Incentive Pays

Basic pay and allowances are only a part of the military compensation picture. Many military members qualify for special pays and incentives that are part of the service's recruitment and retention efforts. Some compensate members for assignment to hazardous or difficult duty conditions.

Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP)

Service members who perform flying duty as non-crew members, parachute jumping, demolition of explosives, handle toxic fuels, engage in flight deck duty or experimental stress duty, and so on earn $150 per month. An exception is the High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) parachute jumping, which earns $225 per month.

Service members that meet the requirements for more than one type of hazardous duty pay during the same period are entitled to receive a maximum of two types of hazardous duty pay. This presumes that the individual in question was assigned to a unit whose mission involves the performance of both types of hazardous duties.

Service members that perform flight duties as aircrew members and meet their services operational requirements are eligible for a form of Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay—more commonly known as flight pay. The following tables show the flight pay charts for 2016.

Drill Pay

Members of the Army Reserves and the Army National Guard receive drill pay to compensate them for regular training and drills. Like Basic Pay, drill compensation is based on paygrade and years of experience. Drill pay tables can be found here.

Sea Pay

You are entitled to Career Sea special pay if you are an active duty service member on sea duty. Career Sea Pay rates are based upon a member’s pay grade and cumulative years at sea (Sea Duty).

Service Members who have served 36 months of consecutive sea duty are entitled to a Career Sea Pay Premium (CSP-P) for the 37th month and each consecutive month thereafter. Career Sea Pay-Premium is $200 per month. This monthly amount is determined by the Secretary and may not exceed $350. Career Sea Pay-Premium is not paid to grades E5 through E9 over 8 years of cumulative sea duty. Career Sea Pay-Premium is included in their Career Sea Pay.

Tables for Navy and Marine Corps members; effective since May 1st, 2014:

Assignment Incentive Pay

Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) is the military's preferred way to compensate troops from all services. Assignment Incentive Military Pay is often paid to service members for unusual assignment circumstances.

It is often given to service members who extend their tours in combat zones. The pay cap is $3,000. AIP is taxable unless the service member is deployed in a combat zone.