Which rank is E3?

• A. Private E2
• B. Sergeant
• C. Private First Class
• D. Master Sergeant

Answer: (C)

Pay grade E-3 is the third enlisted level. In the Army, this corresponds to the rank of Private First Class, which comes after Private Second Class (E-2) and before the E-4 ranks like Specialist or Corporal. The other options map to different pay grades: Private Second Class is lower, Sergeant is higher, and Master Sergeant is much higher. Remember, different services nickname E-3 differently (for example, the Marines use Lance Corporal, the Air Force uses Airman First Class), but the Army-style E-3 name shown here is Private First Class.