Monthly and annual pay from the January 2026 basic pay table for every grade and years of service, plus BAS and your BAH, with the taxable and tax-free split
How Military Pay Is Calculated
- Basic pay comes from the 2026 table for your grade and years of service (counted for pay purposes). An E-4 with 3 years falls in the “over 3” column: $3,482.40 a month.
- BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) is a flat monthly food allowance: $476.95 for enlisted members and $328.48 for officers in 2026.
- BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) depends on duty station ZIP code, grade and dependents; look it up with the BAH calculator and enter it here.
- Add them up and multiply by 12 for the year: $3,959.35 × 12 = $47,512.20 before BAH.
2026 Monthly Pay Examples
The table took effect January 1, 2026 under the President’s December 18, 2025 pay order. Pay for generals and admirals is capped at $18,999.90 a month and for O-6 and below at $15,408.30, tied to the Executive Schedule. Officers with more than 4 years of prior enlisted or warrant service are paid on the O-1E to O-3E rows, which are higher.
The Tax Advantage
IRS Publication 3 lists BAH and BAS among the allowances excluded from gross income, so only basic pay (and taxable special pays) shows up on your W-2. A civilian earning the same total would pay income tax on all of it, so matching a military paycheck takes a higher civilian salary.
Common Mistakes
- Using time in grade instead of years of service. The columns use total service for pay purposes, not time since your last promotion.
- Treating BAH as fixed. It varies by location and dependents and changes each January.
- Comparing gross pay with a civilian salary. Add the tax savings on BAS and BAH, and the value of health care, before comparing.
- Forgetting deductions. Federal (and often state) income tax, Social Security and Medicare, SGLI premiums and TSP contributions come out of basic pay.
What This Calculator Does Not Cover
It covers basic pay, BAS and BAH. Special and incentive pays (flight, sea, hazardous duty, enlistment bonuses), OCONUS COLA, family separation allowance, deductions and state taxes are not included. For drill weekends see the drill pay calculator, and for retirement the military retirement calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an E-4 make in 2026?
Basic pay runs from $3,142.20 a month (under 2 years) to $3,815.40 (over 6 years). With BAS of $476.95, an E-4 over 3 years gets $3,959.35 a month before housing allowance.
What is BAS in 2026?
$476.95 a month for enlisted members and $328.48 for officers, per the Defense Department’s military pay site.
Is military pay taxable?
Basic pay is taxable; BAH and BAS are excluded from income under IRS Publication 3, which is part of why military compensation goes further than the same civilian salary.
When did the 2026 pay table take effect?
January 1, 2026, set by the Executive Order of December 18, 2025 (Schedule 8, Pay of the Uniformed Services).
What are O-1E, O-2E and O-3E?
Pay rows for commissioned officers with more than 4 years of active service as an enlisted member or warrant officer; they pay more than O-1 to O-3 at the same years of service.
Does years of service mean time in rank?
No. It is total creditable service for pay purposes, computed under 37 U.S.C. 205.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose your pay grade — E-1 to E-9, W-1 to W-5, O-1 to O-10, or the O-1E to O-3E rows.
- Enter years of service — completed years of creditable service for pay.
- Add BAH if you get it — from the BAH calculator for your duty station and dependents.
- Read the totals — monthly and annual pay, and the taxable and tax-free parts.
📚 Sources & References- [1] Executive Order of December 18, 2025, Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay, Schedule 8: Pay of the Uniformed Services, effective January 1, 2026. www.whitehouse.gov
- [2] Defense Finance and Accounting Service. 2026 Military Pay Tables on DFAS website (January 28, 2026). www.dfas.mil
- [3] Department of Defense, Military Compensation. Basic Allowance for Subsistence, 2026 rates (accessed October 2026). militarypay.defense.gov
- [4] IRS. Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, 2025 edition, Table 2: excluded items (accessed October 2026). www.irs.gov
✅
Editorial Standards — Every calculator is built from peer-reviewed formulas and official data sources, editorially reviewed for accuracy, and updated regularly.
Read our full methodology ·
About the author