Enlisted Soldiers earn a competitive base salary and may also be eligible for bonuses, allowances, and other benefits. Here’s an example of your potential earnings using data for a married private (E2) in Fort Campbell, K.Y., with less than two years of service.
Full Time
Part Time
The charts below show the basic pay (base annual salary before bonuses) for enlisted Soldiers, Warrant Officers, and commissioned Officers. They’re sorted by rank and years of experience, and do not include bonuses, allowances, or other benefits.
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The Army provides bonuses, military allowances, and other benefits to help you earn more and offset the cost of living, so more of your paycheck stays in your pocket.
Bonuses are a great way for Soldiers to increase their pay. There are a variety of opportunities including Quick Ship Bonus for reporting to Basic Training within 30 days of enlistment, as well as different job-specific enlistment bonuses.
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is given to full-time U.S.-based Soldiers when housing is not provided on base. The amount is based on location, rank, and family status. The Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is also available to Soldiers based outside of the U.S. Plus, everyone who joins has access to better loans for buying or maintaining homes off base.
All Soldiers and their families have access to comprehensive, quality health care. Full-time Soldiers are covered at no cost, while those serving part time have low costs for their care.
The Army offers programs to all Soldiers that help pay for college, graduate school, licensing and certification courses, entrepreneurship training, and more.
Enlisted Soldiers who live in the barracks get their meals at Army dining facilities covered through their Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS). Commissioned Officers and enlisted Soldiers not living in the barracks can eat at the dining facilities for a charge, and receive a BAS of more than $300 a month to buy food on or off base.
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When you consider affordable health care for part-time Soldiers and free health care for full-time Soldiers, plus access to bonuses, allowances for housing, food, and clothing, opportunities to get a college degree without incurring debt, and more financial benefits, the Army offers a more competitive choice to similar civilian careers. Your Army base salary is just one part of the total compensation Soldiers receive. While civilian jobs may pay higher base salaries, the Army offers a starting salary above the federal minimum wage for a 40-hour work week, 30 days paid leave every year, plus a variety of benefits on top of your base pay that add up.
Special Duty Pay is additional monthly and/or annual pay given to eligible active-duty Soldiers who perform certain duties, serve in specific geographic locations, work in various jobs called Military Occupation Specialties (MOS), or are given high-value assignments. Along with Special Duty Pay, you can earn bonuses for doing things like heading to Basic Training earlier or taking certain jobs.
When you serve full time in active duty Army and when you serve part time in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard, you have access to the same comprehensive benefits the Army provides to all Soldiers. The pay differs based on years of experience and rank. See the pay charts above for details.
All Soldiers, including enlisted, Warrant Officers, and commissioned Officers, have access to the same comprehensive Army benefits. The pay for all three Army paths differs depending on which path you choose and whether you’re full time (active duty), or part time (Army Reserve or Army National Guard). See the pay charts above for details.
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