✓ Last updated: August 2026 — Uses 2026 Military Pay Tables
2026 Military Pay Calculator: Base Pay + BAH + BAS in One Place
The 2026 military pay calculator shows base pay for all ranks and years of service across every branch. For example, an E-5 with over 8 years of service earns $4,299.90/month in base pay before allowances — reflecting the 3.8% pay raise effective January 1, 2026.
Your total military pay is three numbers added together — base pay, BAH, and BAS — and they're normally published on three different government sites. This calculator brings all three together: pick your pay grade, years of service, and duty station to see your full base pay + BAH + BAS breakdown instantly, using the official 2026 tables.
Stop adding up your pay from 3 or 4 different websites.
Most pay calculators only give you one piece — the base pay chart on one site, the DoD BAH lookup on another, the BAS rate somewhere else — and leave you to total it yourself. VetCalc does base pay, BAH, and BAS in a single step and shows your real monthly and annual total.
Normally, your total pay is spread across four government tools:
Your pay piece
Where it normally lives
Here
Base pay
DFAS military pay tables
✓ Included
BAH (housing)
DoD Travel BAH lookup
✓ Included
BAS (food)
DFAS BAS rate page
✓ Included
Your total
You add it up yourself
✓ Done for you
✓Why trust these numbers: calculations use the official 2026 DFAS pay tables and DoD BAH/BAS rates, kept in a single verified data registry with automated drift detection that flags any stale rate. How we source & verify every figure →
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates. Always verify with your finance office. BAH rates are based on Military Housing Area (MHA) data and may not reflect your exact ZIP code rate.
E-5 Total Pay
$4,500 – $6,200+
Base + BAH + BAS/mo
O-3 Total Pay
$7,200 – $9,500+
Base + BAH + BAS/mo
2026 Pay Raise
3.8%
Effective Jan 1, 2026
Tax-Free Allowances
BAH + BAS
Not included in taxable income
Free. No signup. No lead form. Nobody calls you. Built by a serving Air National Guard NCO — not a law firm.
Approx. Civilian EquivalentAccounts for tax-free benefits--
Tax advantage: Of your total pay, --/month is taxable (Base Pay) and --/month is tax-free (BAH + BAS). The civilian equivalent estimate multiplies the tax-free portion by 1.25x to approximate what you would need to earn pre-tax in a civilian job.
Note: This estimate uses 2026 base pay rates (effective January 1, 2026) and 2026 BAH rates. Actual pay may vary based on special pays, bonuses, deductions, and your specific ZIP code. View full pay tables on DFAS.mil.
Base pay is the primary component of military compensation. It is determined by two factors: your pay grade (rank) and your years of service. Base pay increases as you advance in rank and accumulate time in service.
Base pay is subject to federal and state income taxes, as well as Social Security and Medicare withholding (FICA).
The 2026 military pay raise was 3.8% over 2025 rates, effective January 1, 2026.
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing)
BAH helps service members cover the cost of housing in the civilian market when government quarters are not available. The amount depends on:
Duty station location — Based on the Military Housing Area (MHA) of your duty station
Pay grade — Higher ranks receive higher BAH
Dependency status — Members with dependents receive a higher rate
BAH is tax-free and is not included in your taxable income. This calculator includes rates for 338 MHA locations across all 50 states.
BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence)
BAS offsets the cost of meals for service members. Unlike BAH, BAS rates are the same regardless of location. The only distinction is between enlisted and officer rates:
Add three things together: base pay (set by your pay grade and years of service), BAH (based on your duty station and whether you have dependents), and BAS (a flat monthly food allowance). Total monthly pay = base pay + BAH + BAS. This calculator pulls all three from the official 2026 tables and adds them up for you, so you don't have to look up the pay chart, the BAH rate, and the BAS rate on three separate sites and do the math yourself.
Do I have to add up base pay, BAH, and BAS myself?
No. The three parts of military pay are normally published in three different places — the base pay tables, the DoD BAH lookup, and the annual BAS rate — which is why most people end up opening three or four tabs. This calculator combines base pay, BAH for 338 locations, and BAS into a single monthly and annual total in one step.
What is included in total military pay?
Core monthly military pay is base pay + BAH + BAS. Base pay is taxable; BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) and BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) are tax-free. Many members also receive special or incentive pays (sea pay, flight pay, hazardous-duty pay, bonuses), but base pay, BAH, and BAS make up the core compensation this calculator estimates.
What is BAH?
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is a monthly payment to help service members cover housing costs when government quarters are not provided. The amount varies by pay grade, dependency status, and duty station location. BAH is tax-free.
This calculator includes BAH data for 338 Military Housing Areas so you can look up rates for virtually any duty station in the United States.
What is BAS?
BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) is a monthly payment to offset the cost of meals. For 2026, the enlisted BAS rate is $476.95 per month and the officer rate (including warrant officers) is $328.48 per month. BAS is tax-free.
Is military pay taxable?
Base pay is subject to federal and state income tax. However, BAH and BAS are tax-free allowances and are not included in taxable income.
This means a significant portion of total military compensation is not taxed, which increases the effective value of military pay compared to equivalent civilian salaries. The "Civilian Equivalent" line in the results estimates what you would need to earn pre-tax in a civilian job to match your military compensation.
How often do military pay rates change?
Military base pay rates are typically adjusted on January 1 each year based on the annual pay raise authorized by Congress. The 2026 military pay raise was 3.8%.
BAH rates are also updated annually, usually effective January 1, based on local housing market surveys conducted by the Defense Travel Management Office.
What if my duty station isn't listed?
This calculator includes BAH rates for 338 Military Housing Areas (MHAs) which cover all standard duty stations within the United States. If you cannot find your exact location, try searching for a nearby city or the county name.
Run a veteran site, blog, or VSO page? Embed this calculator free — one copy-paste snippet, always shows current rates.
Built and maintained by Henry — Air National Guard NCO, 14 years of service. Rates verified current: 2026 tables (2.8% COLA, effective Dec. 1, 2025). Last checked August 2026.
