2025 Military Pay Charts

Most military pay will increase 4.5% for 2025, compared to 2024 levels.

Military service members in the ranks of E-1 through E-4, however, will receive a 14.5% raise next year, with the initial 4.5% reflected in their January paychecks and the remainder starting in April.  

The tables below report January-March 2025 monthly pay based on the 4.5% raise as published by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). DFAS will publish the complete rates. See the final active-duty pay charts and preliminary drill pay charts below. We will update the calculator tool on this page to include the complete 2025 rates when DFAS publishes the remaining charts. The rates became effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Some senior officers, including O-8s with 30 or more years of service, all O-9s and all O-10s, will receive smaller percentages than 4.5% because their pay can’t, by law, exceed that of Level 2 of the Executive Schedule.

2025 Military Pay Charts

January-March 2025 Active Duty Pay Charts

January-March 2025 Drill Pay Charts (Preliminary)

Factors That Affect Military Pay

Basic pay varies depending on your paygrade/rank, along with the number of years you have served.

For instance, in January-March 2025, an enlisted service member with a paygrade of E-1 will receive $2,108.10 per month in basic pay. Meanwhile, a more senior enlisted person with a paygrade of E-6, who has more than a decade of service, will earn $4,585.20 monthly throughout 2025.

Officers receive more. A new officer’s basic pay begins at $3,998.40 in 2025, while a more senior officer with a paygrade of O-4, having served more than 10 years, will receive $9,075.00 monthly.

Basic pay is a service member’s primary compensation. But your paycheck is also likely to contain several tax-free allowances as well as special pay based on your duty station, qualifications or military specialties. All of these things are part of normal military pay, salary or compensation.

Most allowances are non-taxable, so they can contribute to a significant portion of your paycheck. For example, the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is excluded from gross income for tax purposes.

When Does Military Pay Change?

Military pay automatically increases at the start of each calendar year, in January. Service members see the change reflected in the first pay period of the year.

Why Does Military Pay Increase?

The military establishes an annual pay increase to roughly mirror the increase in private-sector wages and salaries nationwide.

This increase is determined by the Employment Cost Index, calculated several times a year by the Department of Labor. The military uses the October ECI year-over-year change to determine the percentage pay raise for the following year.

However, as in 2025, Congress may supersede this automatic amount.

How to Understand Your Military Leave and Earning Statement (LES)

The Leave and Earning Statement (LES) shows your entitlements, deductions, allotments and details about leave, tax withholding and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

You can log on to my Pay to view your most recent LES. You should verify and keep your LES every pay period.

The top of your LES will show identifying information, plus what pay period this statement covers.

Just below that is a row of boxes displaying a summary of your entitlements, deductions and allotments. It’s important to note that the entitlements and deductions sections may reflect retroactive activity.

Any overflow in these areas will be listed in the Remarks section.

Next to those, you’ll see another box that summarizes the entitlements, deductions and allotments, and then shows the result: the actual amount in your paycheck.

Under your pay amount, you’ll see DIEMS, which means the date you signed up for military service, and RETPLAN, your retirement plan.

On the bottom of your pay stub, smaller boxes display details of your leave days balance; and your federal tax information, including FICA, marital status and any exemptions.

Finally, you’ll see Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions.

What to Do if Your Military Pay Is Incorrect

If you have been tracking your LES and notice any change in your compensation that you don’t understand, immediately contact your payroll or finance office.

If you need more help:

• Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force active duty or Reserve: Call 1-888-332-7411
• Retiree, survivor or beneficiary: Call 1-800-321-1080
• Former spouse or creditor with a question about alimony, child support and other court-ordered garnishment: Call 1-888-332-7411​
• Coast Guard active duty, reservists and retirees
  • Active duty or in the Reserve: Contact your unit administrative yeoman
  • Retirees: Contact the Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center at 1-866-772-8724.