Pay charts show basic pay before tax. What lands in your bank account is different: federal income tax and FICA come out of basic pay, while the food and housing allowances arrive untaxed. This guide shows what a member at each common rank keeps in 2026.
How we worked it out
Each figure below uses the 2026 basic pay table, the 2026 federal tax brackets with the standard deduction, and FICA at 7.65%. Social Security takes 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%. We added BAS, the food allowance, of $476.95 for enlisted members and $328.48 for officers. We left out BAH because it depends on your duty station, and state tax because many states do not tax military pay. SGLI life insurance premiums, TSP contributions and allotments would reduce the figures a little more.
Single members
| Rank and years | Basic pay | Federal tax | FICA | Kept with BAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1, under 2 | $2,407.20 | $107.20 | $184.15 | $2,592.80 |
| E-2, under 2 | $2,697.90 | $142.08 | $206.39 | $2,826.38 |
| E-3, over 2 | $3,015.00 | $180.13 | $230.65 | $3,081.17 |
| E-4, over 3 | $3,482.40 | $236.22 | $266.40 | $3,456.73 |
| E-5, over 6 | $4,110.00 | $311.53 | $314.42 | $3,961.00 |
| E-6, over 8 | $4,612.80 | $371.87 | $352.88 | $4,365.00 |
| E-7, over 12 | $5,591.70 | $494.34 | $427.77 | $5,146.54 |
| O-1, under 2 | $4,150.20 | $316.36 | $317.49 | $3,844.83 |
| O-3, over 6 | $7,737.00 | $966.31 | $591.88 | $6,507.29 |
Federal tax here is the yearly estimate divided by twelve. The amount withheld from each paycheck depends on your W-4, so your LES may differ by a few dollars.
Married members filing jointly
Filing jointly doubles the standard deduction to $32,200 and widens the low brackets, so married members keep noticeably more. An E-1 filing jointly with no other household income owes no federal income tax at all on basic pay and keeps $2,700.00 with BAS. Here are the figures at other ranks, assuming the spouse has no income:
- E-3 over 2: $3,228.14
- E-5 over 6: $4,129.87
- E-7 over 12: $5,333.21
- O-3 over 6: $6,908.49
If a spouse works, the household pays tax on the combined income, so these figures would fall.
Add housing to see the real total
Most members living off base also receive BAH, and none of it is taxed. Take an E-5 at Fort Bragg with dependents. The $3,961 to $4,130 above becomes about $5,767 to $5,936 once the $1,806 housing allowance is added. Rent then comes out of that money.
This is why comparing military pay with a civilian salary is tricky. That E-5’s full package is $6,392.95 a month before tax. A civilian would need about $83,000 a year to keep the same money after federal and payroll taxes. Our total pay calculator works this out for any rank and location.
What else comes out of a paycheck
- SGLI. Life insurance is automatic unless you decline it. The premium for full coverage is a small fixed monthly amount.
- TSP. Members under the Blended Retirement System are enrolled in the Thrift Savings Plan automatically, with a matching contribution from the government. Traditional TSP contributions also lower federal tax.
- State tax. It depends on your state of legal residence, not where you are stationed. Several states have no income tax, and many others exempt active-duty pay.
- Allotments. These are voluntary payments you set up, such as savings or a car loan.
Common questions
Why is my federal tax different from this table? Withholding follows your W-4, and paychecks are calculated per pay period. If you claimed extra withholding or have other income, your numbers will differ.
Do combat zone months change this? Yes. Enlisted pay earned in a combat zone is fully tax-free, and officers’ pay is tax-free up to a cap. Take-home pay rises noticeably during deployment.
Is FICA taken from BAH or BAS? No. Social Security and Medicare are charged only on basic pay and certain special pays.
Run your own numbers in the total pay calculator, including your BAH and your state’s tax rate.