Military Pay Raise History: 2017–2027
Military raises are tied by law to the Employment Cost Index (ECI) — private-sector wage growth — unless Congress votes a different number. Here's the last decade, and where 2027 is heading.
Year-by-year raises
| Year | Basic pay raise |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | 2.6% |
| 2020 | 3.1% |
| 2021 | 3.0% |
| 2022 | 2.7% |
| 2023 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 5.2% |
| 2025 | 4.5% + targeted junior-enlisted raise (April) |
| 2026 | 3.8% |
| 2027 | proposed 7% / 6% / 5% tiered |
The two big breaks from the pattern
- 2025: the junior-enlisted catch-up. On top of the 4.5% January raise, Congress gave E-4s and below a targeted additional raise in April 2025 (roughly 10% extra, ~14.5% combined) after years of reports on junior-enlisted food insecurity. It permanently lifted the bottom of the pay table.
- 2027: the tiered proposal. Instead of one number, the pending FY2027 NDAA uses 7% / 6% / 5% tiers favoring junior troops — track it on our 2027 raise tracker.
Raises compound
A raise isn't a one-year event — every future raise multiplies on top of it. From 2023 through 2026 alone, basic pay grew about 19% compounded (4.6% × 5.2% × 4.5% × 3.8%), and pension math uses your final years' basic pay — so each raise also lifts retired pay.
See what the current pay table means for your exact rank and years.
Calculate my pay →Frequently asked questions
How is the military pay raise determined?
By default it matches the Employment Cost Index (ECI) measure of private-sector wage growth; Congress can legislate a different figure.
What was the biggest recent military raise?
2024's 5.2% was the largest across-the-board raise in over two decades; junior enlisted got an even larger targeted increase in April 2025.
What is the 2027 military pay raise?
Still a proposal: 7% for E-5 and below, 6% for E-6 through O-3, and 5% for O-4 and above, pending the FY2027 NDAA.