The 2026 military basic-pay raise is 3.8%, effective January 1, 2026. The enacted FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act did not substitute a different rate, so the statutory 3.8% adjustment took effect for active-duty members and the corresponding basic-pay and drill-pay tables.
Correction: An earlier version of this page incorrectly reported a 4.5% increase for 2026. The 4.5% figure was the general January 2025 increase. The authoritative 2026 rate is 3.8%, confirmed by the Congressional Research Service and the published DFAS 2026 pay tables.
2026 military pay raise at a glance
| Question | 2026 answer |
|---|---|
| General basic-pay increase | 3.8% |
| Effective date | January 1, 2026 |
| Who receives it? | Uniformed service members covered by the military basic-pay tables |
| Does BAH also rise 3.8%? | No. BAH is calculated separately by location, pay grade, and dependency status |
| Does BAS also rise 3.8%? | No. BAS uses a separate food-cost adjustment |
| Where are exact rates? | DFAS active-duty and reserve 2026 pay tables |
Why the 2026 raise is 3.8%
Under 37 U.S.C. §1009, the default annual military basic-pay adjustment is tied to the Employment Cost Index for private-industry wages and salaries. The President can specify an alternative adjustment, and Congress can enact a different rate.
The Congressional Research Service’s January 2026 military-pay primer says the statutory calculation produced a 3.8% adjustment for calendar year 2026. The President’s FY2026 budget requested the same 3.8%, and the enacted FY2026 NDAA did not replace it. The increase therefore became effective January 1, 2026.
This is no longer a proposal. DFAS published the official 2026 active-duty and reserve pay tables in January 2026.
Selected 2026 monthly basic-pay examples
The amount depends on pay grade and cumulative years of service. The examples below come from the DFAS 2026 enlisted table and DFAS 2026 commissioned-officer table.
| Pay grade and service | 2026 monthly basic pay |
|---|---|
| E-1, four or more months | $2,407.20 |
| E-3, two years or less | $2,836.80 |
| E-4, over four years | $3,658.50 |
| E-5, over four years | $3,946.80 |
| E-6, over ten years | $4,759.50 |
| O-1, two years or less | $4,150.20 |
| O-3, over six years | $7,737.00 |
| O-4, over ten years | $9,420.00 |
These are gross monthly basic-pay figures, not take-home pay or total compensation. Withholding, retirement contributions, allotments, special pays, allowances, and other deductions change the amount deposited.
How much more is 3.8%?
For a pay-table cell unaffected by another structural change, the annualized increase is approximately:
- $3,000 monthly basic pay: about $114 more per month, or $1,368 per year
- $4,000 monthly basic pay: about $152 more per month, or $1,824 per year
- $5,000 monthly basic pay: about $190 more per month, or $2,280 per year
- $7,500 monthly basic pay: about $285 more per month, or $3,420 per year
Those examples show the percentage calculation; use the DFAS table for your actual grade and longevity cell. Military tables are rounded to specific dollar increments, and promotion or crossing a years-of-service threshold can change pay separately from the annual raise.
Basic pay, BAH, and BAS are separate
Basic pay
The 3.8% figure applies to the general military basic-pay adjustment. Basic pay is taxable in ordinary circumstances and is the amount shown in the main DFAS grade-and-service tables.
Basic Allowance for Housing
BAH is not calculated by adding 3.8% to every member’s previous housing allowance. The Defense Travel Management Office sets rates using local civilian housing costs, pay grade, and dependency status. Individual locations can move differently, and rate protection generally prevents an eligible member’s allowance from dropping while the member’s status and duty location remain unchanged.
Use the official BAH rate lookup for the duty ZIP code and year. Do not use the basic-pay percentage as a BAH estimate.
Basic Allowance for Subsistence
BAS is adjusted separately using food-cost information. The Defense Department’s 2026 rates are $476.95 per month for enlisted members and $328.48 per month for officers. BAS is intended for the service member’s meals, not family food costs.
Active duty, Reserve, and National Guard
The annual adjustment flows into both active-duty monthly basic-pay tables and reserve-component drill-pay tables. A typical four-drill unit training assembly is calculated from the applicable monthly basic-pay rate, but actual compensation depends on the duty performed and the member’s grade and longevity.
DFAS publishes separate 2026 drill-pay tables for enlisted members, warrant officers, commissioned officers, and officers with more than four years of creditable prior enlisted or warrant service. Use those tables rather than dividing an annual salary yourself.
Why your January deposit may not be exactly 3.8% larger
The annual raise changes gross basic pay, but the net deposit on a Leave and Earnings Statement reflects more than one line. Federal and state withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes, Thrift Savings Plan contributions, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, allotments, debt collections, meal deductions, and other entries can also change. A percentage-based TSP election, for example, generally directs a larger dollar amount into the account when basic pay rises.
Compare the basic pay line on consecutive statements before judging whether the table adjustment was applied. If the grade and longevity cell is correct but the deposit differs from an online calculator, review every entitlement and deduction. Direct an individual pay discrepancy to the servicing finance office or DFAS rather than changing tax or retirement elections merely to force a predicted net amount.
Promotions and longevity increases are additional changes
A promotion or movement into the next cumulative-years-of-service column can increase basic pay independently of the annual 3.8% adjustment. The DFAS headers say “over” a stated number of years: a member does not use the over-four column until crossing that service threshold under the applicable pay rules.
Special and incentive pays also use their own authorities and tables. Aviation incentive pay, hazardous-duty incentive pay, sea pay, bonuses, and other entitlements do not automatically rise by the annual basic-pay percentage. Verify each entitlement against its current DFAS table and the member’s orders.
What changed from 2025?
The general January 2025 military pay raise was 4.5%. The FY2025 law also produced targeted pay-table reform for junior enlisted members effective April 1, 2025. Those targeted changes are distinct from the across-the-board 3.8% adjustment that took effect January 1, 2026.
This distinction is one reason a simple “last year’s pay × 1.038” calculation may not reproduce every 2026 table cell exactly. The official table is the final reference.
Planning a military-to-civilian transition
Do not compare a civilian offer only with military basic pay. Regular military compensation can include basic pay, BAH, BAS, and the federal tax advantage associated with qualifying allowances. Health coverage, retirement contributions, paid leave, special pays, and moving benefits may also affect the comparison.
Start with our military-to-civilian salary negotiation guide and complete transition checklist. Build a personal compensation statement using actual Leave and Earnings Statements and benefit costs rather than a generic replacement-income multiplier.
For a useful comparison, separate cash, tax treatment, and employer-paid benefits. Annualize basic pay, BAH, BAS, predictable special pays, and bonuses; then estimate the civilian cost of health coverage, retirement matching, life insurance, and paid leave. Avoid counting reimbursements for temporary duties as ordinary salary. The objective is not to inflate a civilian salary demand—it is to compare two compensation packages consistently.
Frequently asked questions
What is the military pay raise for 2026?
The general military basic-pay increase is 3.8%, effective January 1, 2026.
Was the 2026 military raise 4.5%?
No. The general January 2025 increase was 4.5%. The general 2026 increase is 3.8%.
Does the 3.8% raise include BAH?
No. The 3.8% is the general basic-pay adjustment. BAH rates are set separately using local housing data, grade, and dependency status.
Did every service receive the same basic-pay adjustment?
The statutory uniformed-services basic-pay tables use the same 3.8% general adjustment. Actual dollars vary by pay grade, longevity, and table.
Where can I find the official 2026 military pay chart?
Use the DFAS Military Pay Tables. DFAS separates active-duty and drill-pay tables by enlisted, warrant, and commissioned-officer categories.
Official sources
- Congressional Research Service: Defense Primer—Military Pay Raise
- DFAS: 2026 Military Pay Tables
- DFAS: Military Pay Tables and Information
- Department of Defense: 2026 BAS Rates
- Defense Travel Management Office: BAH
Official rates checked August 2026. DFAS and the member’s Leave and Earnings Statement control individual payment amounts.
Leave a Reply