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 | $13,380 | $160,560 |
| 2+ years | $13,819 | $165,827 |
| 3+ years | $14,109 | $169,312 |
| 4+ years | $14,190 | $170,284 |
| 6+ years | $14,554 | $174,643 |
| 8+ years | $15,159 | $181,912 |
| 10+ years | $15,301 | $183,607 |
| 12+ years | $15,876 | $190,516 |
| 14+ years | $16,042 | $192,506 |
| 16+ years | $16,538 | $198,457 |
| 18+ years | $17,256 | $207,072 |
| 20+ years | $17,917 | $215,006 |
| 22+ years | $18,359 | $220,309 |
| 24+ years | $18,359 | $220,309 |
| 26+ years | $18,359 | $220,309 |
| 28+ years | $18,359 | $220,309 |
| 30+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 32+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 34+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 36+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 38+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 40+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
For a typical O-8 member (using the 6+ years row), estimated monthly military compensation is $18,259 when you include BAS and the national average BAH-with-dependents benchmark.
That is roughly $219,108/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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