Pay & Compensation
Basic Pay
3.8% basic pay raise effective Jan 1, 2026 for all ranks and years of service.
Who qualifies: Active duty.
All active duty service members across every branch received a 3.8% basic pay increase effective January 1, 2026 — a uniform, across-the-board raise (unlike 2025, which added targeted raises for junior grades).
Note: The separate ~10% targeted raise for junior enlisted (E-1 through E-4) took effect April 1, 2025 and is already built into the current pay tables — it was not a 2026 increase.
Basic pay is determined by pay grade (rank) and years of service. It is the foundation of military compensation and is taxable income (unlike most allowances).