2023 Military Pay Calculator
Updated: November 28, 2023
Written by Veteran.com Team · Reviewed by Andrew Stamp to meet our Standards of Care
Military pay received a 4.6% increase in 2023 based on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023.
Lawmakers are still working on the NDAA for 2024, meaning they have not officially set the 2024 military pay rates. A House of Representatives version of the NDAA calls for a 5.2% pay increase for military members. With the House still trying to figure out a budget for 2024, no military/defense spending bill has been passed.
The below military pay calculator allows you to see current, past and proposed military pay by pay grade, location and branch of service. The calculator includes base pay, basic allowance for housing (BAH) and basic allowance for subsistence (BAS). The military pay calculator also identifies which portions of your pay are taxable and which are tax-free.
This pay calculator applies to all Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard personnel.
Find the current 2023 military pay rates here.
Calculate Military Compensation
* Enter your duty location ZIP code, not your residential ZIP code. The BAH rate is based on the duty ZIP code.
** Click here for the overseas housing allowance (OHA) Calculator.
About Military Pay
Years of service and rank determine military pay. Basic pay is calculated on a monthly basis and divided into two paychecks, which you’ll receive twice a month. Some branches allow service members to be paid monthly instead.
Take-home pay is impacted by automatic deductions for items such as taxes, garnishments and Savings Deposit Program (SDP) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions.
Basic Compensation Package
The basic compensation package all service members receive 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 another significant part of military pay. While basic pay is taxable, most allowances are not. Allowances provide for specific needs like 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 Pay
You can earn additional pay through special and incentive (S&I) payments, which are not based on years of service or rank.
Types of Special and Incentive (S&I) pay:
There are more than 60 types of S&I pay, according to DFAS. The most common S&I payments are:
- Hardship duty pay (HDP)
- Hostile fire pay/imminent danger pay
- Assignment incentive pay (AIP)
- Hazardous duty incentive pay (HDIP)
Military & Veteran Discounts
Want 30+ Military / Veteran Discounts to use today? Enter your email for updates and we'll send them straight to your inbox!
Glossary of Military Pay Calculator Terms
Basic allowance for housing (BAH): Service members who are not provided government housing and live in local civilian housing markets in the United States receive BAH, which is based on location, pay grade and whether or not they have dependents.
Basic allowance for subsistence (BAS): Service members receive BAS to help offset the cost of their meals. Enlisted members pay for all meals, including those provided by the government, but they receive full BAS.
Basic pay (aka base pay): Basic pay is the biggest part of military pay and is based on years of service and rank. It is taxable.
Branch of service: There are six branches of service within the United States Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marines Corps and Coast Guard.
Duty station ZIP code: BAH depends on the duty station’s ZIP code, not the residential one.
Pay grade: The pay grade is made up of a letter and number and is used to determine military pay.
- “E” = Enlisted member
- “W” = Warrant officer
- “O” = Commissioned officer
The number corresponds to the pay level for each letter, with “1” being the lowest level.
Pay scale year: Military compensation increases annually. See current, present and future compensation by selecting different pay scale years.
Regular military compensation (RMC): RMC includes base pay, BAH and BAS, as well as the federal income tax advantage service members receive from tax-free allowances. It does not include all compensation service members receive, such as non-monetary benefits (including health care) or special and incentive pay and bonuses.
Years of service: The number of years a service member has been in the military.
Dependents: When it comes to pay and allowance, a dependent is a service member’s spouse and can include any unmarried children and even a parent.
In general, children must be younger than 21, dependent on the service member because of a mental or physical disability, or younger than 23 and enrolled in post-secondary school full-time.
A parent who is dependent on the service member may also be considered their dependent.
