2026 Promotion Pay Calculator
Promotion Pay Impact
See what your next rank actually pays — the monthly and annual raise across basic pay and housing allowance, plus the long-term effect on your pension, computed from the official 2026 DFAS and DoD rate tables. Below is a default example; pick your own current and target ranks in the interactive calculator for your exact numbers.
2026 Example: E-5 to E-6 at 6 Years of Service
A Sergeant (E-5) pinning on Staff Sergeant (E-6) at 6 years of service, with dependents. The BAH figures are an example only — for El Paso, TX (Fort Bliss) — since BAH varies by duty station. Look up your station with the BAH calculator.
| Pay Component | E-5 | E-6 | Monthly Raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Pay | $4,110.00 | $4,236.00 | +$126.00 |
| BAH (with dependents)Example — El Paso, TX (Fort Bliss) | $1,809.00 | $2,148.00 | +$339.00 |
| Total Monthly Raise | +$465.00 | ||
| Annual Raise | +$5,580.00 | ||
Basic pay is the official 2026 DFAS rate. BAH shown is an example for El Paso, TX (Fort Bliss) with dependents; your actual BAH depends on your duty station. Gross figures before tax — the interactive calculator estimates the net take-home change for your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much more do you make when promoted from E-5 to E-6?
Basic pay is set by pay grade and years of service on the official DFAS table, so the raise depends on when you pin on. At 6 years of service, an E-5 earns $4,110.00 per month in 2026 basic pay and an E-6 earns $4,236.00 — a raise of $126.00 per month before allowances. The calculator on this page computes the exact delta for any two grades at your years of service.
Does a promotion increase BAH?
Yes — Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is set per pay grade, so pinning on a new rank usually raises it. For example, at El Paso, TX (Fort Bliss) the 2026 with-dependents rate is $1,809.00 per month for an E-5 and $2,148.00 for an E-6, a difference of $339.00 per month. BAH varies by duty station, so your own delta depends on where you are stationed — and because BAH is non-taxable, every extra dollar of it is worth more than a taxable one.
How does a promotion affect military retirement pay?
Your pension is a percentage of your highest-36-months basic pay, so retiring one grade higher raises the check for life. Under the Blended Retirement System at 20 years (2.0% per year, a 40% multiplier), retiring as an E-6 instead of an E-5 means an estimated $2,107.20 versus $1,768.80 per month at 2026 rates — $338.40 more every month of retirement, before cost-of-living adjustments.
Is the whole promotion raise taxable?
No. The basic-pay portion of the raise is taxable, but the BAH portion is a non-taxable allowance, so your take-home increase is larger than a straight after-tax reading of the gross delta would suggest. The interactive calculator estimates federal and state tax on both grades to show the net take-home change.