A Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) with 22 years of service earns $12,394.80/month in base pay in 2026 ($148,737.60/year before allowances and taxes).
| Years | Monthly base pay |
|---|---|
| 0 | $7,295.40 |
| 2 | $8,218.20 |
| 3 | $8,787.00 |
| 4 | $8,894.10 |
| 6 | $9,249.60 |
| 8 | $9,461.40 |
| 10 | $9,928.50 |
| 12 | $10,271.70 |
| 14 | $10,715.10 |
| 16 | $11,391.30 |
| 18 | $11,713.80 |
| 20 | $12,032.70 |
| 22 | $12,394.80 ← |
| 24 | $12,394.80 |
| 26 | $12,394.80 |
| 28 | $12,394.80 |
| 30 | $12,394.80 |
On top of base pay: BAS (food) is $328.48/month, and BAH (housing) depends on duty station and dependents. Use the app to add BAH for your ZIP.
Data: 2026 military pay tables (DoD), BAH rates, and VA compensation schedules as bundled in the VetPaycheck app. Last updated 2026-10-11. Figures are monthly gross before taxes. For planning only; verify with DFAS/VA.