Military Deployment & Pay

I've been considering enlisting after high school graduation but was curious about how it impacts income. Do military members get paid more when deployed overseas? Is it a significant increase?

Indeed, military members can get paid more when they are deployed overseas, but it's dependent on the specifics such as location and duration of the deployment. One of the major components of deployment pay is the tax advantage. Any income earned while on active duty in a combat zone is excluded from taxable income, which can provide significant savings given the U.S. has a progressive tax system where the more you earn, the higher your tax rate.

Other allowances may also increase when deployed overseas. These can consist of:

- Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay: Members of correspondingly designated areas may receive this pay, which equates to approximately $225 a month.

- Family Separation Allowance: Service members with dependent family members may qualify for this when the soldier is overseas for more than 30 days, translating to an extra $250 per month.

- Hardship Duty Pay: This is awarded to service members who are within certain designated areas experiencing living conditions significantly below those found in the U.S. The amount varies from $50 to $150 a month

- Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay: This pay compensates for potentially hazardous or dangerous duties related to one’s Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), ranging from $150 to $250 per month.

- Additional housing and cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) may apply, especially for service members with families.

As you can see, these benefits can add up to a significant increase in income during the period of deployment. However, it's also important to remember that being in the military also comes with its own unique set of challenges and responsibilities, including those inherent risks and sacrifices of being away from family and potentially in harm's way. That, of course, has its own 'cost' that isn't purely financial. So, while the added financial benefits can be appealing, it's important to consider your decision to enlist from multiple angles.