The 2018 military pay increase has been approved at 2.4% where originally it was proposed at 2.1%. The 2.4% increase became final on Dec. 12, 2017 when President Trump signed the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act into law. The NDAA’s 2.4% increase match’s the private sector wage growth.
Find out of the proposed 2019 military pay increase or see the proposed military pay charts.
Pay increases will be effective on Jan. 1, 2018 and be reflected on the first paychecks that go out on Jan. 12, 2018.
Next Steps:
- President Trump signed the NDAA into law on 12-12/2017. The 2017 version was signed into law on Dec. 23, 2016.
See the 2018 military pay charts based on a 2.4% pay increase.
The annual pay increase for service members is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Cost Index and growth in private-sector wages. However, by law, Title 37, Chapter 19, Section 1009, the President can set an alternate pay raise which is being proposed in the 2018 Defense Budget, and was also proposed and implemented for 2017.
Historical Military Pay Raises by Year
| Year | Military Pay Raise | Year | Military Pay Raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.6% (projected) | 1992 | 4.2% |
| 2022 | 2.7% (projected) | 1991 | 4.1% |
| 2021 | 3% | 1990 | 3.6% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | 1989 | 4.1% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | 1988 | 2% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | 1987 | 3% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | 1986 | 3% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | 1985 | 4% |
| 2015 | 1% | 1984 | 4% |
| 2014 | 1% | 1983 | 4% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | 1982 | 14.3% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | 1981 | 11.7% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | 1980 | 7% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | 1979 | 5.5% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | 1978 | 7.1% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | 1977 | 4.8% |
| 2007 * | 2.7% | 1976 | 5.% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | 1975 | 5.52% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | 1974 | 6.2% |
| 2004 * | 4.2% | 1973 | 6.7% |
| 2003 * | 4.7% | 1972 | 7.2% |
| 2002 * | 6.9% | 1971 | 7.9% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | 1970 | 8.1% |
| 2000 | 6.2% | 1969 | 12.6% |
| 1999 | 3.6% | 1968 | 6.8% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | 1967 | 5.6% |
| 1997 | 3% | 1966 | 3.2% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | 1965 | E: 11% O: 6% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | 1964 | 2.5% - 8.5% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | 1963 | 12.6% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | 1962 | None |
* 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007 are the average percentage raise as military pay raises differed for various military pay grades.
2018 military pay increases are for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces; Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, and Reserve forces where applicable.
