Military compensation
This pay-grade table shows official monthly base pay by years of service. If you are comparing offers, the key is total compensation: base pay plus BAS and location-adjusted housing value can materially shift what a civilian salary must replace.
Data vintage: DFAS basic pay (2025) and DTMO BAH averages (2026).
| Years of service | Monthly base pay | Annual base pay |
|---|---|---|
| 8+ years | $5,450 | $65,394 |
| 10+ years | $5,691 | $68,288 |
| 12+ years | $5,840 | $70,078 |
| 14+ years | $6,019 | $72,223 |
| 16+ years | $6,212 | $74,545 |
| 18+ years | $6,562 | $78,743 |
| 20+ years | $6,739 | $80,870 |
| 22+ years | $7,041 | $84,488 |
| 24+ years | $7,208 | $86,494 |
| 26+ years | $7,619 | $91,433 |
| 28+ years | $7,619 | $91,433 |
| 30+ years | $7,772 | $93,265 |
| 32+ years | $7,772 | $93,265 |
| 34+ years | $7,772 | $93,265 |
| 36+ years | $7,772 | $93,265 |
| 38+ years | $7,772 | $93,265 |
| 40+ years | $7,772 | $93,265 |
For a typical E-8 member (using the 6+ years row), estimated monthly military compensation is $8,658 when you include BAS and the national average BAH-with-dependents benchmark.
That is roughly $103,896/yearbefore adding healthcare and retirement advantages.
Use the Pay Translator to model housing, tax treatment, and benefits gaps so you negotiate with a complete compensation target instead of salary alone.
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