Historical Military Pay Charts 1949 to 2024

Updated: August 28, 2023
Historical Military Pay Rates
Thomas Frezza, logistic support for the United States Marine Corps Historical Company, knees as a M4 Sherman tank gets in position during a tactical demonstration at the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles on Aug. 17. Frezza and active duty Marine volunteers donned World War II era Marine uniforms and weapons and engaged a fixed position. Photo by Photo by Marine Corps Cpl. Paris Capers.

Written by Veteran.com Team

In this Article

    Seeing how much service members were paid in the past provides a small glimpse of military and economic history.

    Check out these military pay charts, archived by the Defense Finance Accounting and Service (DFAS), to see how military pay today compares to what service members made in the past.

    These charts are based on basic pay, which is the primary compensation offered to United States Armed Forces members. The Department of Defense raises service member pay rates annually to accommodate cost of living increases.

    Some military members may earn more depending on various allowances and special or incentive pay.

    Click on each pay table link to see a detailed .pdf chart.

    » MORE: Service members and Veterans can buy a home with $0 down

    Historical Military Pay Charts

    DateMilitary Pay Chart
    October 1, 1949Military Pay Scale 1949
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1950
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1951
    May 1, 1952Military Pay Scale 1952
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1953
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1954
    April 1, 1955Military Pay Scale 1955
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1956
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1957
    June 1, 1958Military Pay Scale 1958
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1959
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1960
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1961
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1962
    October 1, 1963Military Pay Scale 1963
    September 1, 1964Military Pay Scale 1964
    September 1, 1965Military Pay Scale 1965
    July 1, 1966Military Pay Scale 1966
    October 1, 1967Military Pay Scale 1967
    July 1, 1968Military Pay Scale 1968
    July 1, 1969Military Pay Scale 1969
    January 1, 1970Military Pay Scale 1970
    January 1, 1971Military Pay Scale 1971
    October 1, 1971Military Pay Scale 1971
    January 1, 1972Military Pay Scale 1972
    October 1, 1972Military Pay Scale 1972
    October 1, 1973Military Pay Scale 1973
    October 1, 1974Military Pay Scale 1974
    October 1, 1975Military Pay Scale 1975
    October 1, 1976Military Pay Scale 1976
    October 1, 1977Military Pay Scale 1977
    October 1, 1978Military Pay Scale 1978
    October 1, 1979Military Pay Scale 1979
    October 1, 1980Military Pay Scale 1980
    October 1, 1981Military Pay Scale 1981
    October 1, 1982Military Pay Scale 1982
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1983
    January 1, 1984Military Pay Scale 1984
    January 1, 1985Military Pay Scale 1985
    No Pay UpdateMilitary Pay Scale 1986
    January 1, 1987Military Pay Scale 1987
    January 1, 1988Military Pay Scale 1988
    January 1, 1989Military Pay Scale 1989
    January 1, 1990Military Pay Scale 1990
    January 1, 1991Military Pay Scale 1991
    January 1, 1992Military Pay Scale 1992
    January 1, 1993Military Pay Scale 1993
    January 1, 1994Military Pay Scale 1994
    January 1, 1995Military Pay Scale 1995
    January 1, 1996Military Pay Scale 1996
    January 1, 1997Military Pay Scale 1997
    January 1, 1998Military Pay Scale 1998
    January 1, 1999Military Pay Scale 1999
    January 1, 2000Military Pay Scale 2000
    July 1, 2000Military Pay Scale 2000
    January 1, 2001Military Pay Scale 2001
    July 1, 2001Military Pay Scale 2001
    January 1, 2002Military Pay Scale 2002
    January 1, 2003Military Pay Scale 2003
    January 1, 2004Military Pay Scale 2004
    January 1, 2005Military Pay Scale 2005
    January 1, 2006Military Pay Scale 2006
    January 1, 2007Military Pay Scale 2007
    April 1, 2007Military Pay Scale 2007
    January 1, 2008Military Pay Scale 2008
    January 1, 2009Military Pay Scale 2009
    January 1, 2010Military Pay Scale 2010
    January 1, 2011Military Pay Scale 2011
    January 1, 2012Military Pay Scale 2012
    January 1, 2013Military Pay Scale 2013
    January 1, 2014Military Pay Scale 2014
    January 1, 2015Military Pay Scale 2015
    January 1, 2016Military Pay Scale 2016
    January 1, 2017Military Pay Scale 2017
    January 1, 2018Military Pay Scale 2018
    January 1, 2019Military Pay Scale 2019
    January 1, 2020Military Pay Scale 2020
    January 1, 2021Military Pay Scale 2021
    Jan 1, 2022Military Pay Scale 2022
    Jan 1, 2023Military Pay Scale 2023

    » MORE: Check your VA home loan eligibility with today's top lenders

    More Historical Military Pay Resources

    Most Popular Military Pay Articles

    2024 Military Pay Calculator

    2024 Military Pay Raise: Military Members Receive a 5.2% Increase

    2024 Military Pay Charts

     piggy bank on calendar

    2024 Military Reserve Pay Dates

     Military Allowance, Incentive, Bonus & Special Pay

    Military Allowance, Incentive, Bonus & Special Pay
    Written by Veteran.com Team