Military Pay Calculator

Calculate total military compensation including base pay, BAH, and BAS by rank, years of service and duty station.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: DFAS

Dependents

Total Monthly Pay

$7,570.95

Annual Compensation

$90,851.40

Tax-Free (Monthly)

$3,623.95

BAH + BAS

Pay Breakdown

Base Pay$3,947.00/mo
BAH (Housing, CA038)$3,147.00/mo
BAS (Subsistence — Enlisted)$476.95/mo
Total Monthly$7,570.95
Total Annual$90,851.40
Tax-Free Portion (Annual)$43,487.40

Use the Military Pay Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Total military compensation rarely comes from a single line item, which is why this tool stitches base pay together with Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) into one 2026 figure. Seeing the full picture by rank and years of service makes budgeting, saving, and career decisions far easier than reading any one paycheck component in isolation.

Base pay is read straight from the DFAS 2026 basic pay chart, cell by cell, using your pay grade and the years-of-service column that applies to you after the 3.8% raise that took effect on January 1, 2026. BAH is looked up rather than estimated: pick one of twelve large duty stations and the calculator uses the official 2026 DTMO rate for your grade and dependency status, or choose on-base housing to leave it out. For any other duty station, look up your rate with the DoD BAH calculator. BAS is the one flat figure: $476.95 a month for enlisted members and $328.48 for officers in 2026, regardless of grade, years of service or dependents.

Because BAH tracks local housing markets, a transfer across the country can swing your total noticeably even if your rank never changes. The output here is an estimate, and your real pay can differ once specific allowances, deductions, or late rate adjustments are factored in. Your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) holds the authoritative numbers, and a financial advisor can translate them into a plan suited to your situation.

Example: E-5 with 6 Years of Service, Married, in San Diego, CA

  1. 1 Input: Rank: E-5, Years of Service: 6, Dependents: Yes, Duty Station: San Diego, CA.
  2. 2 Calculation: Base Pay from the DFAS 2026 chart, E-5 over 6 years = $4,109.70, shown as $4,110. BAH from the 2026 DTMO table for San Diego (MHA CA038), E-5 with dependents = $3,975. BAS (enlisted, 2026) = $476.95.
  3. 3 Result: Total Estimated Monthly Compensation = $4,110 + $3,975 + $476.95 = $8,561.95, or $102,743.40 a year. Of that, $4,451.95 a month is tax-free, because BAH and BAS are not taxable income.
  4. 4 Context: the tax-free allowances are what make military compensation hard to compare against a civilian salary; this E-5's $102,743 goes further than a civilian job paying the same. Stationed at Fort Bragg instead, the same E-5 would receive $1,806 in BAH, and the monthly total would fall to $6,392.95.

Source: DFAS · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How is military base pay determined?
Base pay depends on rank (pay grade E-1 through O-10) and years of service, and it steps up at set years-of-service cells rather than continuously. On the DFAS 2026 chart, which reflects the 3.8% raise effective January 1, 2026, an E-5 with 6 years earns $4,109.70 a month, rising to $4,300.20 at 8 years and topping out at $4,422.30 from 12 years. Grades O-7 through O-10 are capped at Executive Schedule Level II.
What is BAH and how is it calculated?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) covers housing costs based on your duty station's ZIP code, your pay grade and whether you have dependents. There is no national rate: in 2026 an E-5 with dependents receives $1,806 a month at Fort Bragg, $3,975 in San Diego and $5,127 in San Francisco. It is not taxable income.
Is military pay tax-free?
Base pay and most allowances are subject to federal tax. However, BAH and BAS are tax-free. Combat zone pay is entirely tax-free. State tax treatment varies; some states (like Texas and Florida) have no income tax, and others exempt military pay.

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