Short answer: Basic pay went up 3.8% on January 1, 2026. For an E-5 with 6 years in, that’s about $150 more a month, or roughly $1,800 a year before taxes. Your housing allowance moved on its own schedule, and in some places it moved a lot more than that. In both directions.
What 3.8% is worth at your grade
| Grade, years of service | 2026 monthly basic pay | About how much more a month | About how much more a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-4, over 4 | $3,658.50 | $134 | $1,607 |
| E-5, over 6 | $4,110.00 | $150 | $1,805 |
| E-7, over 10 | $5,300.40 | $194 | $2,328 |
| O-3, over 4 | $7,382.70 | $270 | $3,243 |
The “more” columns back the 2025 rate out of the 3.8% raise, so they can be off by a dollar or two. Your grade isn’t in the table? Put your own grade and years into this 2026 military pay calculator, which reads the full DoD pay table.
The number that moved more: BAH
BAH isn’t part of the 3.8%. It’s set by duty station from local rent and utility costs, it’s tax-free, and for a lot of families it’s a bigger line on the LES than base pay. Here’s what happened to an E-5 with dependents between 2025 and 2026:
- Abilene / Dyess AFB, TX: $1,485 to $1,872, up $387 a month
- Westchester County, NY: $4,107 to $4,479, up $372
- San Diego, CA: $3,987 to $3,975, down $12
- Austin, TX: $2,343 to $2,241, down $102
If your area went down, don’t panic yet. Rate protection lets you keep the higher rate as long as you stay at the same duty station and your dependency status doesn’t change. The full list of which areas went up and down in 2026 is worth a look if you’ve got a PCS coming.
BAS went up too, just less
The food allowance for 2026 is $476.95 a month for enlisted members, up $11.18, and $328.48 for officers, up $7.70. Also tax-free.
How that stacks up against military discounts
This is a discount site, so we’ll be straight about the scale. A 10% military discount on a $60 family dinner, twice a month, saves you about $144 a year. Stack a few ID.me-verified retail discounts on top and you might reach a few hundred dollars. The raise alone is worth about $1,800 to an E-5. Discounts are nice. They’re just not where most of the money is.
See your whole paycheck
Base pay, BAH and BAS together are what actually lands in your account, and of those three only base pay is taxed. MilitaryCalc’s My Pay calculator adds all three for your grade, years and ZIP code, and shows how much of the total is tax-free.
Figures from the 2026 DoD basic pay table, DTMO BAH rates and DFAS BAS rates. Last verified September 2026.
How to Verify Your Military Status & Redeem the 2026 Military Pay Raise Military Discount
Most retailers verify your military status through one of three trusted services. The exact method depends on the brand:
- ID.me – Used by most major US brands. Create a free account at id.me, upload your military ID or service documents once, and get a discount code.
- SheerID – Common for outdoor, fitness, and lifestyle brands. Verification is instant against DoD records in most cases.
- In-store ID check – Show your CAC, VA card, retiree ID, or DD-214 at checkout. Available for active duty, Guard/Reserve, retirees, veterans, and qualifying dependents (varies by retailer).
Who qualifies for the 2026 Military Pay Raise military discount?
Eligibility typically extends to: active duty (all branches), National Guard, Reserves, retirees, military veterans, and immediate family members (spouses and children) where the retailer permits. Always check the brand's current policy at checkout — terms can change.
Pro tips before you check out
- Verification accounts (ID.me, SheerID) work across hundreds of brands — set one up once and reuse it.
- Some brands stack military discount with seasonal sales; others do not. Test before you commit.
- Keep your service documents handy: a photo of your ID on your phone speeds in-store verification.
Looking for more savings? Browse all military discounts on Military Markdown →