What is the pay grade for the rank Private?

• A. E-1
• B. E-2
• C. E-3
• D. E-4

Answer: (A)

Pay grades for enlisted soldiers start at the lowest level and step up with time in service and promotions. The rank Private is the entry-level enlisted rank, and it is assigned pay grade E-1. This is the starting pay rate when you enlist, and there’s no insignia for this grade. As soldiers gain experience or earn promotions, they move up to higher pay grades such as E-2 and E-3 for Private Second Class and Private First Class, respectively, and then to E-4 and beyond. So the reason this choice fits best is that Private begins at the very bottom of the enlisted pay scale, E-1.