommodation or a house rent allowance. Their children get education support. After service, they get a pension.
Promotion path#
Soldier path: Sepoy, then Lance Naik, then Naik, then Havildar, then Naib Subedar, then Subedar, then Subedar Major. Promotion depends on service, courses and vacancies.
Officer path: Second Lieutenant, then Lieutenant, then Captain, then Major, then Lieutenant Colonel, then Colonel, then Brigadier, then Major General, then Lieutenant General, then General. Early promotions are by time. Senior promotions are by selection board.
How to join the Pakistan Army#
Apply on the official portal, joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Soldiers join as Sepoy through the Army Selection and Recruitment Centres. Officers join through the PMA Long Course after ISSB selection. Our how to join Pak Army guide covers the routes, eligibility and steps. For all forces jobs, see our forces jobs hub.
Mistakes to avoid#
Trusting one salary figure. Take-home pay varies by posting and allowances. Only the basic pay on the 2026 scale is fixed. Any single monthly figure you see online is an estimate.
Treating BPS as the Army scale. The Army has its own Z, Y and X scales. BPS numbers are a civilian equivalence.
Applying through an agent. Apply only on joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Anyone who asks for money for a seat or a rank is running a scam.
Expecting fast promotion. Promotion to Havildar and above needs service, courses and vacancies. Subedar Major is the top of the soldier path.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the salary of a sepoy?
A sepoy’s starting basic pay is Rs 21,830 a month on the 2026 scale, with an annual increment of Rs 1,150 and a maximum of Rs 56,330. With 7% ARA-2026 and allowances like CILQ and disturbance pay, total take-home is about Rs 38,000 to 50,000 a month, by estimate. The exact amount varies by posting and allowances.
Which rank is equal to BPS-17?
Second Lieutenant and Lieutenant are both equal to BPS-17 in the commonly used equivalence. Captain and Major are equal to BPS-18. The BPS numbers are an approximation. The Army has its own pay scales.
What is the highest rank in the Pakistan Army?
Field Marshal is the highest rank, above General. It is a five-star rank and is rarely conferred. The General, the four-star Chief of Army Staff, is the highest rank in regular service.
How long does it take to become a Major?
An officer is commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after PMA training, then promoted to Lieutenant and Captain by time. Major comes after several years of service, depending on courses and vacancies. Senior ranks above Major are by selection board, not by time alone.
Does a sepoy get a pension?
Yes. Army personnel get a pension after service, under the military pension rules. The pension depends on rank, length of service and last pay. Family also gets medical cover at CMH hospitals after retirement.
Where do I apply to join the Pakistan Army?
Apply on the official portal, joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Soldiers apply as Sepoy through the Army Selection and Recruitment Centres. Officers apply for the PMA Long Course after ISSB selection. Our how to join Pak Army guide covers the routes and eligibility.
