How this estimator works
Military compensation blends taxable base pay with tax-advantaged allowances. The calculator models each component so you can see a realistic monthly and annual picture.
- Base pay. Each rank starts with an approximate 2024 salary. The script adds 2% for every year of service and layers in longevity boosts at four, eight, twelve, and sixteen years to mimic official pay tables.
- Housing and subsistence. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) default to common values for the duty-station cost level you select. They remain editable so you can match your exact ZIP code rate.
- Other allowances. The COLA field captures non-taxable extras such as overseas cost-of-living adjustments. The special pay box represents taxable incentives like flight pay, sea pay, or language bonuses.
- Tax comparison. Your estimated tax bracket feeds a civilian-equivalent salary so you can compare this package to a taxable civilian offer.
All calculations run locally in your browser. After you generate results, press the copy button to share a summary with a spouse, financial planner, or retention counselor.
Input reference guide
- Rank selects the enlisted (E) or officer (O) grade. Changing the rank automatically swaps the BAS default between enlisted and officer rates.
- Years of service drives longevity raises and the promotion comparison in the insights panel.
- Dependency status determines whether the default BAH uses the with-dependents rate.
- Duty station cost level approximates BAH and COLA for common scenarios. Choose the closest match and overwrite the dollar amounts with official data if you have it.
- Tax bracket is your best estimate of the marginal federal rate applied to taxable pay. Adjust the default if your household files jointly or falls into a different bracket.
The preset allowance values built into the drop-downs appear below for quick reference:
| Cost level | BAH (without dependents) | BAH (with dependents) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-cost location | $1,200 | $1,550 |
| Average U.S. cost area | $1,750 | $2,200 |
| High-cost metro area | $2,500 | $3,200 |
| Overseas/OCONUS | $2,100 | $2,800 |
| Cost level | Suggested COLA placeholder |
|---|---|
| Lower-cost location | $0 |
| Average U.S. cost area | $150 |
| High-cost metro area | $350 |
| Overseas/OCONUS | $450 |
Worked example
Imagine an E-5 with six years of service, dependents, and orders to a high-cost city. The default inputs provide BAH of $3,200, BAS of $452.56, a COLA placeholder of $350, and you might add $225 of flight pay. The calculator evaluates the compensation stack with
where is base pay, is BAH, is BAS, is COLA, and covers taxable special pays. With the longevity boosts, monthly base pay is roughly $3,248. The total package is therefore about $7,475 per month, just under $89,700 per year. The results separate taxable income from non-taxable allowances so you can see how much of the total will appear on a W-2.
Interpreting your results
- The monthly total offers a planning number for budgets and debt payoff schedules.
- The taxable versus non-taxable split helps compare the offer to civilian jobs and plan quarterly tax payments if you have side income.
- The civilian-equivalent salary shows how large a taxable paycheck must be to equal your allowances at the tax rate you supplied.
- The promotion insight estimates the pay bump if you advance to the next rank with similar allowances.
Planning ideas
- Consider automatic transfers of 10% of total compensation to savings or the Thrift Savings Plan; the insights panel displays the precise dollar amount.
- Build an emergency fund equal to at least three months of total compensation to smooth PCS moves or deployment expenses.
- Compare the civilian-equivalent salary to job offers when preparing to transition from active duty.
- Re-run the calculator whenever you receive new orders or a promotion so updated BAH, COLA, and tax assumptions are reflected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the base pay estimate?
The model starts with realistic 2024 base pay figures and adds 2% per year plus longevity boosts at four, eight, twelve, and sixteen years. Official Department of Defense tables include more breakpoints, so treat this output as a planning estimate rather than an official pay chart.
Why does BAH change when I adjust the duty station?
The duty station menu swaps in typical allowances for different cost bands so you can model scenarios quickly. If you know your exact BAH, overwrite the field and the calculator will use your figure.
Are BAH, BAS, and COLA taxable?
Housing, subsistence, and most COLA payments are non-taxable for federal income tax purposes. They still count in the monthly total but appear as non-taxable in the breakdown table.
How should I pick a tax bracket?
Enter the marginal federal rate that applies to your household’s taxable income. Many dual-income families land in the 22%–24% range, while junior enlisted members often fall closer to 12%. The civilian-equivalent salary is sensitive to this number, so adjust it whenever your tax situation changes.
What about bonuses, TSP contributions, or state taxes?
Lump-sum bonuses, retirement contributions, and state or local taxes vary widely. Add recurring bonuses to the special pay box if they arrive monthly. For annual or one-time payments, divide them by twelve before entering them so they appear in the monthly totals.