Comprehensive compensation comparison
Federal Civilian vs. Military Compensation
From 2001 through 2026 actual data, O-3 basic pay grew 22.8% faster than GS-15 gross salary. O-3 cash compensation grew 29.6% faster. Neither result subtracts FERS from the civilian salary or applies a military tax gross-up.
ActualForecastAssumptionInterpretation
Last reviewed August 22, 2026
What the numbers show
- Least adjusted actual result: O-3 basic-pay growth advantage of 22.8% through 2026.
- Cash actual result: O-3 cash-compensation growth advantage of 29.6% through 2026.
- Selected-basis actual result: 37.2%; the separate 2027 forecast reaches 42.8%.
The result across three bases
| Basis | Civilian measure | Military measure | 2001–2026 actual result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Least adjusted | GS-15 gross salary | O-3 basic pay | O-3 growth +22.8% |
| Cash | GS-15 gross salary | O-3 basic pay + BAH + BAS | O-3 growth +29.6% |
| Selected | New-hire GS after FERS and OASDI | O-3 tax-equivalent after OASDI | O-3 growth +37.2% |
What is included
Civilian
Published Rest of U.S. General Schedule salary and the selected FERS employee-contribution treatment. The model also contains Social Security assumptions for detailed views.
Military
Selected officer basic pay by years of service, Hill AFB with-dependents BAH, officer BAS, and the modeled federal income-tax advantage of nontaxable allowances.
What is not included
Health care, retirement accrual value, special pays, bonuses, leave, job security, deployment risk, geographic mobility, and many other benefits and burdens are outside this selected cash-comparison model. CBO's comparison framework similarly explains why complete civilian-military benefit valuation is difficult.