Hostile Fire / Imminent Danger Pay
$225 a monthMembers exposed to hostile fire or serving in a designated imminent danger area. Imminent danger pay is prorated by day.
TaxTaxable, unless earned in a combat zone tax exclusion area.
Read the guide13 common special pays and bonuses: who qualifies, how much each pays a month, and whether it is taxed.
| Pay | Amount | Taxed? |
|---|---|---|
| Hostile Fire / Imminent Danger Pay | $225 a month | Yes, except in a combat zone |
| Hardship Duty Pay, Location | $50, $100 or $150 a month | Yes, except in a combat zone |
| Family Separation Allowance | $250 a month | No |
| Parachute duty | $150 a month; $225 for high-altitude low-opening (HALO) | Yes |
| Flight deck duty | $150 a month | Yes |
| Demolition duty | $150 a month | Yes |
| Other hazardous duty | $150 a month | Yes |
| Aviation Incentive Pay | $125 to $1,000 a month | Yes |
| Special Duty Assignment Pay | $75 to $450 a month | Yes |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus | Up to $500 a month per language, $1,000 total | Yes |
| Career sea pay | Varies by grade and years at sea | Yes |
| Enlistment bonus | Up to $50,000 by law | Yes, except in a combat zone |
| Selective Retention Bonus | Up to $100,000 by law | Yes, except in a combat zone |
Paid for where you serve. These stack with each other and with your regular pay.
Members exposed to hostile fire or serving in a designated imminent danger area. Imminent danger pay is prorated by day.
TaxTaxable, unless earned in a combat zone tax exclusion area.
Read the guideMembers assigned to locations where living conditions are well below what most service members are used to. The rate depends on the location.
TaxTaxable, unless earned in a combat zone.
Members with dependents who are away from them for more than 30 days because of duty.
TaxNot taxed.
Read the guidePaid for doing dangerous work, whatever your location. Most are a flat $150 a month.
Members on jump status who meet their jump requirements.
TaxTaxable.
Members whose primary duty is on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier or similar ship during flight operations.
TaxTaxable.
Members whose primary duty is demolition of explosives.
TaxTaxable.
Includes experimental stress duty, toxic fuels and propellants, and chemical munitions duty, among others set by each service.
TaxTaxable.
Paid to keep people in hard-to-fill jobs and assignments.
Officers and warrant officers in aviation jobs. The rate rises with years of aviation service.
TaxTaxable.
Enlisted members in demanding duties such as recruiting, drill instructor or certain special operations roles. Six levels, in $75 steps.
TaxTaxable.
Members tested as proficient in a language the service needs.
TaxTaxable.
Members assigned to ships and serving at sea. The table rises with cumulative sea time.
TaxTaxable.
Lump sums or installments for joining, staying or moving into a needed job.
New recruits in jobs the service needs. Most offers are far below the limit, and they depend on the job and contract length.
TaxTaxable, unless you reenlist in a combat zone.
Read the guideMembers who reenlist in critical jobs. The amount is a multiple of basic pay times years reenlisted.
TaxTaxable, unless signed in a combat zone.
Each special pay appears as its own line under entitlements on your Leave and Earnings Statement. They are added to basic pay before taxes are worked out, so taxable ones raise your federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare. Pays earned in a combat zone tax exclusion area are tax-free up to the limits for your grade.
Rates on this page are monthly maximums or flat amounts set in law and Department of Defense regulations. Each service decides who qualifies and can pay less than the maximum. Your unit's finance office has the final word for your situation.
See your regular monthly total with the total pay calculator, and what lands in your account with the paycheck calculator.
