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 |
|---|---|---|
| 20+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 22+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 24+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 26+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 28+ years | $18,808 | $225,698 |
| 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-9 member (using the 6+ years row), estimated monthly military compensation is $22,514 when you include BAS and the national average BAH-with-dependents benchmark.
That is roughly $270,168/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.
Open Pay Translator