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UK Armed Forces pay, pensions and payslips 2026/27

One place for every PayslipIQ military guide: service pay scales, the X-factor, deployment allowances, AFPS 15 and the McCloud remedy.

How UK Armed Forces pay works in 2026/27

UK Armed Forces pay is set on a common pay spine across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force by the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body (AFPRB). For 2026/27 the government accepted the AFPRB's recommended 3.6% rise for all ranks, backdated to 1 April 2026, taking the starting salary for junior ranks to £27,282. On top of basic pay, every regular Service person receives the 14.5% X-factor, and all serve in the non-contributory AFPS 15 pension. Pay is administered by Defence Business Services through JPA, in 12 equal monthly instalments.

Sources: AFPRB Fifty-Fifth Report 2026, gov.uk pay award announcement (9 June 2026), MOD Discover My Benefits - X-factor.

Pay by service

RAF pay scales

Other Ranks and Officer scales, aircrew flying pay and specialist supplements, plus how a JPA payslip is built line by line.

Army pay scales

Private to WO1 and Second Lieutenant to Colonel on the published AFPRB scales, with Trade Supplement bands and a worked Corporal payslip.

Royal Navy pay

Ratings and Officer scales, submarine pay and the Dolphins bonus, sea-service allowances and what changes on the payslip while deployed.

Pay elements and allowances

X-factor deep dive

Why every regular gets 14.5% on top of basic pay, what the X-factor does and does not apply to, and how it feeds tax and pension.

Service tax reliefs

Operational Allowance (tax-free), LSA, GYH Travel, the EFE concession and the FSE deduction - and how they interact on deployment.

Pensions

AFPS 15 explained

The non-contributory Armed Forces pension: 1/47 CARE accrual, the Early Departure Payment at the 20-year point and resettlement support.

Annual Allowance for senior officers

How promotion and CPI revaluation push senior officers over the £60,000 Annual Allowance, and when Scheme Pays is the right answer.

McCloud remedy

The remedy choice for pre-2015 joiners: Remediable Service Statements, the deferred choice underpin and the tax consequences.

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