How military pay works
Military compensation consists of multiple components, not just the base pay you see on pay charts. Total compensation includes:
- Base Pay — determined by pay grade (rank) and years of service. Taxable.
- BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) — tax-free housing allowance based on rank, location, and dependency status.
- BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) — tax-free food allowance ($452.56 enlisted, $311.68 officers in 2026).
- Special & Incentive Pays — hazardous duty, flight pay, dive pay, foreign language proficiency, etc.
2026 pay raise: Military base pay increased 4.5% for 2026, the largest raise in over 20 years. This applies to all pay grades and years of service.
2026 military pay chart
Monthly base pay by rank and years of service. This military pay chart 2026 covers key enlisted and officer ranks. Want to know E-5 pay? An E-5 starts at $2,849 and reaches $3,553 at 10+ years:
| Grade | <2 yrs | 4 yrs | 8 yrs | 12 yrs | 20 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,997 | $1,997 | $1,997 | $1,997 | $1,997 |
| E-2 | $2,239 | $2,239 | $2,239 | $2,239 | $2,239 |
| E-3 | $2,354 | $2,588 | $2,588 | $2,588 | $2,588 |
| E-4 | $2,610 | $2,889 | $3,011 | $3,011 | $3,011 |
| E-5 | $2,849 | $3,182 | $3,440 | $3,553 | $3,553 |
| E-6 | $3,110 | $3,565 | $3,935 | $4,198 | $4,374 |
| E-7 | $3,544 | $4,213 | $4,600 | $4,908 | $5,484 |
| E-8 | — | — | $5,165 | $5,497 | $6,210 |
| E-9 | — | — | — | $6,441 | $7,232 |
| O-1 | $3,826 | $4,815 | $4,815 | $4,815 | $4,815 |
| O-2 | $4,407 | $5,779 | $5,779 | $6,218 | $6,218 |
| O-3 | $5,150 | $6,878 | $7,575 | $8,050 | $8,400 |
| O-4 | $5,862 | $7,340 | $8,185 | $8,940 | $9,752 |
| O-5 | $6,818 | $8,310 | $8,950 | $9,875 | $11,262 |
| O-6 | $8,183 | $9,580 | $10,038 | $10,095 | $12,345 |
Monthly base pay only. Does not include BAH, BAS, or special pays. Source: DFAS 2026 pay tables.
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) explained
BAH is the military's tax-free housing allowance. Use this BAH calculator above to estimate your allowance. BAH rates depend on three factors:
- Pay grade — higher rank = higher BAH
- Duty station — rates based on local housing costs (ZIP code)
- Dependency status — with dependents receives higher BAH (typically 15–25% more)
Note: This calculator uses national average BAH rates. Actual BAH varies significantly by duty station — from about $900/month at low-cost bases to $4,500+/month in San Francisco or New York City. Check the DoD BAH website for your specific ZIP code.
BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) explained
BAS offsets the cost of meals. Unlike BAH, BAS is the same regardless of location or dependents:
Enlisted BAS (2026)
$452.56/month
Officer BAS (2026)
$311.68/month
Special pays & bonuses
Beyond base pay, BAH, and BAS, military members can earn additional special and incentive pays. Wondering about Navy SEAL pay? SEALs earn standard base pay plus multiple special pays:
| Special Pay | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Hazardous Duty / Imminent Danger | $150–$250 |
| Flight Pay (aircrew) | $150–$840 |
| Dive Pay | $150–$240 |
| Foreign Language Proficiency | $100–$500 |
| Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) | $75–$450 |
| Combat Zone Tax Exclusion | All pay tax-free |
Tax-free benefits
A significant portion of military compensation is tax-free, making it worth more than an equivalent civilian salary:
Tax-Free
- BAH (housing allowance)
- BAS (food allowance)
- Combat zone pay
- COLA (cost-of-living allowance)
- Family Separation Allowance
Taxable
- Base pay
- Most special pays
- Bonuses (enlistment, reenlistment)
Military vs. civilian pay comparison
Military compensation looks lower than civilian pay when comparing base pay alone. But when you factor in tax-free allowances, free healthcare, retirement, and other benefits, the picture changes significantly:
| Component | E-5 (6 yrs) | O-3 (6 yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Base pay (annual) | $39,792 | $90,900 |
| BAH (tax-free, annual) | $20,952 | $25,884 |
| BAS (tax-free, annual) | $5,431 | $3,740 |
| Healthcare value | ~$8,000 | ~$8,000 |
| Total compensation | ~$74,175 | ~$128,524 |
Due to tax-free allowances, an E-5 earning $74K in total compensation would need a civilian salary of approximately $85,000–$90,000 to match, once you account for taxes and health insurance premiums.
Pay by branch
All U.S. military branches use the same pay table. Whether you're in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force, an E-5 with 6 years earns the same base pay. However, each branch has different specialty pays and bonuses:
Army & Marines
How much do Marines get paid? Same base pay as all branches. Army and Marine infantry, Rangers, and special operations can earn hazardous duty pay, jump pay, and combat pay. Army National Guard pay is calculated per drill period — about 1/30th of monthly base pay per drill, with 4 drills per weekend.
Navy & Coast Guard
Navy SEAL pay includes base pay plus dive pay ($240), SDAP ($375–$450), and demolition pay ($150). US Coast Guard starting pay begins at E-1 ($1,997/month) — the same as every other branch. Sea pay adds $50–$730/month for shipboard duty.
Air Force & Space Force
Same base pay table. Flight pay (aircrew) ranges from $150–$840/month. Space Force uses the same Air Force pay structure. AFSOC (Air Force Special Operations) personnel can qualify for SDAP and hazardous duty pay.
FAQs
How much does the military pay?
Military pay depends on rank and years of service. In 2026, an entry-level enlisted member (E-1) earns $1,997/month in base pay. A mid-career sergeant (E-5) with 6 years earns about $3,316/month. A new officer (O-1) starts at $3,826/month. On top of base pay, service members receive tax-free BAH (housing allowance) and BAS (food allowance), which can add $1,500–$3,000+/month depending on rank and location.
What is BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing)?
BAH is a monthly tax-free allowance that covers housing costs for service members who don't live in government quarters. The amount depends on your pay grade, duty station ZIP code, and dependency status (with or without dependents). BAH rates are set annually by the DoD and vary dramatically by location — from around $1,000/month in low-cost areas to $4,000+/month in high-cost cities like San Francisco or New York.
Is BAH taxable?
No — BAH is completely tax-free at the federal, state, and local level. This is one of the biggest financial advantages of military compensation. BAH is also not counted as income for Social Security or Medicare taxes. For example, an E-5 receiving $1,746/month in BAH effectively earns $1,746 more than a civilian would need to earn about $2,300 pre-tax to match that amount.
How much do Marines get paid?
Marines are paid on the same DoD pay scale as all other branches. An entry-level Marine (E-1) earns $1,997/month base pay. A Corporal (E-4) with 4 years earns $2,889/month. A Sergeant (E-5) with 6 years earns $3,316/month. Total compensation including BAH and BAS is significantly higher. A Marine Staff Sergeant (E-6) with 8 years can earn $5,800+/month total including allowances.
What does an E-5 make?
An E-5 (Sergeant/Petty Officer 2nd Class) earns $2,849/month base pay at entry, rising to $3,316/month at 6 years and $3,553/month at 10+ years. With BAH ($1,746 average with dependents) and BAS ($452.56), total monthly compensation is approximately $5,050–$5,750. Annual total: $60,600–$69,000. The tax-free nature of BAH and BAS makes the effective value even higher.
How much do Navy SEALs get paid?
Navy SEALs earn the same base pay as any other service member of the same rank and YOS. However, they receive additional special pays: Dive Pay ($240/month), SDAP (Special Duty Assignment Pay, $375–$450/month), Demolition Pay ($150/month), and potential enlistment/reenlistment bonuses of $40,000–$100,000+. A SEAL at E-6 with 10 years might earn $5,500+/month base + allowances + $765+/month in special pays.
What is Coast Guard starting pay?
US Coast Guard starting pay is the same as all other military branches — the DoD pay table applies uniformly. A Coast Guard recruit (E-1) earns $1,997/month base pay. After completing boot camp (8 weeks), most advance to E-2 ($2,239/month). With BAH and BAS, total starting compensation is approximately $3,800–$4,200/month depending on duty station. Coast Guard members also receive the same benefits: healthcare, housing, GI Bill, and retirement.
How does Army National Guard pay work?
Army National Guard members are paid for each drill period. A standard drill weekend counts as 4 drill periods (2 days × 2 periods each). Monthly drill pay = (base pay ÷ 30) × 4. An E-4 National Guard soldier with 4 years earns about $385 per drill weekend. During annual training (typically 2 weeks), Guard members earn full active-duty pay. When activated/deployed, Guard members receive full active-duty pay plus all allowances.
How does military retirement work?
The Blended Retirement System (BRS, for those joining after 2018) combines: 1) A defined pension: 2% × years of service × average of highest 36 months of base pay — payable at 20 years. At 20 years, that's 40% of base pay. 2) TSP matching: DoD matches up to 5% of base pay in the Thrift Savings Plan. 3) Continuation pay: a lump-sum bonus at 12 years. Legacy retirement (pre-2018) provides 2.5% per year with no TSP match.
Do officers get BAH?
Yes — all service members who are not assigned government quarters receive BAH, regardless of whether they're enlisted, warrant officers, or commissioned officers. Officer BAH rates are generally higher because they're tied to pay grade. An O-3 (Captain) averages $2,157/month BAH with dependents nationally, while an O-6 (Colonel) averages $2,721/month. Like enlisted BAH, officer BAH is completely tax-free.
What is BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence)?
BAS is a monthly tax-free allowance to offset the cost of meals. In 2026, enlisted members receive $452.56/month and officers receive $311.68/month. BAS is the same regardless of rank within the enlisted/officer categories, duty station, or dependency status. Unlike BAH, BAS does not vary by location. Service members who eat in government dining facilities (like on a ship) typically do not receive BAS.
How much does the Army pay?
Army pay follows the same DoD pay table as all branches. Key 2026 monthly base pay rates: E-1 (Private) $1,997, E-4 (Specialist) $2,610–$2,889, E-5 (Sergeant) $2,849–$3,553, E-7 (SFC) $3,544–$5,590, O-1 (2LT) $3,826–$4,815, O-3 (Captain) $5,150–$8,400. Total compensation including BAH, BAS, healthcare, and retirement benefits makes military pay competitive with civilian jobs, especially at junior ranks.