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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10+ years | $6,657 | $79,888 |
| 12+ years | $6,808 | $81,695 |
| 14+ years | $6,998 | $83,974 |
| 16+ years | $7,222 | $86,659 |
| 18+ years | $7,448 | $89,374 |
| 20+ years | $7,808 | $93,701 |
| 22+ years | $8,115 | $97,376 |
| 24+ years | $8,436 | $101,232 |
| 26+ years | $8,929 | $107,143 |
| 28+ years | $8,929 | $107,143 |
| 30+ years | $9,374 | $112,489 |
| 32+ years | $9,374 | $112,489 |
| 34+ years | $9,843 | $118,120 |
| 36+ years | $9,843 | $118,120 |
| 38+ years | $10,337 | $124,038 |
| 40+ years | $10,337 | $124,038 |
For a typical E-9 member (using the 6+ years row), estimated monthly military compensation is $10,011 when you include BAS and the national average BAH-with-dependents benchmark.
That is roughly $120,132/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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