Military pay, benefits &
retirement, made simple.

More military tools are in active development. Browse by topic below.

Most pay comparisons between military and civilian careers use base pay — and that comparison misleads. A sergeant with dependents stationed in San Diego draws base pay plus BAH (a locality-adjusted housing allowance) plus BAS (subsistence), and none of those allowances are federally taxed. Regular Military Compensation captures all three components and adds back the tax advantage as a dollar equivalent, producing a number that can be set next to a civilian salary on even footing. The two calculators here build RMC from your pay grade, years of service, and duty station. Use them before accepting or comparing any job offer that quotes a civilian salary against your base pay alone.

• 01Military Pay (RMC) CalculatorPayCalculate your Regular Military Compensation: base pay + BAH + BAS + the tax advantage, plus a civilian-equivalent gross salary readout.Launch→
• 02BAH & RMC CalculatorPayLook up your 2026 housing allowance by duty station, pay grade, and dependency status, then see your total Regular Military Compensation.Launch→

• 01RMC Explained: Why Basic Pay Is Only 42% of What You EarnGuideRegular Military Compensation is basic pay plus BAH, BAS and the federal tax advantage. In 2026 the same E-5 has an RMC of $84,442 at Fort Liberty and $117,811 in San Diego.Read→
• 02GI Bill Housing Allowance Reset August 1: Your New 2026 RateGuideThe GI Bill MHA reset to 2026 BAH rates on August 1. What changed, the online-only rate, rate protection if your ZIP dropped, and why your first check is short.Read→
• 03BRS TSP Match: Why BAH Doesn't Count and Front-Loading Burns YouGuideThe BRS match rides on basic pay only, never BAH or BAS, and stops cold if you max the TSP early. The exact dollar cost for an O-4 and E-6, plus the fix.Read→

Service members who entered on or after January 1, 2018 are automatically enrolled in the Blended Retirement System: a smaller pension (40% of High-3 at 20 years, versus 50% under legacy) paired with a government TSP match of up to 5% of base pay. Whether the TSP match closes that pension gap depends on your pay grade, contribution rate, and investment return over a full career — the BRS vs High-3 calculator runs that comparison. Guard and Reserve members retire under a separate points-based formula: good years and retirement points determine the multiplier, and the age-60 draw date can drop to 50 for qualifying mobilizations. The Reserve Retirement Points calculator handles that math, including the two multipliers for BRS and legacy members.

• 01BRS vs High-3 CalculatorRetirementCompare the Blended Retirement System (40% + TSP match) against legacy High-3 (50%) over your career. See whether the TSP match covers the pension gap at your pay grade and return assumption.Launch→
• 02Reserve Retirement Points CalculatorFor: Guard/ReserveEstimate your Guard or Reserve pension from retirement points and good years. Covers High-3 (2.5%) and BRS (2.0%) systems, with optional age-reduction for qualifying mobilizations.Launch→
• 03Military Retirement Income CalculatorRetirementModel the combined income picture when a military retiree takes a federal civilian job: retired pay, VA disability offset, and the GS salary stacked together.Launch→

• 01Retire at 26 or 29? Each Extra Military Year Adds $2,180 to $6,807GuideEach year past 20 adds 2.5% of your High-36 (2% under BRS). See the 2026 dollar value from 20 to 30 years for E-7, E-8, E-9, O-5 and O-6, and the break-even.Read→
• 02$2,485 or $3,106: What an E-7 Retires On at 20 Years in 2026GuideRetired pay at 20 years for E-6 through O-5 on 2026 pay tables, High-3 vs BRS side by side. At 20 years the gap is exactly one-tenth of your High-36, at every rank.Read→
• 03E-6 or E-7 at 10 to 14 Years: The Real Stay-or-Go MathGuideArmy continuation pay flattened to 2.5x basic pay in 2026, about $11,900 for an E-6. The pension it competes with is worth $460K to $658K at retirement. What leaving costs.Read→

The military-to-federal path typically moves in three steps. First, understand salary equivalence: your rank, time in service, and education map to a GS grade range, and the translator puts your full RMC next to that GS pay so the comparison is honest. Second, decide on buyback: purchasing your active-duty years into FERS adds them to creditable service, raising your eventual pension — but it usually requires waiving military retired pay, so the calculator walks through the lifetime payoff. Third, understand veterans preference: your preference type (5-point, 10-point CPS, CP, XP, or TP) raises your competitive-examination score by a fixed amount and creates procedural rights that remain in effect throughout federal hiring. The three tools here map that sequence.

• 01Military-to-GS Salary TranslatorFederal bridgeMap your rank and time in service to the equivalent GS grade, then compare military RMC (pay + BAH + BAS + tax advantage) against the GS salary.Launch→
• 02Military Service Buyback CalculatorFederal bridgeEstimate the deposit to buy back active-duty service toward your FERS pension, plus the lifetime annuity payoff.Launch→
• 03Veterans Preference CalculatorFederal bridgeDetermine your preference type — 5-point, 10-point, CPS, CP, XP, TP — and see how it changes your standing in federal hiring.Launch→

• 01Chapter 1606 Rates 2026-27: $508 a Month vs. the Post-9/11 GI BillGuideVA's Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve rates from Oct. 1, 2026: $508 full-time, the $350 kicker cap, the repealed 14-year rule, and what a 90-day mobilization really earns.Read→
• 02Veterans Data Order: What Changes for Your VA Claim and WhenGuideEO 14426 gives DoD 30 days to share records with VA and 180 days for AI claim tools. It does not speed up a claim filed today. What to do before you separate.Read→
• 03GI Bill Years: The Cheapest Roth Conversion WindowGuideGI Bill income is tax-free, so your bracket hits near zero in school. Converting Traditional TSP then can cost 3.56% instead of 22%, saving one E-5 $13,830.Read→

Military retirees entering federal civilian employment face a benefits decision that compounds over time. TRICARE remains available to retirees and dependents, but federal employment opens access to FEHB — and FEHB can be suspended rather than cancelled, preserving the right to re-enroll at a later Open Season. Many retirees carry TRICARE as primary with FEHB suspended, while others value FEHB's broader provider network or want the ability to coordinate both for catastrophic costs. The TRICARE vs FEHB calculator prices that trade-off against your specific plan and family size. Separately, the Survivor Benefit Plan commits 6.5% of your elected base amount in exchange for a 55% survivor annuity — a decision that locks in outside narrow exit windows (months 25–36 of retired pay, or anytime for insurable-interest elections). The SBP calculator runs break-even ages against the term-life alternative so you can stress-test the coverage.

• 01TRICARE vs. FEHB CalculatorBenefitsCompare premiums, coverage, and out-of-pocket costs for military retirees choosing between TRICARE and FEHB in a federal civilian job.Launch→
• 02SBP CalculatorBenefitsPrice Survivor Benefit Plan coverage against your retired pay: the 6.5% premium, the 55% annuity, break-even ages, and the term-life alternative.Launch→

• 01CHAMPVA vs FEHB Family Coverage: The $7,598 Question for 2027GuideRated 100% P&T and working for the government? See what moving your family to CHAMPVA saves on 2027 FEHB premiums, and the survivor rule to check first.Read→
• 022027 VA Disability Rates: Projected Pay by RatingGuideProjected 2027 VA disability rates at the current 3.6% COLA estimate: rating-by-rating tables, the October 14 announcement date, and CRDP/CRSC impact.Read→
• 03TRICARE Open Season 2027: Should You Switch Plans?GuideThe 2027 TRICARE Open Season dates, the six-day FEHB deadline gap that trips dual-eligible families, what the CY2027 notice froze or left open, and the suspend-vs-cancel trap.Read→

• 012027 Military Pay Raise by GradeProjected 2027 monthly pay chart under the tiered 5-7% plan vs the flat 3.6% floor, E-1 through O-6.Read→
• 022027 Pay Gap: Feds 0%, Military 5-7%The proposed civilian-vs-military raise gap, the year-by-year data, and the pension impact.Read→
• 03Military Buyback GuideHow buying back military service works, deadlines, and whether it pays off for your situation.Read→
• 04Navy DRP 2026: Civilian Employee GuideDRP eligibility, what admin leave pays, and the pension gap Navy civilians should weigh before signing.Read→
• 05Navy Civilian Reduction 2026: 10/15/20% GuideWhat the 10–20% civilian workforce review means for each command, who is protected, and what every Navy civilian should do now.Read→

• 01Tuition Waivers for Children of 100% P&T Veterans: State by StateDEA pays $1,621 a month from Oct. 1, 2026 in every state. State programs for a 100% P&T veteran's family exist in more than half. Threshold, residency, age cap by state.Read→
• 02Chapter 1606 Rates 2026-27: $508 a Month vs. the Post-9/11 GI BillVA's Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve rates from Oct. 1, 2026: $508 full-time, the $350 kicker cap, the repealed 14-year rule, and what a 90-day mobilization really earns.Read→
• 03CHAMPVA vs FEHB Family Coverage: The $7,598 Question for 2027Rated 100% P&T and working for the government? See what moving your family to CHAMPVA saves on 2027 FEHB premiums, and the survivor rule to check first.Read→
• 04Retire at 26 or 29? Each Extra Military Year Adds $2,180 to $6,807Each year past 20 adds 2.5% of your High-36 (2% under BRS). See the 2026 dollar value from 20 to 30 years for E-7, E-8, E-9, O-5 and O-6, and the break-even.Read→
• 05Is Your DRP Capped at 12 Weeks Now? What OPM's Memo SaysDid OPM cap deferred resignation leave at 12 weeks on October 1? The memo says calendar 2026, DoD says FY2027, and OPM and OMB can approve more. The documents.Read→
• 06Does a VA 100% P&T Rating Waive the TSP 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty?A Reddit thread says a VA 100% P&T rating waives the 10% penalty on TSP withdrawals before 59½. The IRS test is different. What qualifies, and the routes that do work.Read→
• 07Military Spouse Employment Rights When You PCS: A 5-Right Self-CheckMaryland's October 1 license law, the federal license port, unlimited noncompetitive appointments through 2028, the remote-work route, DoD preference. Which right is yours.Read→
• 08DMDC and FBI Data Breaches: What's Confirmed, Plus a 72-Hour ChecklistTwo separate 2026 breaches, DMDC and the FBI jobs portal, and no government notice posted yet. What is confirmed, what is only reported, and six actions for the next 72 hours.Read→

Should I buy back my military service time for FERS?

Buying back active-duty service adds that time to your FERS creditable service, which raises your pension and can move up your retirement eligibility. The trade-off: you generally must waive military retired pay, with disability retirements and most Reserve/Guard retirements as exceptions. For employees who will spend years in federal service, the buyback usually pays off — run your own numbers with the Military Service Buyback Calculator.

Can I collect military retirement and a FERS pension at the same time?

Often yes. If you do not buy back your active-duty time, military retirees can keep their retired pay and separately earn a FERS annuity for their civilian years. If you buy the time back into FERS, you typically waive military retired pay (disability and Reserve/Guard retirements are treated differently). The right choice depends on your years of service in each system.

How does my military rank translate to a GS grade?

There is no official one-to-one rank-to-GS chart, but your rank, years of service, and education map to a GS grade and step range. The Military-to-GS Salary Translator estimates the equivalent grade and compares your military Regular Military Compensation against the GS salary.

As a military retiree taking a federal job, should I keep TRICARE or FEHB?

You can be eligible for both. Many retirees keep TRICARE and suspend FEHB, while others carry FEHB for broader provider access or to coordinate the two. The best fit depends on cost, your providers, and family coverage — our TRICARE vs FEHB comparison walks through the trade-offs.

Is military pay really lower than civilian pay?

A fair comparison uses Regular Military Compensation — base pay plus BAH, BAS, and the federal tax advantage on allowances — not base pay alone. Once those are included, the gap is usually much smaller than the base-pay figures suggest.