◆ MILITARY CALCULATOR
Military Pay & First Budget
Your pay is a bundle, not one salary. See what's taxed, what's tax-free, and what actually lands in your account.
Try an example
Your take-home pay each month
$4,029
Taxable (base pay)
$3,303
Tax-free (BAH)
$1,500
Deductions
$774
Twice a month
$2,014
Federal tax$330
Social Sec / Medicare$253
State tax$0
TSP$165
SGLI$26
Your gross is $4,803, but only $3,303 of it is taxable. $1,500 is tax-free BAH, already meant for housing. Budget that against real rentfirst, then split what's left.
Basic pay and BAS from the 2026 DFAS tables; look up your BAH with the official DoD calculator. Taxes are estimates you set, since they depend on your bracket and state. A 50/30/20 rule on gross pay double-counts your tax-free allowances.
How to use this calculator
- Pick your pay grade and years of serviceSets your monthly basic pay from the 2026 DFAS table.
- Enter your BAH and toggle BASThe tax-free allowances. Enter 0 for BAH in the barracks, and check BAS only if you actually draw it.
- Set your tax rates, TSP percent, and SGLIRead your real take-home, and what is taxable versus tax-free.
Your first military paycheck looks nothing like a civilian one. Base pay is taxed, but BAH and BAS are tax-free and already meant for housing and food, which is why a 50/30/20 rule on gross pay double-counts. This decodes the check: what's taxable, what's tax-free, what comes out, and what's actually left to budget.
◆ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is military pay not just one salary?
Because it is a bundle. Base pay is taxable, but Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Subsistence are tax-free and already meant for housing and food. That is why applying a budget rule to your gross pay double-counts those allowances.
Does everyone get BAH and BAS?
No. BAH depends on your rank, location, and dependents, and may be zero in the barracks. BAS is a food allowance you do not always draw right away, for example while you are on a meal card. Enter only what you actually receive.
Is this my exact paycheck?
It is a close estimate. Basic pay and BAS come from the 2026 DFAS tables, but your taxes depend on your bracket and state, so set those yourself. Look up your exact BAH with the official DoD calculator.