Basic Pay is the base salary for a service member on active duty and counts for part of total military income. Basic Pay is electronically distributed on the 1st and 15th of every month, similar to many civilian jobs. Basic Pay for a service member depends on length of service as well as rank (most enlisted airmen enter the Air Force as an Airman basic and Space Force as a Specialist 1).

Retired Service members are not eligible for Basic Pay but may be eligible for Retired Pay.

For more information, please visit the Military Members webpage maintained by Defense Finance and Accounting Services:
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers.html

or the Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations:
https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/Vol ume_07a.pdf

2024 Military Pay Charts:
https://www.dfas.mil/Portals/98/Documents/militarymembers/militarymembers/pay-tables/2024%20AC%20Pay%20Tables%20Final.docx

https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/

Office of the Secretary of Defense, Military Compensation website:
https://militarypay.defense.gov/