Officer Life

When considering your pay, it is important to look at the big picture. As an officer in the Air Force, many typical financial issues are simply taken care of. For example, the increasing costs of insurance - in the Air Force, you and your family will receive free or low-cost medical and dental care. Add to that the low costs of base living, attractive retirement packages and the many allowances, and you start to get the big picture - and the picture is quite appealing.

PAY AS A LIEUTENANT, FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE, AND YOU WILL MAKE ABOUT $28,000-$36,000 A YEAR AND ONLY ABOUT 78% OF THAT IS TAXABLE!

As an officer, your pay depends on your rank and time in service. And if you are a doctor or pilot, there are some special pay considerations and bonuses. In four years, you can be making $47,000-$55,000 as a captain.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the many factors that will make up your total compensation package:

Living Expenses

Nontaxable Allowances

Housing Pay

All officers living off base receive a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), which depends on their rank, whether or not they have a family and local area.

Subsistence Pay

All officers get over $2,000 a year for subsistence, which is also nontaxable. This amount is the same for all officers, regardless of rank.

Additional Allowances

Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) – Additional allowance to offset costs from overseas rental

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) – Additional allowance to offset high-price living locations (to include many overseas locations)

Hazardous Fire Pay (HFP) – Monthly allowance for at least one day's duty in a designated hazardous area

Dislocation Allowance – Additional allowance to defray moving expenses (currently 2.5 times your Basic Allowance for Housing)

Flight Pay – Available to those with a job requiring flight status (pilots, combat systems officers, flight specialists)

Family Separation Allowance – Allowance for those whose jobs require an extended separation from their family

Retirement

The Air Force offers a superb 50% military retirement plan based on the average of each service member's highest 36 months of basic pay multiplied by 2.5% of the retiree's years of service.

Leave / Vacation Time

You accumulate 2.5 days of leave per month (30 days total vacation with pay each year) which can be carried forward (maximum of 60 days) into the next fiscal year.