What are the pay rates during military deployment?

Hi everyone, as a rising junior who's seriously considering a military path after HS, I'm trying to learn about the economic aspects. Specifically, how does deployment pay vary? What can affect the rates? I'd really appreciate your input!

Hello,

First, I want to express appreciation for your willingness to serve in the military after high school. It's a challenging career path, but it can be quite rewarding, not just in terms of benefits and compensations, but also in character development and opportunities for career growth.

It's important to note that the military pay system can feel complex due to the many allowances, pay grades, and bonuses that are factored in. Here's a general idea of how deployment pay works:

1. Base Pay: This is determined by your rank and years of service. It increases as you move up in rank and as your years of service accrue.

2. Hardship Duty Pay (HDP): If you are assigned to a deployment that is considered a hardship duty (a location where living conditions are significantly harder than most locations), you can make an additional $50-$150 per month.

3. Family Separation Allowance (FSA): If military duties take a service member away from their home station for more than 30 days and the member is providing support to a dependent, they are eligible for $250 per month.

4. Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay: Service members who deploy to certain countries, or serve on certain ships, that are exposed to a hostile fire or an imminent danger scenario, earn an additional $225 each month regardless of the number of days they are in the hostile area.

5. Special Pays: Depending on your specialty (e.g. combat, flight, nuclear), you can earn additional monthly compensation.

6. Tax Advantage: If you serve in a designated combat zone, your military pay for that service is exempt from federal income tax.

This is a simplified breakdown, of course. The overall pay can be affected by various aspects such as your length of service, marital status, the duty assignment, the geographic location of the duty, the nature of the deployment, among other things. Make sure to work with a recruiter or a military financial advisor to get a detailed understanding of your potential earnings and the factors that can affect them.