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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 years or less | $8,431 | $101,171 |
| 2+ years | $9,262 | $111,143 |
| 3+ years | $9,870 | $118,440 |
| 4+ years | $9,870 | $118,440 |
| 6+ years | $9,908 | $118,894 |
| 8+ years | $10,332 | $123,988 |
| 10+ years | $10,389 | $124,664 |
| 12+ years | $10,389 | $124,664 |
| 14+ years | $10,979 | $131,749 |
| 16+ years | $12,023 | $144,274 |
| 18+ years | $12,635 | $151,625 |
| 20+ years | $13,248 | $158,972 |
| 22+ years | $13,596 | $163,156 |
| 24+ years | $13,949 | $167,389 |
| 26+ years | $14,633 | $175,594 |
| 28+ years | $14,633 | $175,594 |
| 30+ years | $14,925 | $179,100 |
| 32+ years | $14,925 | $179,100 |
| 34+ years | $14,925 | $179,100 |
| 36+ years | $14,925 | $179,100 |
| 38+ years | $14,925 | $179,100 |
| 40+ years | $14,925 | $179,100 |
For a typical O-6 member (using the 6+ years row), estimated monthly military compensation is $13,590 when you include BAS and the national average BAH-with-dependents benchmark.
That is roughly $163,080/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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