Editorial and data policy
How we source, check, estimate, and correct the military pay data on this site.
- Figures
- Only from an official publication we have checked.
- Estimates
- Labeled, with what is included and excluded.
- Missing values
- Shown as missing, never as zero.
- Corrections
- Reviewed against the source first.
Independence and disclaimer
Independent site. Not affiliated with the Department of Defense, the Department of War, DFAS, or any military service.
Sourcing
We publish a pay figure only when it comes from an official publication that we have checked. Each table shows the publisher, the title, and the date we retrieved it. The sources list shows every source, what it provides, and its status.
Estimates and projections
Calculators label what they include and what they leave out. Projections are not shown until a figure is enacted and verified.
Missing data
A blank cell means the official table does not show that value. It is never treated as zero. Pages without verified data say so on the page and show no figure for the missing part.
Which source applies to each figure
Each kind of figure has a primary source. The table names it. Figures from other sites are not used unless the primary source is cited alongside them.
| Figure | Primary source |
|---|---|
| Monthly basic pay | DFAS basic pay tables. The 2026 rates are set by Executive Order 14368, Schedule 8. |
| Annual pay adjustment rules | 37 U.S.C. 1009, and the Federal Register notice for each year’s schedule. |
| Basic allowance for housing (BAH) | DTMO BAH rate tables. This site uses the 2025 file. |
| Special and incentive pays | DFAS pay pages and the sections of 37 U.S.C. they cite. |
| Rank titles | DoD Financial Management Regulation, Volume 7A, Comparable Grades. |
| Promotion criteria | The service regulation for that branch. Only the Army criteria are published on this site. |
When sources disagree
The official publication applies. If a DFAS table and another site show different figures, we show the DFAS figure and treat the other site as a cross-check only. If an official source disagrees with a statement on this site, the page is corrected to match the source.
A figure from a draft, news report, or forum is treated as unverified until an official table confirms it.
Projections and future years
A projected rate is not shown as current pay. A future year’s chart is published only after its schedule is enacted and checked. Thepay charts page states which years are available and when each was last checked.
What we do not publish
- Pay figures without an official source, including figures for allowances the site does not yet have verified tables for.
- Personal pay advice, or any estimate presented as the amount a named person will be paid.
- Advertising, affiliate links, or sponsored content. The about page describes the current arrangement.
Updates and corrections
Official tables change. We record the date each source was checked and revisit it when DFAS or DoD publishes a new edition. Reported errors are reviewed against the source before any change is made. To report one, see contact and corrections.