US Air Force Enlisted Rank Timeline

1947-2004

1947-1976

Pay Grade September

1947 April

1949 April

1952 Dec.

1958 Feb.

1959 March

1967 Oct.

1967 June

1976 pre-1949 post-1949 E-9

Chief Master Sergeant

of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant

of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sergeant E-8

Senior Master Sergeant

Senior Master Sergeant

Senior Master Sergeant

Senior Master Sergeant

Senior Master Sergeant 1 E-7

First Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant 2 E-6

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant 3 E-5

Staff

Sergeant

Technician

3rd Grade

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant 4 E-4

Sergeant



Technician

4th Grade

Sergeant

Airman 1st Class

Airman 1st Class

Airman 1st Class

Airman 1st Class

Sergeant

Sergeant



Senior Airman 5 E-3

Corporal

Technician

5th Grade

Corporal

Airman 2nd Class

Airman 2nd Class

Airman 2nd Class

Airman 2nd Class

Airman 1st Class

Airman 1st Class 6 E-2

Private 1st Class

Private 1st Class

Airman 3rd Class

Airman 3rd Class

Airman 3rd Class

Airman 3rd Class

Airman

Airman 7 E-1

Private

Private

Basic Airman

Basic Airman

Airman Basic

Airman Basic

Airman Basic

Airman Basic September

1947 April

1949 April

1952 Dec.

1958 Feb.

1959 March

1967 Oct.

1967 June

1976 1976-present Pay Grade June 1976 1993 November 2004 E-9

Chief Master Sergeant

of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant

of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant

of the Air Force

Chief Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sergeant E-8

Senior Master Sergeant

Senior Master Sergeant

Senior Master Sergeant E-7

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant

Master Sergeant E-6

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant

Technical Sergeant E-5

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant E-4

Sergeant



Senior Airman

Senior Airman

Senior Airman E-3

Airman 1st Class

Airman 1st Class

Airman 1st Class E-2

Airman

Airman

Airman E-1

Airman Basic

Airman Basic

Airman Basic June 1976 1993 November 2004

Reference:

US Department of the Air Force, Air Force Historical Research Agency, A Timeline of the Enlisted Rank Chevron of the United States Air Force, 1993

All text and images © Justin T. Broderick, 2013 unless otherwise indicated.