Your Complete 2025 Military Pay Reference
The 2025 military pay tables reflect a 4.5% increase from 2024 rates, the largest raise in over two decades. Whether you’re planning reenlistment, calculating deployment income, or comparing military compensation to civilian opportunities, these complete pay charts provide exact salary figures for every rank and time-in-service combination.
This comprehensive reference includes all services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard) since basic pay is standardized across branches. Use these tables to calculate your exact compensation, plan promotions, and maximize your military earnings.
2025 Enlisted Pay Table – Complete
All figures are monthly base pay. Multiply by 12 for annual salary. This does NOT include allowances (BAH, BAS) or special pays.
E-1 through E-4 Pay Rates (Junior Enlisted)
| Rank | <2 Yrs | 2 Yrs | 3 Yrs | 4 Yrs | 6 Yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,017 | – | – | – | – |
| E-2 | $2,254 | $2,254 | – | – | – |
| E-3 | $2,367 | $2,516 | $2,516 | – | – |
| E-4 | $2,622 | $2,753 | $2,899 | $3,047 | $3,092 |
E-5 through E-9 Pay Rates (NCO/Senior Enlisted)
| Rank | <2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,855 | $3,003 | $3,217 | $3,347 | $3,499 | $3,630 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| E-6 | $3,115 | – | $3,451 | $3,595 | $3,782 | $3,926 | $4,197 | $4,321 | – | – | – | – | – |
| E-7 | $3,608 | – | – | $4,033 | $4,196 | $4,373 | $4,591 | $4,783 | $4,952 | $5,119 | $5,317 | – | – |
| E-8 | – | – | – | – | $4,823 | $5,033 | $5,251 | $5,487 | $5,694 | $5,930 | $6,176 | $6,350 | $6,713 |
| E-9 | – | – | – | – | – | $5,726 | $5,966 | $6,181 | $6,410 | $6,648 | $7,048 | $7,480 | $8,346 |
E-9 Special Rates: E-9 with over 30 years: $8,839/month ($106,068 annually)
2025 Officer Pay Table – Complete
O-1 through O-3 Pay Rates (Company Grade Officers)
| Rank | <2 Yrs | 2 Yrs | 3 Yrs | 4 Yrs | 6 Yrs | 8 Yrs | 10 Yrs | 14 Yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $3,779 | $4,342 | $5,216 | – | – | – | – | – |
| O-2 | $4,355 | $5,364 | $5,995 | $6,241 | $6,342 | – | – | – |
| O-3 | $5,043 | $5,821 | $6,206 | $6,604 | $7,142 | $7,599 | $8,061 | $8,670 |
O-4 through O-6 Pay Rates (Field Grade Officers)
| Rank | <2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-4 | $5,788 | $6,722 | $7,609 | $8,022 | $8,467 | $9,307 | $9,967 | $10,420 | – | – |
| O-5 | $6,732 | $7,766 | $8,517 | – | $9,402 | $10,150 | $10,994 | $11,482 | $11,968 | $12,615 |
| O-6 | $8,091 | $9,057 | $9,797 | – | $10,772 | $11,813 | $12,894 | $13,562 | $14,043 | $15,043 |
O-6 Special Rate: O-6 with over 30 years: $16,494/month ($197,928 annually)
How to Use These Pay Tables
Finding Your Exact Pay
Step 1: Locate your rank (E-1 through E-9 for enlisted, O-1 through O-6 for officers)
Step 2: Find your time in service column (use total active duty time)
Step 3: The intersection shows your monthly base pay
Step 4: Multiply by 12 for annual base pay
Example: E-5 with 6 years of service = $3,347/month × 12 = $40,164 annual base pay
Adding Allowances and Special Pays
Base pay is only part of total military compensation. Add:
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing): $1,200-$4,200/month depending on location, rank, and dependents (tax-free)
BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence): $311/month enlisted, $280/month officers (tax-free)
Special Pays: Flight pay, dive pay, hazardous duty, special operations, etc. ($150-$1,000+/month)
True Compensation Example – E-6, 10 years, San Diego with family:
- Base Pay: $3,926/month ($47,112/year)
- BAH: $3,050/month ($36,600/year) – tax-free
- BAS: $311/month ($3,732/year) – tax-free
- Total: $7,287/month ($87,444/year)
- Tax-equivalent value: ~$98,000 (accounting for tax-free allowances)
2025 Pay Raise Breakdown
The 2025 military pay raise of 4.5% represents the largest increase since 2002. This raise was enacted through the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and applies to all active duty, reserve, and National Guard members.
What 4.5% Means in Real Dollars
E-4 with 4 years: $2,914 (2024) → $3,047 (2025) = $133/month increase ($1,596 annually)
E-7 with 12 years: $4,391 (2024) → $4,591 (2025) = $200/month increase ($2,400 annually)
O-3 with 6 years: $6,833 (2024) → $7,142 (2025) = $309/month increase ($3,708 annually)
O-5 with 20 years: $10,986 (2024) → $11,482 (2025) = $496/month increase ($5,952 annually)
Comparing 2025 to Previous Years
Military pay raises over the past decade:
- 2025: 4.5%
- 2024: 5.2% (targeted raises by rank)
- 2023: 4.6%
- 2022: 2.7%
- 2021: 3.0%
- 2020: 3.1%
- 2019: 2.6%
- 2018: 2.4%
- 2017: 2.1%
- 2016: 1.3%
The recent 4.5-5.2% raises significantly exceed the 1.3-2.7% raises from 2016-2022, helping military pay catch up with private sector wage growth and inflation.
Warrant Officer Pay (W-1 through W-5)
Warrant officers bridge enlisted and commissioned officer ranks:
| Rank | <2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $3,399 | $3,866 | $4,365 | $4,797 | $5,227 | $5,537 | $5,785 | – | – |
| W-2 | $3,873 | $4,323 | $4,884 | $5,419 | $5,868 | $6,267 | $6,588 | $6,812 | $7,153 |
| W-3 | $4,376 | $4,826 | $5,316 | $5,965 | $6,448 | $6,950 | $7,365 | $7,697 | $8,195 |
| W-4 | $4,791 | $5,238 | $5,704 | $6,394 | $6,978 | $7,577 | $8,095 | $8,534 | $9,178 |
| W-5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | $9,230 | $9,660 | $10,395 |
Downloading and Sharing These Tables
These pay tables are accurate as of January 1, 2025 per the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). You can:
- Bookmark this page for quick reference
- Share with fellow service members planning careers
- Use for financial planning and budgeting
- Compare against civilian job offers
- Calculate reenlistment bonuses and retirement pay
What’s Coming in 2026?
Early indications suggest the 2026 military pay raise will be 4.5% based on the Employment Cost Index (ECI). This would continue the trend of above-average raises addressing military recruiting and retention challenges.
A 4.5% raise in 2026 would increase an E-5 with 6 years from $3,347/month to approximately $3,498/month—an additional $151/month or $1,812 annually.
Special Considerations
Pay Date Changes
Military pay is distributed on the 1st and 15th of each month. If the pay date falls on a weekend or holiday, payment arrives the previous business day.
Tax Treatment
Base pay is subject to federal income tax, state income tax (for most states), and Social Security/Medicare taxes. However, BAH and BAS are completely tax-free, making them more valuable than equivalent taxable income.
Promotion Timing
Pay increases take effect on the date of rank (DOR). If promoted on the 15th of the month, you receive the higher pay rate starting that pay period, not waiting until the next month.
Using Pay Tables for Career Planning
Strategic use of pay tables helps maximize military earnings:
Promotion Motivation: An E-5 making $3,347/month who promotes to E-6 jumps to $3,451/month minimum—an immediate $104/month raise ($1,248/year) even before time-in-service increases.
Reenlistment Timing: Reenlisting just before a pay raise anniversary (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 years, etc.) means you receive a bonus calculated on lower pay, then immediately get a time-in-service raise. Timing reenlistment AFTER a TIS milestone maximizes both bonus and new base pay.
Assignment Selection: Since BAH varies by location, a high-BAH assignment (San Francisco, New York, D.C.) can add $15,000-$30,000 annually compared to low-cost areas—far exceeding base pay differences.
The Bottom Line
The 2025 military pay tables reflect the military’s commitment to competitive compensation in a tight labor market. When base pay, allowances, healthcare, retirement, and other benefits are combined, total military compensation often exceeds equivalent civilian positions—especially for enlisted personnel and junior officers.
Use these tables to understand your exact compensation, plan your military career progression, and make informed decisions about reenlistment and long-term service. Your pay increases automatically with time in service and promotions, making military service one of the most reliable paths to steady income growth regardless of economic conditions.
Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates on 2026 pay tables and future military compensation changes.
Recommended Resources for Military Financial Planning
Understanding your pay is just the first step. These resources help you maximize and manage your military compensation:
Financial Planning Guides
The Military Money Manual – Comprehensive financial guide specifically for military members covering pay, allowances, TSP, VA benefits, and wealth-building strategies. Written by a military financial advisor.
The Military Advantage: The Military.com Guide to Military and Veterans Benefits – Complete reference on military compensation, benefits, and entitlements including detailed pay and allowance explanations.
Military Finance Tools
Financial Calculator for Military Pay – Specialized calculator designed for military pay calculations including BAH, BAS, and special pays.
Military Budget Planner – Structured budget planner designed around military pay schedules and deployment cycles.
These resources complement the pay tables above and provide actionable strategies for building wealth during military service.
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