Which of the following is the NCO rank at pay grade E-6?

• A. Sergeant First Class
• B. First Sergeant
• C. Master Sergeant
• D. Staff Sergeant

Answer: (D)

In the Army, enlisted pay grades line up the NCO ladder from E-4 upward. At the E-6 level, the NCO rank is Staff Sergeant. This rank sits above E-5 Sergeant and below E-7 Sergeant First Class, forming the middle rung of the NCO echelon. Staff Sergeants typically take on squad-level leadership, supervise and train soldiers, and ensure tasks are carried out effectively, acting as a key link between junior soldiers and higher-NCO leadership. The other ranks listed occupy higher pay grades—Sergeant First Class is E-7, while Master Sergeant and First Sergeant are E-8—so they are not the E-6 rank.