When does military pay go up?

Base pay increases when you get promoted (new pay grade) or hit a years-of-service milestone (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, or 20+ years). Congress also authorizes annual across-the-board pay raises — in 2026 it is 3.8%.

What military pay is taxable vs. non-taxable?

Base Pay and most special pays are taxable (federal + applicable state). BAH and BAS are completely tax-free — they do not count as income for federal or state tax purposes. VA disability compensation is also 100% tax-free.

Military Pay Calculator 2026 | All 6 Branches & States

Q: How is military pay calculated?

Military pay consists of Base Pay (taxable, set by pay grade and years of service), BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing — tax-free, varies by duty station), and BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence — tax-free, $477/mo enlisted). Special pays like hazardous duty or flight pay are added on top. Federal and state taxes apply only to Base Pay.

Q: Does every state tax military pay?

No. As of 2026, states like Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, and about 20 others have no state income tax or fully exempt active duty military pay. States like California and New York tax military base pay at full rates. Use our calculator to see your specific state's rules.

💰 Military Pay Quick Estimator

Get an instant ballpark. For your full breakdown including BAH, BAS, taxes, bonuses, and deductions, use the full calculator.

Pay Grade

Years of Service

State

Guard or Reserve member? Click here for Drill Pay Calculator →

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Guard & Reserve pay per period, weekend, and AT

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Combined rating calculator + monthly compensation

❓ Common Questions ▶

How is military pay calculated?

Your total compensation = Base Pay + BAH + BAS + any special pays, minus federal/state taxes, FICA, TSP, and SGLI. Base Pay is taxable and set by your pay grade and years of service. BAH and BAS are 100% tax-free.

When does pay go up?

Two ways: promotion (new pay grade) or hitting a years-of-service milestone at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, or 20+ years. Congress also authorizes annual raises — 2026 is 3.8%.

What's taxable vs. non-taxable?

Base Pay and most special pays are taxable. BAH and BAS are completely tax-free — they don't count as income. VA disability compensation is also 100% tax-free, federal and state.

Does every state tax military pay?

No. Texas, Florida, Nevada, Washington, and ~20 other states have no income tax or fully exempt active duty pay. California and New York tax it at full rates. The calculator shows your exact state's rules.

Military Pay by State

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Thrift Savings Plan — manage contributions & fund allocations

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Military Pay Calculator 2026: Complete Planning Guide

This calculator is built for the real question behind most searches: what will I actually take home each month? Base pay is only the start. The complete military compensation picture includes BAH, BAS, special pays, state tax treatment, TSP contributions, SGLI, dependency status, duty location, Guard or Reserve orders, and benefit choices.

Search-friendly planning note: Use this military take-home pay calculator to estimate 2026 active duty pay, BAH, BAS, state taxes, TSP deductions, and monthly net pay by rank, years of service, dependency status, and duty location.

Last updated: 2026-05-07. Reviewed against public DFAS, DoD, VA, and TSP source pages. Use this as a planning estimate, then verify official pay decisions with your finance office or the relevant agency.

Example: E-5 PCS Pay Check

Scenario	What Changes	What to Compare
E-5 in Texas	No state income tax, BAH based on duty ZIP, BAS tax-free	Take-home pay, rent below/above BAH, commute, spouse income
E-5 in California	Potentially higher BAH, higher housing cost, resident tax exposure	ZIP-specific BAH, actual rent, state withholding, SCRA residency status
E-5 with dependents	Uses with-dependents BAH rate	Housing size, schools, childcare, family medical access

Scenario

What Changes

What to Compare

E-5 in Texas

No state income tax, BAH based on duty ZIP, BAS tax-free

Take-home pay, rent below/above BAH, commute, spouse income

E-5 in California

Potentially higher BAH, higher housing cost, resident tax exposure

ZIP-specific BAH, actual rent, state withholding, SCRA residency status

E-5 with dependents

Uses with-dependents BAH rate

Housing size, schools, childcare, family medical access

Example: O-3 With BAH

An O-3 should compare base pay by years of service, officer BAS, BAH by duty ZIP, tax-free allowance value, TSP contribution, SGLI/FSGLI, and state tax exposure. In high-cost markets, tax-free BAH can be one of the largest parts of total monthly compensation, so comparing only base pay to a civilian salary understates the military package.

Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty Differences

Active-duty pay usually combines monthly base pay, BAH if eligible, BAS, and special pays. Guard and Reserve drill pay is different: a drill period is based on a fraction of monthly base pay, normal drill weekends do not include BAH or BAS, and longer active-duty orders can trigger different entitlements. Use the dedicated drill pay calculator when comparing weekend drill, annual training, ADOS, mobilization, or active duty.

⚔️ Military Pay Calculator 2026