How to Include Military Pay in Job Applications?

I'm applying for jobs and want to know the best way to list my military pay on my application. Do I just list the salary, or is there more to consider? Any advice from those who've done it appreciated!

Presenting military pay in a civilian job application can be a bit complex, but it's important to give potential employers a full understanding of your compensation. Military pay isn't just your base salary—it also includes allowances for housing and food, hazard pay, and other bonuses, all of which reflect the realities of military life.

Unfortunately, many civilians aren't familiar with military pay structure and may not realize all that it encompasses. When filling out your application or discussing pay in an interview, you may want to consider the following approach to effectively relay your military compensation:

1. Determine the total value of your military compensation: This includes your base pay, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), special pay (like hazard pay), and any bonuses or incentives. Add these together to get a comprehensive figure.

2. Use a converted civilian salary: The lump sum you calculated represents your total military pay, but this might be hard for civilian employers to understand. You need to convert this number to a "civilian" equivalent, which essentially means accounting for the fact that certain elements of military pay (like BAH and BAS) are tax-free. There are online tools that allow you to convert military pay to equivalent civilian salary.

3. Give a detailed breakdown: Instead of just writing a lump sum, you could also provide a breakdown of your military compensation. This will help employers understand how your salary is composed, and it may also highlight important qualifications you have (like hazard or flight pay, which can reflect higher-risk or high-skill work).

Please remember to be transparent and honest throughout this process. It might be helpful to note on the application that these amounts represent a conversion or total sum of different forms of military compensation, rather than a traditional salary.