Military Pay Calculator 2026
Look up 2026 active duty basic pay from the official DFAS pay charts, add BAS and BAH, and see your total military compensation including the tax advantage.
Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser · Last reviewed November 2026
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About the Military Pay Calculator 2026
This military pay calculator uses the official 2026 basic pay charts published by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), effective January 1, 2026. Pick your pay grade and years of service to see monthly and annual basic pay. Enter your duty station ZIP code and the calculator looks up your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the official 2026 DoD rate tables by ZIP code, pay grade and dependents, and adds the 2026 Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) of $328.48 for officers and $476.95 for enlisted members. Because BAS and BAH are not subject to federal income tax, it also shows the tax advantage and your regular military compensation (RMC). Reservists and Guard members can add drills to see drill pay.
See the standalone BAH calculator, verify rates on the official DTMO lookup and compare against the DFAS pay tables.
How to use it
- Select your pay grade and enter your cumulative years of service.
- Enter your duty station ZIP code (BAH is filled in from the official 2026 DoD tables), choose dependents and your marginal federal tax rate.
- Optionally add reserve or Guard drills per month, then press Calculate military pay.
How military pay is calculated
- Basic pay comes from the pay chart by grade and cumulative years of service. It is taxable.
- BAS covers food. In 2026 it is $328.48 a month for officers and $476.95 for enlisted members, and it is not taxed.
- BAH covers housing, varies by location, grade and dependents, and is not taxed.
- Regular military compensation (RMC) = basic pay + BAS + BAH + the tax advantage of the untaxed allowances.
- Drill pay for reservists is 1/30 of monthly basic pay per drill period.
2026 monthly basic pay examples (DFAS)
| Grade | Years of service | Monthly basic pay | Annual basic pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | 2 years | $2,407.20 | $28,886 |
| E-3 | 2 years | $2,836.80 | $34,042 |
| E-5 | 6 years | $3,946.80 | $47,362 |
| E-6 | 10 years | $4,612.80 | $55,354 |
| E-7 | 14 years | $5,591.70 | $67,100 |
| O-1 | 2 years | $4,150.20 | $49,802 |
| O-3 | 6 years | $7,382.70 | $88,592 |
| O-4 | 12 years | $9,420.00 | $113,040 |
Example: E-5 with 6 years of service
Monthly basic pay is $3,946.80 ($47,362 a year). Add $476.95 BAS and a $2,000 BAH and total monthly cash pay is $6,423.75. At a 12% marginal rate, the tax advantage on BAS and BAH is about $3,567 a year, giving a regular military compensation of about $80,652.
Other pay not included
This calculator covers basic pay, BAS, BAH and drill pay. Special and incentive pays such as hazardous duty, flight, sea, hardship, imminent danger and bonuses, plus the clothing allowance, are separate and depend on your assignment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do military members make in 2026?
Basic pay in 2026 ranges from $2,407.20 a month for an E-1 with more than four months of service up to $18,999.90 a month for the highest officer grades, before BAS and BAH.
What is the 2026 BAS rate?
$476.95 a month for enlisted members and $328.48 for officers, effective January 1, 2026.
Is BAH taxable?
No. BAH and BAS are not subject to federal income tax and generally not to FICA, which is why total compensation is higher than the paycheck suggests.
How do I find my BAH?
Enter your duty station ZIP code and dependent status. The calculator pulls your rate from the official 2026 DoD BAH tables.
How does drill pay work?
A reservist or Guard member earns 1/30 of monthly basic pay for each drill period, so a typical four-drill weekend pays 4/30 of monthly basic pay.
How many years of service do I enter?
Use your cumulative years of creditable service. The charts step up at each listed year, so 6.1 years uses the over-6 column.
Last reviewed: November 2026. Basic pay and BAS use the official 2026 DFAS tables effective January 1, 2026. BAH depends on location and is entered by you. Estimates only.