About the Military Pay Calculator
This military pay calculator looks up 2026 basic pay for active-duty members by pay grade (E-1 to E-9, W-1 to W-5, O-1 to O-10 and the O-1E to O-3E prior-service rates) and cumulative years of service, then adds Basic Allowance for Subsistence and the Basic Allowance for Housing you enter to give total monthly and annual pay.
It is useful for recruits comparing options, service members planning around a promotion or longevity raise, and families budgeting for a PCS move. Because BAH depends on duty-station ZIP code, rank and dependency status, enter your rate from the DoD BAH calculator; BAS is filled in automatically at the 2026 enlisted or officer rate.
Base pay comes from the January 2026 DFAS tables (including the Executive Schedule caps of $15,408.30 for O-6 and below and $18,999.90 for general and flag officers). Years of service follow the table columns: "Over 4" means more than 4 full years. BAH and BAS are tax-free; special and incentive pays, drill pay, COLA and taxes are not included.
With the default inputs, the total monthly pay and allowances is $6,586.95. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the military pay calculator
- 1Choose your pay grade (use O-1E to O-3E if you have over 4 years of prior enlisted or warrant service).
- 2Enter your years of service from your Pay Entry Base Date.
- 3Look up your BAH for your duty-station ZIP code and dependency status and enter it.
- 4Leave BAS on unless you are on a meal card, and add any special pays.
- 5Read total monthly and annual pay, and check the table for upcoming longevity raises.
Formula and method
Basic pay is set by Congress each year and published by DFAS as a table of monthly rates by pay grade and cumulative years of service. Columns change at more than 2, 3, 4 and 6 years and then every two years up to 40, so a member with exactly 4 years is paid at the "Over 3" rate until the day after their fourth anniversary. Some grades (E-8, E-9, W-5, O-9, O-10 and the O-E rates) have no rate in the early columns.
BAS is a flat monthly food allowance ($476.95 enlisted, $328.48 officers in 2026). BAH varies by duty-station ZIP code, grade and whether you have dependants, so it is entered rather than looked up. Both allowances are excluded from federal income tax, while basic pay is taxable.
- YOS
- Cumulative years of service for pay purposes
- BAS
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence (monthly)
- BAH
- Basic Allowance for Housing (monthly, location-based)
Worked examples
E-5 with 6½ years, $2,000 BAH
At 6.5 years an E-5 is in the "Over 6" column: $4,110.00 a month. Adding enlisted BAS of $476.95 and $2,000 BAH gives $6,586.95 a month, or $79,043.40 a year, of which $49,320 is taxable basic pay.
O-3 with 4 years exactly, $2,800 BAH
Exactly 4 years is not "over 4", so the O-3 "Over 3" rate of $6,770.40 applies. Officer BAS of $328.48 and $2,800 BAH bring the total to $9,898.88 a month.
E-1 recruit, first 3 months, no BAH
An E-1 with less than 4 months of service earns $2,225.70 a month, rising to $2,407.20 after four months. With BAS of $476.95 and no BAH while living in barracks, total pay is $2,702.65.
Frequently asked questions
How much did military pay increase in 2026?+
Basic pay rose 3.8% for all grades on 1 January 2026. For example, E-4 pay over 2 years is $3,303.00 a month and O-1 pay with 2 years or less is $4,150.20. BAS rose to $476.95 for enlisted members and $328.48 for officers.
How do years of service work on the pay chart?+
Columns are labelled "2 or less", "Over 2", "Over 3", "Over 4" and so on. You move to the next column the day after you pass the threshold, so a member with exactly 4 years is still paid at the "Over 3" rate.
Is BAH taxable?+
No. BAH, BAS and most other allowances are excluded from federal income tax and generally from state tax. Only basic pay and most special and incentive pays are taxable, which is why military compensation is often worth more than an equivalent civilian salary.
How do I find my BAH rate?+
Use the Defense Travel Management Office BAH calculator: enter the year, your duty-station ZIP code and pay grade to see rates with and without dependants. BAH is based on where you are stationed, not where you live.
What are O-1E, O-2E and O-3E rates?+
They are higher pay rates for commissioned officers in grades O-1 to O-3 who have more than 4 years of prior active service as an enlisted member or warrant officer. They recognise prior experience and start at the "Over 4" column.
Is there a cap on military basic pay?+
Yes. In 2026 basic pay is capped at $15,408.30 a month (Executive Schedule level V) for O-6 and below and $18,999.90 (level II) for O-7 to O-10, which is why senior officer columns flatten out.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.