Use this military pay calculator to see your current compensation or to determine compensation based on a change in rank, service years, location or number of dependents.
The pay calculator is meant to provide an idea of total income, and should not be used to determine actual salary. There are several factors that might shift the amount including dependents, time in service, and special pay.
Military Pay Calculator
Calculate Military Compensation
* Enter Duty zip code and not residence zip code. BAH rates are based on duty zip code.
** Click here for the OHA calculator (Overseas Housing Allowance calculator)
How to use the Military Pay Calculator
Simply enter your paygrade, years of service, and if you receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), your Duty Station ZIP code and number of dependents.
Easily view current annual and monthly compensation and what if scenarios such as a BAH pay increase for getting married. You can also reset the calculator’s results by adjusting the factors. For example, if you receive BAH, getting married or adding child can increase compensation.
Note: Adding a dependent is a one time increase, additional dependents does NOT increase Regular Military Compensation (RMC).
Use the Military Pay Calculator to estimate military salary by rank, location, and the branch of service. Pay estimates reflect all 6 branches of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard) and do not include Guard and Reserve Pay.
Taxable and tax-free portions are separated for convenience. Knowing which pay is tax-free can help estimate income tax advantages.
You may also qualify for additional special pay based on your duties, such as hazard pay.
REGULAR MILITARY COMPENSATION (RMC)
The calculator includes all Regular Military Compensation (RMC) including Base Pay, BAH, BAS. Compensation can be toggled to show monthly and annual earnings.
COMPONENTS OF MILITARY PAY
Base Pay (aka Basic Pay): Basic pay is determined by rank and length of service. Basic pay is taxable, unlike allowances and makes up the largest portion of compensation.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): A housing allowance for servicemembers. BAH is determined by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status.
Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): BAS offsets the cost of a servicemember’s meal. Enlisted members get full BAS but pay for all meals including those provided by the government.
Duty Station Zip Code: BAH is based on the duty station zip code. Typically, BAH totals are higher in metropolitan areas than in rural area assignments.
Special Pay: Service members can earn additional Special Pay through specialty positions or missions. Special Pay is capped at two additional earnings per month.
Paygrade: A system of letters and numbers to classify servicemembers pay.
- “E” = Enlisted Member
- “W” = Warrant Officer
- “O” = Commissioned Officer
- The number indicates the level of pay for each letter where “1” is the beginning level of pay
Pay Scale Year – Military compensation typically increases each year. See current, present and future compensation by selecting different pay scale years.
Years of Service – The numbers of years a servicemember has served.
Dependents – For purposes of pay and allowance a dependent is:
- Spouse
- Unmarried Child
- Under 21
- Unable to support oneself because of mental or physical incapacity, and is dependent on the servicemember for more than half of the child’s support
- Under 23, enrolled full-time in an institution of higher education and is dependent on the servicemember for more than half of the child’s support
- The term Child includes
- Stepchild
- Adopted child
- Child outside of marriage
- The term Child includes
- Parent if
- Dependent on the servicemember for more than half of the parent’s support
- The term Parent includes
- Natural, stepparent or adoptive parent of servicemember or spouse
- Adopted child
- Child outside of marriage
The 2020 Military Pay Tables can be found here.