Methodology
Use this page to understand what data sources power each tool, what each estimate excludes, and where to verify a number before acting on it.
How the site works
- Pick the tool that matches the job: pay and allowances, duty-station comparison, promotion, PCS, specialty pays, fitness standards, transition, or retirement.
- Enter only the inputs that actually matter for that tool.
- Read the result together with the included items, exclusions, and verify-with notes.
- Use the linked official pages before acting on anything that affects real money, orders, or standards.
Site guardrails
- These pages are planning tools, not official government systems.
- The site keeps each tool focused on one job so the result is easier to understand and verify.
- Official source links are separated from site assumptions so you can tell what comes from policy and what comes from the site.
- If a page depends on a user-entered assumption, the page should say so clearly instead of hiding it in a source label.
Official calculation sources
Statutory basis
Federal law authorizes and defines each pay element this site calculates. DFAS and DTMO publish the current rates annually under these statutes.
Compensation and pay sources
Pay tables used for all baseline calculations. Base pay is the same for all six uniformed services; the rate depends only on paygrade and years of service (37 U.S.C. § 203). BAS rates differ by officer and enlisted status, not by service. BAH rates differ by paygrade, duty-station ZIP code, and dependent status.
Promotion next-grade sources
Promotion sequences are derived from service-specific regulations. All enlisted and officer grade sequences follow the standard DoD pay-grade ladder. Air Force and Space Force do not use Warrant Officer grades; paygrades W1 through W4 have no next grade in those services.
Location and BAH sources
Used for duty-station comparison and housing rate lookups. DoD surveys local rental housing markets each year and sets BAH rates at the 80th percentile of median costs for each grade in each Military Housing Area. This site uses a pre-processed BAH lookup that covers 40,959 ZIP codes.
PCS and move sources
Used for PCS cashflow estimates and entitlement rate lookups. The Joint Travel Regulations govern all PCS entitlements including Dislocation Allowance, the mileage allowance, and the PPM reimbursement. This tool models a 90-day planning window. Actual entitlement processing requires member finance office verification.
Deployment pay sources
Statutory and regulatory authority for Imminent Danger Pay (IDP), Hostile Fire Pay (HFP), Family Separation Allowance (FSA), and Hardship Duty Pay – Location (HDP-L). IDP and HFP are mutually exclusive per 37 U.S.C. § 310. FSA is $300/month effective January 1, 2026. HDP-L rates are set annually by the DoD.
BRS continuation pay sources
Blended Retirement System continuation pay is authorized under 37 U.S.C. § 354. Active component multipliers range from 2.5 to 13×; reserve component multipliers range from 0.5 to 6×. Service-specific multipliers are announced annually via DoD memorandum.
Army fitness sources
Used for the Army AFT standards check. The Army Fitness Test is the current official test of record, replacing the ACFT. Scoring thresholds vary by age group, gender, and event.
Space Force fitness sources
Used for the Space Force HPA standards check. SPFMAN 36-2905 established the Human Performance Assessment as the current fitness standard. Assessment scores are based on three components: cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and body composition.
Marine fitness sources
Used for the Marine PFT and CFT standards check. MCO 6100.13A establishes the scoring bands and standards. Scores are classified as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class, with standards varying by age group and gender.
Air Force fitness sources
Used for the Air Force PFRA standards check. DTM 2026-02-26 established the Physical Fitness Readiness Assessment (PFRA) effective March 1, 2026, replacing the AFPT. The PFRA scores four components: cardio (max 50), body composition (max 20), strength (max 15), and core (max 15). Diagnostic period runs through June 30, 2026.
Coast Guard fitness sources
Used for the Coast Guard PFT standards check. COMDTINST 16114.33F establishes the Physical Fitness Test with three sections: push-ups, plank, and endurance. All three sections must pass; failing any section requires repeating the entire test. PFT accountability began July 1, 2026.
Career Sea Pay sources
Used for the Career Sea Pay and Sea Pay Premium lookup. Career Sea Pay (CSP) is authorized under 37 U.S.C. § 305a. Rates are published by DFAS in the CMA18 table and vary by paygrade and cumulative years of sea duty. The $200/month Career Sea Pay Premium is included in the published rate for E5–E9 members with 8 or more cumulative years of sea duty.
Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay sources
Used for the HDIP rate lookup. Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay is authorized under 37 U.S.C. § 351. Rates are set by DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 24, and published by DFAS. Most duty types pay $150/month; Military Free Fall (HALO/HAHO) pays $240/month. A temporary Army static-line rate of $200/month applies October 1, 2025 through May 20, 2029.
Clothing replacement allowance sources
Used for the enlisted clothing replacement allowance lookup. Rates are published by DFAS in the CMA2 table under authority of DoD FMR Chapters 29 (active duty) and 58 (reserve). Rates vary by service, gender, and tier. Coast Guard is not on the DFAS CMA2 table.
Aviation Incentive Pay sources
Used for the AvIP and AF Enlisted CSIP rate lookup. Officer Aviation Incentive Pay is authorized under 37 U.S.C. § 301a and implemented by DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 22. Maximum rates effective October 1, 2017. Service-specific rates may be set at or below the DoD maximums.
Tool methods for current tools
Military Pay Calculator
Base pay is drawn from the current DFAS pay table by paygrade and years of service. The same table applies to all six uniformed services (37 U.S.C. § 203). BAH is looked up from DTMO data by duty-station ZIP code and dependent status. BAS is added by component. Branch selection activates branch-conditional special pays: Career Sea Pay for Navy and Marine Corps uses the DFAS CMA18 floor-year table; HDIP uses the DoD FMR Vol. 7A Ch. 24 flat rates; Aviation Incentive Pay uses the DoD FMR Vol. 7A Ch. 22 floor-year table. For reserve and guard scenarios, drill pay is one day of base pay per drill period (37 U.S.C. § 206), scaled by the entered training workload.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources , Career Sea Pay sources , Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay sources , Aviation Incentive Pay sources
Military BAH Calculator
Paygrade, years of service, and dependent status stay fixed while BAH is looked up for two different duty-station ZIP codes. DoD sets BAH annually using local rental housing surveys, at the 80th percentile of median costs for each Military Housing Area. The BAH lookup covers 40,959 ZIP codes.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Military Promotion Pay Calculator
Calculates the monthly and annualized pay difference between the current grade and the next grade in the standard DoD sequence (E1 through E9, W1 through W5, O1 through O10). Promotion sequences are derived from service-specific regulations. Air Force and Space Force do not use Warrant Officer grades; W1 through W4 return no next grade for those services. The tool does not model selection probability, promotion timing, or retroactive pay.
Sources: Statutory basis , Promotion next-grade sources , Compensation and pay sources
Military PCS Calculator
Models a 90-day cashflow window from PCS orders. Included entitlements: Dislocation Allowance per JTR Table 5.7, MALT-Plus mileage at the current POV rate, and the PPM reimbursement at 100 percent of the government's cost estimate for the authorized weight. BAH continues at the losing-installation rate until the member reports to the gaining installation, per JTR.
Sources: Statutory basis , PCS and move sources , Compensation and pay sources
Military Transition Calculator
Calculates how long a savings balance covers a monthly spending gap. Enter estimated civilian expenses and any post-service income; the tool subtracts the net shortfall from savings each month and reports when the balance runs out. VA disability ratings, GI Bill housing stipends, and separation pay are not modeled automatically; enter them as income offsets if applicable. Results are planning estimates only.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources
Army AFT Calculator
Accepts the five AFT event point scores (MDL, HRP, SDC, PLK, 2MR) already converted from raw performance to the 0–100 scale using the age- and sex-specific AFT Scoring Scales published by U.S. Army Human Performance Division. The tool sums the five event scores, verifies each meets the 60-point per-event floor, and compares the total against the selected passing standard. The AFT replaced the ACFT on June 1, 2025 per Army Directive 2025-06; the Standing Power Throw (SPT) from the ACFT was not carried over.
Sources: Army fitness sources
Space Force Fitness Calculator
Accepts component scores for cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and body composition, then sums them to a composite and maps the result to the published performance category under SPFMAN 36-2905. The Human Performance Assessment (HPA) is the current USSF fitness evaluation, established under Space Force physical fitness policy.
Sources: Space Force fitness sources
Marine PFT/CFT Calculator
Accepts PFT and CFT point totals and maps each to the performance class (1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class, or failing) per MCO 6100.13A W/Admin Ch-5. Class thresholds vary by age group and gender. The tool operates on submitted point totals only; event-level scoring is the responsibility of the unit fitness leader per the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Program.
Sources: Marine fitness sources
Air Force PFRA Calculator
Accepts four component scores under the 2026 PFRA: cardio (0–50), body composition (0–20), strength (0–15), and core (0–15). Sums to a composite (max 100) and maps to the DTM 2026-02-26 category: Excellent (≥90), Satisfactory (≥75), or Unsatisfactory (<75). Diagnostic period runs March 1 through June 30, 2026; official scoring begins July 1, 2026.
Sources: Air Force fitness sources
Coast Guard PFT Calculator
Accepts pass/fail outcomes for each of the three PFT sections (push-ups, plank, endurance) per COMDTINST 16114.33F. All three sections must independently pass; failing any section means the entire test must be repeated. The tool reports which sections failed and whether the overall standard is met. PFT accountability effective July 1, 2026.
Sources: Coast Guard fitness sources
Military Drill Pay Calculator
Reserve IDT drill pay is one day of basic pay per drill period under 37 U.S.C. § 206. Rates are drawn from the published DFAS reserve drill pay tables, which mirror the active-duty base pay table scaled to the 1/30th daily equivalent. No BAS or BAH is added for IDT drill periods, as those allowances require 30 or more consecutive active-order days. The tool multiplies the drill period rate by the entered number of periods and applies a planning deduction rate.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources
Military Deployment Pay Calculator
Builds a deployment month pay stack: base pay + BAS + BAH + deployment supplements. IDP is $7.50/day capped at $225/month (37 U.S.C. § 310); HFP is a flat $225/month and is mutually exclusive with IDP. FSA is $300/month effective January 1, 2026 (37 U.S.C. § 427). HDP-L levels ($50, $100, $150/month) are set by DoD annually. All deployment supplements are taxable unless a combat-zone tax exclusion (CZTE) applies. Reduce the deduction rate to approximate CZTE treatment.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources , Deployment pay sources
Military BRS Continuation Pay Calculator
BRS continuation pay is a one-time lump sum equal to monthly basic pay times the service-set multiplier, authorized under 37 U.S.C. § 354. Active component multipliers range 2.5–13×; reserve component multipliers range 0.5–6×. The tool uses the current base pay table for the entered paygrade and years of service. Continuation pay is taxable ordinary income. Multipliers are published annually by each service and should be verified against the current DoD memo before any agreement is signed.
Sources: Statutory basis , BRS continuation pay sources , Compensation and pay sources
Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay Calculator
The HDIP rate is a flat monthly amount looked up by duty type from the DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 24 table. Most duty types pay $150/month; Military Free Fall (HALO/HAHO) pays $240/month. A temporary Army static-line rate of $200/month applies through May 20, 2029. The rate is added to base pay, BAS, and BAH to show total monthly gross.
Sources: Statutory basis , Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay sources , Compensation and pay sources
Clothing Replacement Allowance Calculator
Annual clothing replacement allowances are looked up from the DFAS CMA2 table by service, gender, and tier. Rates are effective October 1, 2025 (FY2026) under DoD FMR Chapters 29 and 58. The Navy special rate applies to CPOs and Band members. Coast Guard is not on the CMA2 table. This is a tax-free annual entitlement displayed as a lump sum.
Aviation Incentive Pay Calculator
Officer AvIP and AF Enlisted CSIP rates are looked up by years of aviation service using a floor-year approach, from the DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 22 table (maximum rates effective October 1, 2017). Service-specific rates may be set at or below the published maximums. The aviation pay rate is added to base pay, BAS, and BAH to show total monthly gross.
Sources: Statutory basis , Aviation Incentive Pay sources , Compensation and pay sources
Net Usable Income Estimator
Base pay, BAS, and BAH are looked up using the same tables as the Military Pay Calculator. Federal income tax is estimated using standard withholding tables at the entered deduction rate; FICA (Social Security and Medicare) is calculated at the statutory combined rate. State income tax is not modeled. An optional TSP contribution percentage reduces gross before the tax calculation if entered. The result is a planning estimate, not a substitute for your LES or a tax filing input.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources
Duty Station Purchasing Power Index
BAH is looked up for two duty-station ZIP codes at the entered paygrade and dependent status. When a DTMO COLA location code is entered, Overseas COLA is computed from the official DTMO formula — (annual spendable income ÷ 12) × (COLA index ÷ 100 − 1) — and added to the income stack for that side. The COLA index is then used as the purchasing-power denominator (replacing the default cost factor). Without a COLA code, a configurable cost factor (default 1.1 for the primary station) is applied as a planning proxy. DoD sets BAH annually from local rental housing surveys; DTMO updates COLA indices bimonthly.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Family Status Compensation Delta
Holds paygrade and years of service constant while BAH is recalculated for with-dependents vs without-dependents status at the same ZIP. BAS also changes by officer/enlisted status when dependent status changes. The result isolates the monthly pay impact of the family status assumption with no other scenario changes. The tool does not model dependent-verification timelines or finance-office processing.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources , Location and BAH sources
Active vs Reserve Income Equivalent
Active-duty monthly income (base pay + BAH + BAS) is compared against a reserve scenario computed from the entered drill period workload. Reserve drill pay is one day of basic pay per drill period per 37 U.S.C. § 206. Annual training days and active-order days are also modeled. The result is a monthly equivalent comparison, not a literal paycheck forecast. State-funded pay elements are not included.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources
Deployment Income Scenario Planner
Builds a deployment month pay stack for each month in the entered window. IDP is prorated at $7.50/day capped at $225/month per 37 U.S.C. § 310; HFP is a flat $225/month and is mutually exclusive with IDP. FSA of $300/month starts at day 30. HDP-L levels ($50/$100/$150) are entered manually. The month-by-month view shows when supplements come online and fall off across the deployment window.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources , Deployment pay sources
Annual Compensation Timeline
Projects base pay, BAH, BAS, and entered supplements for 12 consecutive months using the current DFAS pay table and DTMO BAH lookup for the entered ZIP. One-time costs land in the first month; a monthly adjustment rate compounds the scenario forward. The result is a planning schedule, not a payroll calendar. Actual pay timing depends on your command's LES processing.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources
CZTE & Tax Impact Calculator
Month qualification uses the any-day rule: a month qualifies for CZTE if at least one day falls in a designated combat zone. Officer exclusion is capped at the E-9 equivalent basic pay plus HFP/IDP received. Federal tax savings are estimated using standard withholding tables applied to the qualifying and non-qualifying months separately. UTC-safe date parsing is applied. State income tax and FICA are not excluded under CZTE.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources , Deployment pay sources
Military Retirement Calculator
BRS pension equals 2.0 percent of average high-3 basic pay times years of service. High-3 pension equals 2.5 percent. DoD TSP matching under BRS: 1 percent automatic contribution plus up to 4 percent matching. TSP projection uses the entered annual return rate compounded annually; projections are not inflation-adjusted. Survivor Benefit Plan premiums, VA disability offsets, and state income tax on pension are not modeled.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources , BRS continuation pay sources
Army Assignment Affordability Compare
BAH is looked up for two Army installation ZIP codes at the entered paygrade and dependent status. Base pay and BAS stay fixed across both sides so the result isolates the location difference. DoD sets BAH annually from local rental housing surveys. The tool does not apply a cost-of-living factor. It uses raw BAH like the Military BAH Calculator.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Army Promotion Pay Raise
Calculates the monthly and annualized pay difference between current grade and next grade in the Army grade sequence. Promotion sequences follow Army regulations: E1 through E9, W1 through W5, O1 through O10. BAH is recalculated at the same ZIP and dependent status for both grades. The tool does not model selection probability, promotion board timing, or retroactive pay.
Sources: Statutory basis , Promotion next-grade sources , Compensation and pay sources
Air Force Assignment Income Compare
BAH is looked up for two Air Force installation ZIP codes at the entered paygrade and dependent status. Base pay and BAS stay fixed across both sides so the result isolates the installation location difference. DoD sets BAH annually from local rental housing surveys. The tool does not apply a cost-of-living factor. It uses raw BAH like the Military BAH Calculator.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Air Force Promotion Pay Raise
Calculates the monthly and annualized pay difference between current grade and next grade in the Air Force grade sequence. Promotion sequences follow Air Force regulations: E1 through E9, O1 through O10. Air Force does not use Warrant Officer grades. W1 through W4 return no next grade for Air Force. The tool does not model WAPS scoring, promotion board timing, or retroactive pay.
Sources: Statutory basis , Promotion next-grade sources , Compensation and pay sources
Air Force Installation Cost Gap
BAH is looked up for two Air Force installation ZIP codes at the entered paygrade and dependent status. A site cost-of-living adjustment factor is applied to the BAH delta to produce a purchasing power comparison. The cost factor is a site editorial assumption. It is not a DoD-published rate. This tool is more appropriate than a raw BAH comparison when installation cost differences are significant.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Space Force Assignment Income Compare
BAH is looked up for two Space Force installation ZIP codes at the entered paygrade and dependent status. Base pay and BAS stay fixed across both sides so the result isolates the installation location difference. Space Force does not use Warrant Officer grades. DoD sets BAH annually from local rental housing surveys.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Space Force Promotion Pay Raise
Calculates the monthly and annualized pay difference between current grade and next grade in the Space Force grade sequence. Promotion sequences follow Space Force regulations: E1 through E9, O1 through O10. Space Force does not use Warrant Officer grades. W1 through W4 return no next grade for Space Force. The tool does not model promotion board timing or retroactive pay.
Sources: Statutory basis , Promotion next-grade sources , Compensation and pay sources
Marine Promotion Pay Raise
Calculates the monthly and annualized pay difference between current grade and next grade in the Marine Corps grade sequence. Promotion sequences follow Marine Corps regulations: E1 through E9, W1 through W5, O1 through O10. BAH is recalculated at the same ZIP and dependent status for both grades. The tool does not model cutting scores, promotion board timing, or retroactive pay.
Sources: Statutory basis , Promotion next-grade sources , Compensation and pay sources
Marine Installation Affordability Compare
BAH is looked up for two Marine Corps installation ZIP codes at the entered paygrade and dependent status. Base pay and BAS stay fixed across both sides so the result isolates the installation location difference. DoD sets BAH annually from local rental housing surveys. The tool uses raw BAH. Sea duty supplements are not included here.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Coast Guard Cutter vs Shore Income Compare
Holds paygrade and ZIP constant while applying a duty-posture comparison rule between cutter duty and shore duty under one Coast Guard pay profile. The result is a directional estimate of how much the monthly picture changes between the two duty postures. Exact cutter-duty entitlements are not broken out line by line. This is a planning directional check.
Sources: Statutory basis , Compensation and pay sources , Location and BAH sources
Coast Guard Advancement Pay Raise
Calculates the monthly and annualized pay difference between current rate and next rate in the Coast Guard grade sequence. Promotion sequences follow Coast Guard regulations: E1 through E9, W1 through W4, O1 through O10. BAH is recalculated at the same ZIP and dependent status for both rates. The tool does not model exam cycle timing, selection rates, or retroactive pay.
Sources: Statutory basis , Promotion next-grade sources , Compensation and pay sources
Coast Guard Unit Location Affordability
BAH is looked up for two Coast Guard unit ZIP codes at the entered paygrade and dependent status. Base pay and BAS stay fixed across both sides so the result isolates the unit location difference. DoD sets BAH annually from local rental housing surveys. For cutter vs shore duty comparisons, use the Coast Guard Cutter vs Shore Income Compare instead.
Sources: Statutory basis , Location and BAH sources , Compensation and pay sources
Site assumptions and scenario defaults
- The current shipped data effective date is used for the pay and allowance tables in this build.
- Default deduction-rate, cost-factor, and scenario rules are site planning defaults, not official rates.
- Promotion, duty-posture, and transition helpers simplify the question on purpose. They do not claim to capture every admin rule behind the decision.
Helpful official resources
These links are useful for transition planning and follow-up verification. They are not all direct calculation inputs.