Military benefits can be a complicated topic and are often misunderstood by the general public. We have dealt with this topic several times on our site, as we have had some people claim that military members have it too good, and in this case, calling military members rich because their paycheck is all “play money” since it isn’t taxed and they receive free food, housing, healthcare, and sometimes even cars. The problem with that statement is that it is almost all false. But that’s OK. As we mentioned, military benefits can be a complicated topic and we can use this as an opportunity to educate the public regarding military pay and benefits.
So let’s look at the comment we received and discuss the benefits military members actually receive.
This comment was from an article we previously published, and I decided it was worth writing a full-length response to it to better clarify the topic (see original article and comment):
Ok here’s my problem I believe military personnel are actually rich when you consider the following factors. You say that with a promotion in 5 years the average pay is around 28,000 dollars. Now at first glance, that seems like not very much at all right? That’s lower class. Except that: their housing is free, the food is free, their healthcare is free, and sometimes even their car is free. ALSO THE 28000 DOLLARS IS UNTAXED. So basically it’s their own personal PLAY MONEY. Now let’s take an officer for example. You said in 5 years it’s about 56,000 dollars. Ok, their housing is free, their healthcare is free, and their food is free and the stores on base offer discounted products of all kinds free of taxes. PLUS THEIR MONEY IS UNTAXED. WHY IS IT UNTAXED??????? When if I were to work for the Federal, State, or Local government I wouldn’t get my paycheck untaxed. Even police officers have to pay taxes.
I honestly would feel a lot more sorry for them if they were paying the ridiculous taxes everyone else has to pay. Bottom line is what would you do if your house was free, food was free, and your healthcare was free? I mean I would be saving that money to get a ferrari or something it’s ridiculous.
Some of these statements are true, but many of them are also misleading or outright false. Let’s start with taxable vs. non-taxable pay and benefits and go from there.
Taxable and Non-Taxable Pay and Benefits
Military base pay is taxed, as are many other incentives and benefits. There are times when it may not be taxed, but usually only when the servicemember is serving in a tax-free combat zone, and even then, there are caps for how much tax-free pay officers can earn.
Some military benefits are not taxed, including housing (Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH) and food benefits (Basic Allowance for Subsistence, or BAS). There are several reasons for this, and one side effect is that not taxing pay and benefits reduces the value of a military pension in retirement. So it’s a double-edged sword.
Housing and Food Are Not Always “Free”
Most military members also don’t receive “free” housing and food, though some do. For example, young enlisted members often receive free room and board in dormitories and food at the chow hall. I was one of those, and while the food and housing were adequate and comfortable, it was nothing to write home about. But it was nice to have because there is no way I could have afforded an apartment and food on my $400 bi-monthly paycheck.
Free food – woo-hoo! The food allowance goes back to the days when all military members lived on base and the military provided all food and housing for the members. When more military members began living off base, the military realized it was easier and cheaper to give them a food allowance. The tradition of including food rations as part of military pay and benefits continues to this day, and the BAS level represents the amount it would cost the government to feed the servicemember. The current BAS rate is roughly $372 a month for enlisted members and $256 for officers, but it is only for the servicemember, and not his or her family.
What about base housing? Some other military members with families may choose to live on base and receive free housing. Those who live on base do not usually pay rent or utilities. Otherwise, most military members receive a housing stipend called BAH and live off base. This is a tax-free benefit and the rate is based on the average rent for the area, so it often is just enough to rent a small house or apartment. (The government actually acknowledges that most military members have an associated out of pocket housing expenses each month). Those who receive BAH also pay utilities out of pocket unless those costs are included in their base housing.
The average servicemember who lives off base pays out of pocket for both housing and utilities, and likely pays out of pocket for food, especially if they have a family. In other words, the average servicemember does not have free housing and food – they have a housing and food supplement which is part of their pay and benefits.
Free healthcare – an Extremely Valuable Benefit.
Military members and their families have access to excellent healthcare benefits, as well as other military insurance programs.
Healthcare for the member is free through Tricare Prime and most dependents are also covered at a near 100% rate (there may be some copays, depending on the service being performed). This is a tremendous benefit. I was previously self-employed and paid for my health care completely out of pocket, as I didn’t have access to a subsidized employer group healthcare plan.
However, I later joined the Air National Guard and I now have access to Tricare Reserve Select, which is an inexpensive health care option for members of the National Guard and Reserves. However, Tricare Reserve Select is not free for members, like Tricare Prime.
Free Cars for Military Members?
This is one I haven’t heard before. The only people in the military who receive free transportation are those who need it for official duties, which is typically only high ranking officials. Some military members may also get the keys to one of the squadron cars if they are the officer on duty or in some other official capacity, but the cars aren’t issued to them for an extended period of time and it wouldn’t be considered much of a benefit if it means you are on call while you have the keys to the vehicle.
There are also strict rules about using government-owned vehicles, or GOVs for personal use.
Let’s Put it All Together
Let’s take a look at an average enlisted member at 5 years, using your $28k salary. He or she would (on average) receive $28,000 of taxable income, plus around $750 for BAH (housing, which is not taxed and is variable by location), and $372 for BAS (food allowance, which is not taxed). They also receive free health care. So on average, they may receive in the neighborhood of $41,464 a year, with $28,000 being taxable, and $13,464 not taxable, plus healthcare benefits.
$41,200 a year comes out to $3,455 per month, or roughly $1727.67 per check before taxes (military members are paid twice per month).
This certainly isn’t a poverty-level income, but it’s also not a ticket to wealth either, considering roughly 70% of it is taxable, and one needs to use the remaining money for living expenses (car, gas, insurance, furniture, supporting a family, saving/investing, etc.). Supporting a family on roughly $40,000 a year is possible, but it isn’t a ticket to wealth, and certainly not enough to save up for a Ferrari. Depending on where the servicemember lives and how many people they have in their family, you could make the argument they don’t earn enough.
The reality is that most military members earn enough to lead a comfortable life, which isn’t too much to ask for someone who is on call 24/7 and can be called to defend our country on a moment’s notice.
Photo credit: Tom Wolf | Photography
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Jeremy Hughes says
excuse me, I mean to say “that never actually put on the uniform” and “most people though don’t believe that tripe.”
Jeremy Hughes says
I just want to point out that the original comment that sparked this article angers me. I would like to relate my experiences here. just for my time as a PFC, at the time I was stationed at Buckley AFB. (a soldier on an Air Force Base, my God the world is ending hahaha) it sits just to the west of Denver, an hour from Fort Carson down in Colorado Springs. now with that said, at the time, as an E3, I was married, with two little girls. my ex-wife didn’t work, she was a stay at home mom which I was fine with cause it made her happy. though it has to be noted, I made in total, with allowances about $37000.00 a year, so 11 grand short of your projections, and that is with a BAH that exceeded 1400.00 a month because of the cost of living in Denver metro. still, I paid all my bills on time, keep my kids clothed, fed, a roof over there heads, utility on…and my two biggest personal expenses was a refurb PS3 (telling of how long ago this was.) and a pistol I couldn’t afford until tax time, and only after I made sure the necessities were covered. now, I opted in for once a month pay because I had all my billing cycles set within the first week of the month. keeping all of this in mind, by the start of the third week, and some times part way through it I was flat broke. my kids and wife (ex) were provided for though, and those were my chief concerns, but I was still broke most of the time. so when I see someone telling me “what I had, and all my benefits” that never actually put in the uniform to know how hard I had it providing for my kids while I served my people it sorta ****** me off. especially when a simply Google search can correct his misinformation and misconceptions. though let’s be honest, most people though believe that sorta tripe. if they did the percentage of our nation that is in or has put on a uniform currently wouldn’t be single digits. the majority of the people would serve if they honestly believed that none sense.
CHRISTOPHE RUIZ says
Wow I had to read this article because of the title. People who actually think we are rich are sadly misinformed. The only time we get tax free pay is on deployments. You can can do that too as a civilian as long as you deploy with us as a contractor. The Free car made me laugh. Using a government vehicle is for work related things only. If you know some that takes advantage of that, they could be in serious trouble. Lastly, if you take our skillset and apply it to an equivalent civilian job, you will find they make more even with the incentive pays we get. Our only light at the end of the tunnel is earning a retirement check after 20 years of service which doesn’t happen as often as you think. They are even changing that system soon, taking even more from our paychecks in order to retire.
Robyn Allen says
Thank you so much for this article! It really gives insight to the fact military men and women are NOT rich! I have been an Army wife for 5+ years now, and we are not by any means, rich. Having a family really makes a big difference in how far the money my husband makes. We have 5 kids in total. He pays almost $1,000/mo in child support alone. People need to factor in real life situations before passing judgement on those who fight to protect all their freedoms. Don’t worry people, my husband and every other soldier will stay up all day and night, in the line of fire, so you and yours can remain safe. 🙂
Rescue Me says
oh yeah, remember 9/11…great job
Thank you firefighters and Police!
Rescue Me says
Firefighters, Police and rescue workers work just as hard if not harder then some in the Military and some even do it voluntarily, they do not have their hand out, they get no free loans, no special no down payment for homes and no free school.
Some military never leave the state (only for special cushy training in the Bahamas) and work behind a desk, then become a drill sergeants or recruiters and retire out, some even claim a fake disability to collect more.
Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Emergency workers, they are the true protectors!
Hey Military and especially the wives, you are not special anymore, the U.S.A. knows this.
Proud Military Father says
Really Rescue Me? Seek therapy for your military envy. And for the record a large majority of Police and Firemen are ex military and know what it is like to defend a nation. They simply transferred those skills, honor and loyalty to work locally. You are offensive at best with your rhetoric. Enlist, put on a uniform and gain some dignity before you continue to ‘puke garbage’ out of misinformed mind of yours. And hey Military – you ARE special and I grateful to you and your families for your service. Thank you for my freedom.
Proud Military Father says
A little emotional and typed too fast.
Corrected with all grammar below.
Really Rescue Me? Seek therapy for your military envy. And for the record a large majority of Police and Firemen are ex military and know what it is like to defend a nation. They simply transferred those skills, honor and loyalty to work locally. You are offensive at best with your rhetoric. Enlist, put on a uniform and gain some dignity before you continue to ‘puke garbage’ out of that misinformed mind of yours. And hey Military – you ARE special and I am grateful to you and your families for your service. Thank you for my freedom.
11CEMTA68W says
Touché! Proud Military Father; I just wanted to add that, ironically, it seems that the same people that Rescue Me (Fire, Police, EMS etc.) is trying to elevate against the Military (as if there was an actual conflict between these groups to begin with), would be the first to put Rescue Me in his or her place when they spoke against the military this way. Now speaking to Rescue Me: please attend a Fire Academy so you can learn some respect and discipline; thank you.
Sid Hatfield says
I was army airborne infantry. We spent months at a time in the field. I didn’t see your article cover that issue.
Felicia says
Very informative for those of us non-military who really had no idea how much money and benefits the people serving our country receive.
Thanks!
Jessica says
Thank you for posting this. As I am a military spouse there are SO many people who think we get things for free & it is easy living. Honestly, I broke it down once when my fiance was working a 12 hour shift every day for weeks on ends before deployment. He was getting paid a little over a $1 an hour. — Also, I have NEVER heard of getting a free car. I know the military demands you have a car unless you live on base & your command squad car can get you & not to forget to mention they demand you have a phone to be reached at all times. That is another $100 expensive give or take for a cell phone plan. There is lots to consider for people who are uneducated about military pay.
Thank you again for posting this.
Long says
Don’t forget to take deductions into account. Off the top of my head, I can remember paying medicare and social security taxes and SGLI. You have to pay out of pocket for dependent dental care and life insurance as well.
Another thing to note is that any money a service member puts into the TSP is not matched by the government. Matching in 401k plans can contribute a significant amount to the earnings of an individual in the private sector.
Ryan Guina says
Great points, Long. The article was primarily to explain the misunderstandings around the basic pay and benefits military members receive. The list of different pay and benefits could literally fill a book, and most of it wouldn’t be of interest to the general public. In the end, I think it’s safe to say that the military often pays people enough to have a comfortable living, but it isn’t a quick path to riches.
Brent Pittman says
Great explanation as I had no idea how military pay works. They deserve every penny they get! Thanks for all the valuable info your site gives to our military.