Basic pay, tax-free allowances, special pays, and retirement. Your total military compensation is worth more than the basic pay stub shows.
| Grade | Under 2 Yrs | 4 Yrs | 8 Yrs | 12 Yrs | 20 Yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,407 | $2,407 | $2,407 | $2,407 | — |
| E-2 | $2,698 | $2,698 | $2,698 | $2,698 | — |
| E-3 | $2,837 | $3,198 | $3,198 | $3,198 | — |
| E-4 | $3,142 | $3,659 | $3,815 | $3,815 | — |
| E-5 | $3,343 | $3,947 | $4,300 | $4,422 | — |
| E-6 | $3,401 | $4,069 | $4,613 | $5,043 | † |
| E-7 | $3,932 | $4,673 | $5,136 | $5,592 | † |
| E-8 | — | — | $5,657 | $6,062 | † |
| E-9 | — | — | — | $7,067 | † |
| Grade | Under 2 Yrs | 4 Yrs | 8 Yrs | 12 Yrs | 20 Yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $4,150 | $5,222 | $5,222 | $5,222 | $5,222 |
| O-2 | $4,782 | $6,485 | $6,618 | $6,618 | $6,618 |
| O-3 | $5,534 | $7,383 | † | $9,004 | $9,004 |
| O-4 | $6,295 | $7,881 | † | † | $10,510 |
| O-5 | $7,295 | $8,894 | † | † | $12,033 |
| O-6 | $8,751 | † | † | $11,462 | $13,751 |
† Mid-career data not shown — see DFAS.mil for the complete 2026 pay table. Rates reflect 3.8% NDAA 2026 increase.
Tax-free monthly payment to cover housing costs when government quarters are not provided. Set by your rank, dependency status, and duty station ZIP code.
Tax-free monthly food allowance. Flat rate regardless of location or dependents — does not increase for family size.
Additional tax-free supplement for high-cost duty stations (OCONUS and some CONUS locations). Calculated against a DC baseline.
Replaces BAH for service members stationed overseas. Based on actual rental market data in the duty location country.
| Pay Type | Monthly Amount | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Hostile Fire / IDP | $225/mo | Deployed to designated combat zones |
| Hazardous Duty Pay | $150 – $250/mo | Parachute duty, demolitions, flight deck |
| Aviation Career Incentive Pay | Up to $1,000/mo | Rated aviators with 12+ years of aviation service |
| Nuclear Officer Pay | Up to $1,700/mo | Nuclear-qualified officers |
| Medical Officer Special Pay | $1,200 – $3,000/mo | Physicians, dentists, nurses on active duty |
| Special Operations Pay | $375 – $750/mo | SF, SEALs, Rangers, PJs, CCTs, etc. |
| Sea Pay | $50 – $805/mo | Sailors assigned to sea duty billets |
| Diving Duty Pay | $215 – $340/mo | Qualified military divers on diving duty |
All pay earned in a designated combat zone is excluded from federal income tax. For enlisted members this includes ALL pay; officers exclude pay up to the senior enlisted monthly rate.
BAH, BAS, OHA, and COLA are never subject to federal income tax, regardless of where you are stationed. This significantly increases the effective value of military compensation compared to a civilian salary of the same dollar amount.
For those who entered before Jan 1, 2018 (and did not opt into BRS). Retire after 20 years and receive 50% of your average basic pay from your highest 3 years. Each additional year adds 2.5%.
30 years: 75% of High-3 basic pay
No TSP match from government side
Mandatory for those who entered after Jan 1, 2018. Lowers defined benefit to 40% at 20 years but adds DoD TSP matching of up to 5% of basic pay starting at 2 years of service.
TSP matching: 1% auto + up to 4% match
Continuation Pay: Cash bonus at 12-year point
Reserve and Guard members earn one "drill day" for each 4-hour training period. A standard drill weekend (IDT) pays 4 drill days. Annual training (AT) pays regular daily active duty rates.
Yes. The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a pay raise for service members. 2026 saw a confirmed 3.8% raise via the NDAA, plus a one-time tax-free "Warrior Dividend" bonus paid to all active servicemembers. Check the official DFAS pay tables at dfas.mil for the latest approved rates.
Basic pay is taxable federal income, same as civilian wages. However, BAH and BAS are completely tax-free and do not appear on your W-2. This makes your effective compensation significantly higher than the headline number suggests.
Yes — significantly. An O-3 with 6 years earns roughly double the basic pay of an E-5 with 6 years. However, the total compensation gap narrows somewhat when senior NCO special pays, BAH, and career longevity are factored in.
Military pay raises are typically effective January 1 of each year, following the NDAA signed by Congress and the President in the prior calendar year.
DFAS publishes the official pay tables updated each January. Find your grade and years of service for the precise amount.
Official DFAS Pay Tables →