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A $120K civilian offer can look like a raise until you realize your tax-free BAH and BAS were already doing more than their face value. Enter your pay grade and duty station to see the civilian pre-tax salary that actually matches your military compensation — then check whether an offer beats it.
Sources: DoD — FY2026 military pay tables (NDAA P.L. 119-60), DoD DTMO — 2026 BAH rates, DoD — Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
Changes your BAH rate.
Enter your ZIP for exact 2026 BAH (otherwise a placeholder is used).
Federal (2026 brackets by filing status) + FICA 7.65% + state. This is the rate used to gross up your tax-free BAH and BAS. Adjust it if your situation differs.
A civilian job would need to pay about
$93,382/yr
to match your E-6 total compensation.
TRICARE health coverage and the BRS retirement match. Optional — estimates you can edit.
What this models: base pay maps 1:1 (taxable in both military and civilian life). Your tax-free BAH and BAS are grossed up by the combined marginal rate computed from 2026 federal brackets (by filing status), FICA, and your state — because a civilian must earn extra pre-tax dollars to keep the same amount after tax.
State rates are approximate marginal rates at a typical civilian salary and exclude local (city/county) income taxes; the combined rate is editable. Benefits (TRICARE value, retirement-match gap) are optional estimates you set.
Not modeled: special/incentive pays, the state-tax break many states give military pay, VA disability, pension value, commuting, and relocation. Educational estimate only, not tax advice.
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Want the raw numbers first? Use the military pay calculator, compare cost of living with the cost-of-living calculator, or look up your exact BAH rate.