Military Basic Pay (United States)

United States military basic pay runs from roughly 20,000 dollars for a new enlisted member to over 200,000 for senior generals and admirals.

Overview

Basic pay is tax-table income set by rank and years of service, but the full package matters more: housing and food allowances that are largely untaxed, comprehensive healthcare, and education benefits worth tens of thousands. A retirement of half basic pay after twenty years is a pension few private careers match, and selective re-enlistment bonuses in shortage skills run to the tens of thousands. Tables are public law and change yearly. These indicative figures summarize published pay charts rather than any individual package.