Last verified: August 2026
Army Pay: Military Pay, BAH & BAS Explained (2026)
Army Soldiers receive basic pay based primarily on pay grade and years of service. Total military compensation may also include allowances such as BAH and BAS, plus eligible special and incentive pays. This page explains how Army pay works in 2026 and how to verify the current official rates.
Quick Answer: How Much Does an Army Soldier Make?
There is no single Army salary. Basic pay depends primarily on pay grade and years of service, while total compensation can also include BAH, BAS, and eligible special pays. Use the current official DFAS military pay table for the exact basic pay rate for your rank and years of service.
Army Pay at a Glance
How military pay is structured:
Basic Pay: determined by rank and years of service
BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing, based on duty location, rank, and dependency status
BAS: Basic Allowance for Subsistence, a monthly food allowance for eligible service members
Special Pay: flight pay, dive pay, hazardous duty pay for qualifying roles
Take-home Pay: gross compensation minus applicable deductions
Military pay is a combination of these elements, and total compensation varies significantly based on rank, location, and status.
Army Basic Pay by Rank
Basic pay is set by the 2026 DFAS military pay table, which covers enlisted (E-1 to E-9), warrant officers (W-1 to W-5), and commissioned officers (O-1 to O-10), each with a years-of-service ladder.
- Enlisted (E-1 to E-9): E-1 through E-9 basic pay is determined by pay grade and years of service. Higher grades and more years of service earn higher monthly basic pay.
- Warrant Officers (W-1 to W-5): Warrant officer pay follows the same structure, with W-1 to W-5 grades and years-of-service steps.
- Commissioned Officers (O-1 to O-10): Commissioned officer basic pay is higher than enlisted at corresponding years of service, and O-1E through O-3E rates apply to certain prior-enlisted officers.
Basic pay varies by years of service. Always use the current official DFAS pay table for the exact rate for a specific rank and years of service.
How Does Army Pay Work?
Army basic pay is determined primarily by pay grade and years of service. A Soldier's total compensation can be higher than basic pay because eligible allowances and special pays may be added.
Gross military compensation is the sum of basic pay, BAH, BAS, and any eligible special or incentive pays. Take-home pay is what remains after taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, allotments, and other deductions.
Basic Pay + BAH + BAS + Special Pays = Gross Military Compensation. Your actual take-home pay will be lower after applicable deductions. Career milestones like promotion also affect fitness requirements — see the Army Fitness Test overview.
What Is BAH?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a military housing allowance that generally depends on duty location, pay grade, and dependency status.
BAH eligibility depends on housing status, dependency status, duty location, and applicable military policy. BAH rates vary by location and are updated periodically — check the current official rate for your duty station rather than relying on a generic national average.
What determines BAH: duty location · pay grade · with or without dependents · applicable year's rate table.
What Is BAS?
Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) is a monthly food allowance for eligible service members. It is separate from basic pay and is not the same thing as a Soldier's food expenses or meal entitlement.
BAS is paid at different rates for enlisted and commissioned officers, and eligibility is governed by current military policy.
Army Special and Incentive Pay
Eligibility varies by duty, qualification, assignment, and current military policy:
- Hazardous Duty Pay: Certain hazardous duties
- Flight Pay: Qualifying aviation duties
- Foreign Language Pay: Qualifying language skills
- Assignment / Duty Pays: Specific assignments
- Retention Incentives: Certain reenlistment or retention situations
Is Army Pay the Same as Take-Home Pay?
No. Basic pay and allowances contribute to gross military compensation, while take-home pay is affected by taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, allotments, and other deductions.
Gross Compensation → Taxes · Insurance · Retirement · Other Deductions → Take-home Pay. This page explains gross military compensation; your pay statement in MyPay shows the actual take-home amount.
Example: How Army Compensation Can Add Up
An E-5's total compensation is not determined by basic pay alone. Depending on duty location, dependency status, eligibility, and assignment, BAH, BAS, and other pays may increase total compensation.
Basic Pay + BAH + BAS + Eligible Special Pays = Estimated Gross Compensation. The current official DFAS pay table and BAH rates for your duty station provide the exact numbers. Promotion points and pay both change as you move up — see the army promotion points guide.
When Does the Army Get Paid?
Military pay is generally issued twice each month, although the actual availability of funds can vary by financial institution and the applicable pay schedule.
Check the official military pay calendar for exact dates rather than relying on a fixed date that can change with weekends and holidays. The AFT record-test calendar that can affect your career timeline is on the the AFT overview.
✓Official Source
“Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, provides uniformed service members equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets within the 50 U.S. states when government quarters are not provided.”
Source: U.S. Defense Travel Management Office, Basic Allowance for Housing
Official Sources
This page explains how Army pay works. Exact amounts must be verified against current official sources:
Army basic pay is determined primarily by pay grade and years of service, with rates published annually in the DFAS military pay table.
— DFAS Military Pay Tables
BAH is a housing allowance that generally depends on duty location, pay grade, and dependency status, with rates updated periodically.
— DoD BAH resources
BAS is a monthly food allowance for eligible service members, separate from basic pay.
— DoD / DFAS allowance information
Gross military compensation is not the same as take-home pay; taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, and other deductions reduce net pay.
— DoD financial guidance
Army Pay: FAQ
Direct answers to common questions about military pay and compensation.
How much does an Army Soldier make?
There is no single Army salary. Basic pay depends primarily on pay grade and years of service, while total compensation can also include BAH, BAS, and eligible special pays.
How much does an E-5 make in the Army?
Basic pay for an E-5 depends on years of service. Use the current official DFAS pay table for the exact rate for your years of service.
Does Army pay depend on years of service?
Yes. Basic pay increases at set years-of-service steps within each pay grade, published in the annual DFAS military pay table.
Is BAH included in Army pay?
BAH is a separate housing allowance based on duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It is added to basic pay for eligible Soldiers.
Is BAS included in Army pay?
BAS is a separate monthly food allowance for eligible service members, added to basic pay at enlisted and officer rates.
Is Army BAH taxable?
BAH is generally a non-taxable allowance, unlike basic pay, which is subject to federal income tax.
Is military pay the same as take-home pay?
No. Gross military compensation includes basic pay, allowances, and special pays; take-home pay is lower after taxes, insurance, retirement contributions, and other deductions.
How often do Army Soldiers get paid?
Military pay is generally issued twice each month. Exact availability varies by financial institution and the official military pay calendar.
Plan Your Army Career
Understand your compensation, then check your AFT score with the army fitness test calculator and plan your promotion with the army promotion points tool. Pay amounts must be verified against the current official DFAS pay tables and BAH rates for your duty station — last verified August 2026.