2.6% Pay Raise for Military in 2019
Service members will receive a 2.6% military pay raise in 2019.
President Donald Trump signed the $717 billion Fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act which included the pay raise for the military.
The 2019 NDAA was signed on August 13th, 2018. at a ceremony in Fort Drum, NY.
Congress approved the pay increase on August 1st, 2018.
Highest Military Pay Raise in Almost a Decade
This is the highest raise since 2010 and will go into effect on January 1st, 2019. The past ten years have seen pay raises from a low of 1% in 2014 and 2015 to a high of 3.9% in 2009.
The highest military pay raise in the last 30 years was in 2002 with 6.9%.
Military Pay Raise Ebbs and Flows
Over the years, the pay raise ebbs and flows based on the Employment Cost Index. Some years the military pay raise is equal to or below ECI, other years the military pay raises have been higher than ECI. The President does make their own proposal, and Congress has the final say and is able to change the amount the President asks for.
Bottom Line: What Does This Mean to You?
As far as what this means for your day to day life?
According to Military.com, the pay raise will mean about $670 more annually for junior enlisted troops and about $1,300 more for senior enlisted and junior officers.
To break this down even further, an 0-5 with over 12 years would have a base pay of $7,891 in 2019 over $7,691 in 2018.
An E-5 with over 12 years would have a base pay of $3,396 in 2019 over $3,310 in 2018.
While this amount doesn’t necessarily seem like a lot, every little bit helps and it is always nice to know that a military pay raise is coming.
Remember that although the pay raise goes into effect on January 1st, you will see the increase on your January 15th paycheck.