The Frontline of Military Finance

2026 Military Pay Calculator
Basic Pay · BAH · BAS

Instantly estimate your monthly military compensation for all ranks and years of service. Updated with official 2026 pay tables.

✓ Army ✓ Navy ✓ Air Force ✓ Marines ✓ Coast Guard ✓ Space Force
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4.5%
2026 Pay Raise
$1,833
E-1 Starting Pay
$481
Enlisted BAS/mo
Tax-Free
BAH & BAS Status

Military Pay Calculator

Select your pay grade, years of service, and allowances to estimate total monthly compensation.

Dependency Status
Include Allowances
Display Period
Tax Filing Status
Guard / Reserve
Used to estimate after-tax take-home pay below.
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Select your grade and years of service,
then click Calculate My Pay.

2026 Military Pay Tables

Monthly basic pay by grade and years of service — effective January 1, 2026.

ℹ️ All figures are monthly amounts in USD. Pay raises effective January 1 annually. Source: DoD/DFAS 2026 pay tables (estimated 4.5% increase from 2025).

Everything You Need to Know About Military Pay

Comprehensive tools and resources for service members and their families.

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Basic Pay Calculator

Instantly look up basic pay for any grade (E-1 to O-10) and years of service using the official 2026 pay scale.

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BAH Estimator

Estimate your Basic Allowance for Housing based on rank and dependency status. BAH is 100% tax-free income.

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BAS Calculator

Calculate your monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence. Enlisted: $480.96/mo. Officers: $331.24/mo in 2026.

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NCOER/OER Samples

Ready-to-use bullet examples for NCOER and OER evaluation reports. Copy bullets for every category and rating box.

Browse Samples →
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Full Pay Tables

Complete 2026 pay tables for enlisted, warrant officer, and commissioned officer grades across all years of service.

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Tax-Equivalent Value

Understand the true value of your compensation package. BAH and BAS are not subject to federal income tax.

Understanding Military Compensation

Military pay consists of several components that add up to a competitive total compensation package.

🎖️ Basic Pay

  • Determined by pay grade and years of service
  • Subject to federal income tax
  • Increases automatically with promotions and longevity
  • Congress approves annual percentage raises
  • Same across all military branches

🏠 BAH (Housing Allowance)

  • Covers off-post/base housing costs
  • Varies by duty station ZIP code (MHA)
  • Higher for members with dependents
  • 100% tax-free — increases effective value
  • Not paid if living in government quarters

🍽️ BAS (Subsistence Allowance)

  • Monthly food allowance for all service members
  • Enlisted: ~$480.96/mo (2026)
  • Officers: ~$331.24/mo (2026)
  • 100% tax-free income
  • Not tied to rank or years of service

⭐ Special & Incentive Pay

  • Hazardous Duty Pay (jump, flight, etc.)
  • Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP)
  • Sea Pay / Submarine Pay
  • Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus
  • Enlistment and Reenlistment Bonuses

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about military pay, allowances, and compensation.

How is military basic pay determined? ▾
Military basic pay is set by Congress and approved by the President, effective January 1 each year. Pay is determined by your pay grade (E-1 through O-10) and cumulative years of service. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sets the pay raise percentage annually, typically tied to the Employment Cost Index (ECI).
What is BAH and how is it calculated? ▾
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is a monthly, tax-free stipend paid to service members who do not live in government-provided housing. Rates are set annually by DoD based on local civilian rental costs in your Military Housing Area (MHA). Rates are higher for members with dependents and increase with rank. Use the official DoD BAH calculator at militaryonesource.mil for your specific duty station rate.
How much is the 2026 military pay raise? ▾
The 2026 military pay raise was 4.5%, effective January 1, 2026. This applies to all active duty, Reserve, and National Guard members across all pay grades. The raise is applied uniformly across the entire pay table.
Is military pay taxable? ▾
Military basic pay is subject to federal income tax (and state income tax, depending on your state of legal residence). However, BAH and BAS are 100% tax-free. Combat zone exclusion allows service members in designated combat zones to exclude all or part of their basic pay from federal taxes. This significantly increases the real value of your total compensation package.
What is the difference between basic pay and total compensation? ▾
Basic pay is just one component. Total military compensation includes basic pay, BAH, BAS, special pays (hazardous duty, flight pay, etc.), health care (TRICARE), retirement contributions (BRS), and other benefits. When BAH and BAS are factored in on a tax-equivalent basis, total compensation often significantly exceeds what the base pay number suggests.
How do I read a military pay chart? ▾
Military pay charts are organized with pay grades (E-1, E-2 ... O-10) on the left axis and years of service (YOS) columns across the top. Find your grade row, then follow it to the column matching your years of service to find your monthly basic pay. Years of service is cumulative active duty time, not time in grade or MOS.
What is drill pay for Reserve/National Guard? ▾
Reserve and National Guard members are paid for Inactive Duty Training (IDT) at 1/30th of monthly basic pay per drill period. A standard weekend drill (4 periods) equals 4/30ths of monthly basic pay. Two weeks of Annual Training (AT) is paid at full daily rates (1/30th per day) plus applicable allowances.
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