2011 US Military Pay

The Military Pay Chart for 2011 reflects a 1.4% pay raise.

Military pay raises are generally linked to civilian pay raises. Until 2006, military pay raises were at least one-half percent higher than the civilian pay raise each year, measured by the Employment Cost Index (ECI).

Starting with 2007, military pay raises were made equal to the increase in the ECI, unless Congress authorizes military pay raises to exceed the automatic level. In January 2011, the US military pay raise is 1.4%.

Are You Worried About a Government Shutdown?

An individual service member's military pay will be affected by the various allowances and special pays that s/he is eligible to receive, so we have included links below for various elements that make up your complete military compensation package.

All branches of the U.S. military receive the same amount of base pay. The amount is based upon pay grade and time in service. This military pay chart can be used to determine Air Force pay, Army pay, Coast Guard pay, Marine pay and/or Navy pay.

(Scroll down for jump links)

Direct Deposit Required

Direct deposit of your military pay is now mandatory. Be sure your paycheck is being deposited into an account that authorized family members (a spouse, or parent if not married) can access, preferably a checking account if your pay is to be used for paying bills and everyday living expenses. Before you leave home for any period in excess of 10 days or so, make sure that your deposit and withdrawal process has been tested to make sure there are no glitches.

Check with your designated pay office to be sure you are properly signed up for direct deposit. You may use either an SF (Standard Form) 1199A or a DD (Defense Dept) Form 2762 to enroll in direct deposit. Double check all entries on the form, and make sure all the digits in your bank account information are accurate. When military pay day rolls around, you don't want your pay deposited to someone else's account!

Active Duty Pay

Initial pay delay: Be aware that if you are just entering boot camp, it may take 4-8 weeks before your pay "kicks in," so you need to make sure you have enough saved to cover expenses for up to three months so you or your family can pay bills until your direct deposit starts.

Basic Pay is the main component of your military salary package. All members receive Base Pay, which is typically the largest portion of your paycheck. Your military pay grade (generally the same as your military rank) and number of years of service determine the amount of military base pay you will receive.

2011 Military Pay Tables - Basic Pay. (1.4% pay raise)

2010 Military Pay Tables - Basic Pay. (3.4% pay raise)

BAH rates vary based on duty station location.
Overseas Housing Allowance.
COLA - CONUS.
COLA - Overseas.
Per diem rates - CONUS, OCONUS, Overseas & Foreign.
Dislocation Allowance - DLA.
Mileage rates - POV.

Military Pay Day 2011

List of 2011 military paydays.

Reserve Drill Pay

2011 Reserve Pay for 4 Reserve Drills.

Retired Pay

Military Retirees and those receiving Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities can find a wealth of information here: Retired pay

You can use these Military Retirement Calculators to determine the amount of your military retired pay.

Retirees' cost of living adjustment (COLA) is graduated based on date of retirement. For those retiring prior to January 1, 2008, the COLA for 2009 was 5.8%.

Unfortunately, military retirees' and annuitants' COLA for 2010 AND 2011 is 0%. For many, this means their retired pay amount actually decreased slightly in 2010, due to changes in income tax withholding and an increase in Medicare premiums for some.

Pay for Prior Years

If you happen to need a copy of military pay rates for earlier years for some reason (such as locating the pay table in effect on the date of your retirement for calculating your military retirement pay, or on the date of your divorce for calculating the amount payable to a former spouse), those pay tables are available from DFAS also.

2010 Military Pay Tables - Basic Pay. (3.4% pay raise)

2009 Military Pay Tables - Basic Pay. (3.9% pay raise)

2008 Military Base Pay Charts. (3.5% pay raise)

• Military Pay and Allowances discusses the basic elements of what is considered the military equivalent of private sector salaries, referred to as RMC, or Regular Military Compensation. These include basic pay (including Active Duty and Reserve pay tables), allowances for housing and subsistence, and tax advantage of the tax-free allowances.
• Retirement discusses the various retirement systems currently in effect. In addition to explaining the rules regarding Final Pay, High-3 Year Average, and CSB/REDUX for active duty, calculators are available to demonstrate the potential income stream from these retirement systems and to assist those allowed to choose between High-3 and CSB/REDUX. The Reserve and disability retirement systems are described briefly.
• Benefits section discusses the variety of benefits available, ranging from complete health care to commissary and exchange shopping.
• Survivor Benefits section discusses the Uniformed Services Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RC-SBP).
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) discusses the Federal Government sponsored retirement savings and investment plan for members of the uniformed services.

Military-Money-Matters.com's Site Map

If you didn't find the information you were looking for, please use the custom search below to search the site:

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Web www.Military-Money-Matters.com