A Colonel (O-6) with 20 years of service earns $13,751.10/month in base pay in 2026 ($165,013.20/year before allowances and taxes).
| Years | Monthly base pay |
|---|---|
| 0 | $8,751.30 |
| 2 | $9,613.80 |
| 3 | $10,245.00 |
| 4 | $10,245.00 |
| 6 | $10,284.30 |
| 8 | $10,725.00 |
| 10 | $10,783.50 |
| 12 | $10,783.50 |
| 14 | $11,396.40 |
| 16 | $12,479.70 |
| 18 | $13,115.40 |
| 20 | $13,751.10 ← |
| 22 | $14,112.90 |
| 24 | $14,479.20 |
| 26 | $15,188.70 |
| 28 | $15,188.70 |
| 30 | $15,492.90 |
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.