Use the Military Pay Calculator to see your current, past and proposed future military pay by rank, location and branch of service. The calculator includes all Regular Military Compensation (RMC) including Base Pay, BAH, BAS and which portions that are taxable and tax-free. See compensation by month and annually. Other options to calculate your total pay include where you live and the number of dependents you have. This pay calculator is for all branches of the U.S. Armed forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard.
The 2021 military pay increase was 3% based on the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.
See also the 2021 military pay charts with a 3 percent increase.
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)
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About Military Pay
Two main factors affect how military pay is calculated: years of service and rank, which generally corresponds with military pay grade. Basic pay rates are calculated monthly, rather than weekly or bimonthly. Monthly pay is automatically split in half and distributed twice a month, some branches allow service members to opt to receive a monthly lump sum instead.
Take-home pay is impacted by automatic deductions for things like taxes, garnishments, Savings Deposit Program (SDP) and Thrift Savings Plan contributions.
Basic Compensation Package
The basic compensation package provided to all service members includes:
- Basic pay
- Housing allowance (or government-provided housing)
- Subsistence allowance (or government-provided meals)
- Free medical and dental care for service members
- Free or low-cost medical and dental care for dependents
- Paid annual leave
Allowances
Allowances are the second most important part of military pay after Basic Pay and most allowances are non-taxable. Allowances provide for specific needs, such as food or housing.
The pay calculator includes the most common allowances Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS).
Other Types of Allowances include:
Special and Incentive pays
Special and Incentive pays are ways to earn over and above the basic rate or allowances, regardless of time in the service or pay grade.
Some Types S & I Pay:
- Hardship Duty Pay (HDP)
- Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay
- Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP)
- Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP)
There are more than 60 special and incentive pays.
Glossary of Military Pay Calculator Terms
Basic Allowance for Houseing (BAH): A housing allowance for servicemembers in local civilian housing markets within the United States when government quarters are not provided. 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.
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.
Branch of Service: The United States Armed Forces has 5 branches of service: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Corps, and Coast Guard.
Duty Station Zip Code: BAH is based on the duty station zip code.
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
Payscale Year: Military compensation typically increases each year. See current, present and future compensation by selecting different payscale years.
Regular Military Compensation (RMC): The sum of base pay, BAH, BAS, and the federal income tax advantage from tax-free allowances. Regular military compensation is the approximate amount of an equivalent civilian salary. RMC does not include all compensation (e.g. special and incentive pays and bonuses, reimbursements, educational assistance, deferred compensation, or any estimate of the cash value of non-monetary benefits such as health care, child care, recreational facilities, commissaries, and exchanges).
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
- Incapable of support 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
- Illegitimate child
- 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
- Illegitimate child
- The term Parent includes
- Dependent on the servicemember for more than half of the parent’s support
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