MILITARY Salary Scale Nigeria 2026 — Full Grade Table
Nigerian Military Pay Structure
Covers: Officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Salaries range from ₦70,000/month to ₦1,362,651/month.
What is the MILITARY Salary Scale?
Nigeria's military pay structure covers all three services — Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force — under a unified pay framework coordinated by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and the Ministry of Defence. The structure runs from Private/Ordinary Seaman/Aircraftman at the lowest rank to General/Admiral/Air Marshal at the top. Military pay has been revised multiple times, most recently following the 2024 minimum wage adjustment. Officers commissioned through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) enter at Second Lieutenant/Sub-Lieutenant/Pilot Officer.
Who Qualifies for MILITARY?
The Nigerian military pays its personnel through the Defence Headquarters payroll. Soldiers enlist as Recruits and graduate as Privates/Ordinary Seamen/Aircraftmen. Officers are commissioned through the NDA (a 5-year degree programme) or through direct short service commission for degree holders in relevant fields (medicine, law, engineering). Specialist corps — Signals, Engineers, Medical — have specific entry requirements.
MILITARY Full Grade Table 2026 — All 16 Grades
| Grade | Role / Title | Entry Qualification | Step 1 Annual | Step 1 Monthly | Step 3 Annual | Step 6 Annual | Step 9 (max) | Take-home est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIL-01 Entry | Private / Ordinary Seaman / Aircraftman | Enlistment (SSCE) | ₦840,000 | ₦70,000 /mo | ₦890,000 | ₦960,000 | ₦1,055,000 | ₦101,500–₦127,479 |
| MIL-02 | Lance Corporal / Able Seaman / Leading Aircraftman | Promotion | ₦950,000 | ₦79,166 /mo | ₦1,010,000 | ₦1,095,000 | ₦1,205,000 | ₦114,790–₦145,604 |
| MIL-03 | Corporal / Leading Rating / Corporal | Promotion | ₦1,050,000 | ₦87,500 /mo | ₦1,120,000 | ₦1,215,000 | ₦1,335,000 | ₦126,875–₦161,312 |
| MIL-04 | Sergeant / Petty Officer / Sergeant | Promotion | ₦1,200,000 | ₦100,000 /mo | ₦1,290,000 | ₦1,405,000 | ₦1,545,000 | ₦145,000–₦186,687 |
| MIL-05 | Staff Sergeant / CPO / Flight Sergeant | Promotion | ₦1,350,000 | ₦112,500 /mo | ₦1,460,000 | ₦1,595,000 | ₦1,755,000 | ₦163,125–₦212,062 |
| MIL-06 | Warrant Officer Class 2 / WO / WO | Promotion | ₦1,550,000 | ₦129,166 /mo | ₦1,680,000 | ₦1,840,000 | ₦2,025,000 | ₦187,290–₦244,687 |
| MIL-07 | Warrant Officer Class 1 / MWO / MWO | Promotion | ₦1,800,000 | ₦150,000 /mo | ₦1,960,000 | ₦2,155,000 | ₦2,370,000 | ₦217,500–₦286,375 |
| MIL-08 | 2nd Lieutenant / Sub-Lieutenant / Pilot Officer Officer entry — NDA commissioned | NDA / Short Service Commission | ₦2,100,000 | ₦175,000 /mo | ₦2,310,000 | ₦2,550,000 | ₦2,805,000 | ₦253,750–₦338,937 |
| MIL-09 | Lieutenant / Sub-Lieutenant (Sn) / Flying Officer | Promotion / Short Svc | ₦2,500,000 | ₦208,333 /mo | ₦2,760,000 | ₦3,060,000 | ₦3,365,000 | ₦302,082–₦406,604 |
| MIL-10 | Captain / Lieutenant / Flight Lieutenant | Promotion | ₦3,000,000 | ₦250,000 /mo | ₦3,330,000 | ₦3,720,000 | ₦4,095,000 | ₦362,500–₦494,812 |
| MIL-11 | Major / Lieutenant Commander / Squadron Leader | Promotion | ₦3,700,000 | ₦308,333 /mo | ₦4,130,000 | ₦4,640,000 | ₦5,105,000 | ₦447,082–₦616,854 |
| MIL-12 | Lt Colonel / Commander / Wing Commander | Promotion | ₦4,600,000 | ₦383,333 /mo | ₦5,150,000 | ₦5,820,000 | ₦6,405,000 | ₦555,832–₦773,937 |
| MIL-13 | Colonel / Captain (Navy) / Group Captain | Promotion | ₦5,800,000 | ₦483,333 /mo | ₦6,510,000 | ₦7,400,000 | ₦8,140,000 | ₦700,832–₦983,583 |
| MIL-14 | Brigadier General / Commodore / Air Commodore | Promotion | ₦7,500,000 | ₦625,000 /mo | ₦8,430,000 | ₦9,640,000 | ₦10,600,000 | ₦906,250–₦1,280,833 |
| MIL-15 | Major General / Rear Admiral / Air Vice Marshal | Promotion | ₦10,000,000 | ₦833,333 /mo | ₦11,230,000 | ₦12,870,000 | ₦14,150,000 | ₦1,208,332–₦1,709,791 |
| MIL-16 Top | Lt General / Vice Admiral / Air Marshal + General/Admiral/Air Marshal Top military rank | Promotion | ₦13,000,000 | ₦1,083,333 /mo | — | ₦16,351,815 | ₦16,351,815 | ₦1,570,832–₦1,975,844 |
Take-home estimate adds 45% allowances to monthly basic . Steps 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 are intermediate — add proportionally. Figures are basic salary only. Updated: September 4, 2026.
💡 MILITARY Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026
Select your grade and step to estimate monthly take-home pay including all 7 MILITARY allowances.
⚠️ Estimates only. Actual pay depends on your posting, step, and current NSIWC circulars. Verify with your payroll office.
MILITARY Allowances 2026
In addition to basic salary, MILITARY workers receive the following allowances. These significantly increase total take-home pay above the basic salary figures in the grade table.
| Allowance | Type | Rate | Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Allowance | Percent | 20% | of annual basic salary | Barracks accommodation or housing allowance |
| Transport Allowance | Percent | 15% | of annual basic salary | Officers receive official vehicles additionally |
| Operational Allowance | Variable | 20000–100000 | per month | Depends on posting — operational zones higher |
| Hazard / Combat Allowance | Variable | 30000–150000 | per month | Higher for operations in Borno, NW Nigeria |
| Leave Allowance | Percent | 10% | of annual basic salary | Annual |
| Death Benefit (NOK) | Fixed | ₦0/mo | lump sum | Paid to next-of-kin on death in service |
| Specialist Pay | Variable | varies | per month | Pilot pay, EOD, diving — specialist increments |
MILITARY in Context — 2026
Nigeria's military is one of Africa's largest and most active, with deployments in the northeast against Boko Haram/ISWAP, counterinsurgency operations in the northwest, and peacekeeping missions across Africa under ECOWAS and the UN. Military pay has improved significantly since the 2000s, but armed forces personnel — particularly junior ranks — continue to complain about pay delays, poor welfare, and inadequate death benefits for those killed in operation.
FAQs — MILITARY Salary Scale Nigeria
What is the MILITARY salary scale in Nigeria?
MILITARY (Nigerian Military Pay Structure) is the salary structure for officers and soldiers of the nigerian army, navy, and air force in Nigeria. The entry-level grade earns approximately ₦70,000/month basic at Step 1. The highest grade reaches approximately ₦1,362,651/month. The scale has 16 grade levels and 7 allowance categories. It is administered by the DHQ / MOD. Last updated: September 2026.
How much does a MILITARY worker earn per month in Nigeria?
Monthly salaries under MILITARY range from approximately ₦70,000 at entry level to ₦1,362,651 at the top grade. These are basic salary figures — total take-home is higher when housing, transport, and other allowances are added. Standard allowances total approximately 45% of annual basic salary per year.
How does MILITARY compare to the minimum wage?
Nigeria's minimum wage is ₦70,000/month (₦840,000/year) as of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. The MILITARY entry grade earns approximately ₦70,000/month basic — ₦0/month above the minimum wage.
What allowances do MILITARY workers receive?
MILITARY workers receive the following allowances: Housing Allowance: 20% of of annual basic salary (Barracks accommodation or housing allowance); Transport Allowance: 15% of of annual basic salary (Officers receive official vehicles additionally); Operational Allowance: ₦20,000 variable (Depends on posting — operational zones higher); Hazard / Combat Allowance: ₦30,000 variable (Higher for operations in Borno, NW Nigeria); Leave Allowance: 10% of of annual basic salary (Annual); Death Benefit (NOK): ₦0 fixed (Paid to next-of-kin on death in service); Specialist Pay: ₦0 variable (Pilot pay, EOD, diving — specialist increments). These allowances are added to basic salary to determine total take-home pay.
Who qualifies for MILITARY in Nigeria?
The Nigerian military pays its personnel through the Defence Headquarters payroll. Soldiers enlist as Recruits and graduate as Privates/Ordinary Seamen/Aircraftmen. Officers are commissioned through the NDA (a 5-year degree programme) or through direct short service commission for degree holders in relevant fields (medicine, law, engineering). Specialist corps — Signals, Engineers, Medical — have specific entry requirements.