Pay & Compensation
Your comprehensive guide to Base Pay, Allowances (BAH/BAS/COLA), Special & Incentive Pays, and Retirement basics (Legacy High‑3 vs. BRS). Interact with the tools and charts below to learn how each piece affects your take‑home.
1) Base Pay
Base pay is your foundational salary, set by Congress and published by DoD/DFAS. It increases with rank and years of service (YOS), and appears on your LES as “BASIC PAY.” Pay tables update annually, usually effective January 1. Always verify current tables before budgeting or making financial decisions.
- Check your Leave & Earnings Statement (LES) for correct rank, YOS, and pay.
- Bookmark the latest DFAS pay tables and compare your LES regularly.
- Pay increases are automatic with promotion and longevity, but always confirm your entitlements after a change.
2) Allowances
- BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing): Paid when adequate government quarters are not provided. Your rate depends on duty ZIP, pay grade, and dependent status. Rates are based on local median rent and utilities, and refresh annually. Use the DoD BAH Calculator to check your exact rate before a PCS move.
- BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence): Tax-free food allowance; flat-rate by status (enlisted/officer), adjusted annually. Check DFAS for current rates.
- COLA (Cost of Living Allowance): Paid in certain CONUS and OCONUS locations to offset higher costs. Amount varies by duty station and can change during the year. Use DTMO tools to check eligibility and rates.
3) Special & Incentive Pays & Bonuses
Many special and incentive pays exist for qualifying specialties or duty—aviation, sea, hazard, language, medical, re-enlistment, and more. Each pay has specific criteria, approval authority, and start/stop rules. Always confirm eligibility and timing with your finance office before counting on these pays in your budget.
- Examples: Aviation, Sea, Hazardous Duty, Language, Medical, and Enlistment/Reenlistment bonuses.
- Eligibility and amounts depend on your specialty, orders, and service needs. Approval is not automatic.
- Start/stop dates and documentation are critical—keep copies of orders and approvals.
4) Retirement Pay Basics
- Legacy High-3: Defined-benefit pension; multiplier is 2.5% × years of service × average of highest 36 months of base pay. Example: 20 YOS ≈ 50% of High-3. Applies to those who joined before 2018.
- Blended Retirement System (BRS): Defined-benefit pension with 2.0% multiplier plus TSP (automatic 1% + up to 4% service match when you contribute 5%), continuation pay mid-career, and optional lump-sum choice at retirement. Applies to those who joined in 2018 or later, or opted in.
- Key differences: BRS has a lower pension multiplier but adds TSP matching, continuation pay, and more flexibility. Use the DoD calculators to compare paths for your career timeline.
FAQ & Glossary
BAH varies by duty ZIP, pay grade, and dependent status. Use your official duty ZIP in DTMO.
Typically annually (around Jan 1), subject to Congress/DoD updates. Verify on DFAS.
BAS is generally a flat rate by status. Dining facility arrangements can affect how you experience the benefit—check local policy.
Orders and qualification currency (e.g., flight/jump) typically control eligibility. Ensure admin routes changes promptly.
- LES — Leave & Earnings Statement
- YOS — Years of Service
- High‑3 — Average of highest 36 months base pay
- BRS — Blended Retirement System
- COLA — Cost of Living Allowance
Education only. Rates and policies change—always verify with DFAS, DTMO, and your finance office.