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Military separation pay calculator
Full and half involuntary separation pay under 10 U.S.C. 1174.
Involuntary separation pay
$59,969.70
full separation pay · half pay $29,984.85
- Monthly basic pay
- $4,759.50
- Years of active service
- 10.50
- Full: 10% × years × 12 × basic pay
- $59,969.70
- Half: 50% of full
- $29,984.85
Separation pay is taxable. VA disability compensation or retired pay you receive later is withheld until the separation pay is recouped.
Independent estimate tool. Not affiliated with DoD, DFAS or VA. Your LES, finance office or VA decision letter is the official amount.
How separation pay is calculated
The formula is set by law: 10% of the product of your years of active service and 12 times the monthly basic pay you are entitled to at discharge[usc1174]. Years count each full month as one-twelfth of a year; a part month is dropped. Half separation pay is 50% of the full amount[isp].
| Grade and service | Monthly basic pay | Full pay | Half pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-5, 6 years | $4,110.00 | $29,592.00 | $14,796.00 |
| E-5, 8 years | $4,299.90 | $41,279.04 | $20,639.52 |
| E-6, 10 years | $4,759.50 | $57,114.00 | $28,557.00 |
| E-6, 14 years | $5,130.30 | $86,189.04 | $43,094.52 |
| E-7, 16 years | $6,000.90 | $115,217.28 | $57,608.64 |
| O-3, 8 years | $8,125.50 | $78,004.80 | $39,002.40 |
| O-4, 12 years | $9,888.30 | $142,391.52 | $71,195.76 |
| O-4, 18 years | $10,509.90 | $227,013.84 | $113,506.92 |
Who gets full or half separation pay
- Full pay: 6 to under 20 years of active service, an honorable characterization, involuntary separation through denial of reenlistment or continuation, a written agreement to serve at least 3 years in the Ready Reserve, and a signed acknowledgment of the repayment rules[isp].
- Half pay: the same, but the member is honorable or general (under honorable conditions) and is denied continuation as “not fully qualified,” for example for weight control failure, family care plan deficiencies, security clearance issues or non-disability mental or physical conditions[isp].
- No pay: separating at your own request, declining Reserve service, separating before finishing your initial enlistment or obligation, eligibility for retired pay, or separation for performance, misconduct or discipline.
Military separation pay: taxes and repayment
Not to be confused with the monthly family separation allowance paid during deployments. Separation pay is taxable income. If you later receive VA disability compensation or military retired pay, the amount is withheld from those payments until the separation pay is repaid; this recoupment cannot be waived[isp]. Estimate VA payments with the VA disability calculator. If you are close to 20 years, compare with the military retirement calculator, and check your current pay with the military pay estimator.
Frequently asked questions
How is military separation pay calculated?
Full pay = 10% × years of active service × 12 × final monthly basic pay. Half pay is 50% of that.
How much separation pay does an E-6 with 10 years get?
On the 2026 table, $57,114.00 full or $28,557.00 half.
Do I have to pay back separation pay?
Only if you later receive VA disability compensation or retired pay: those payments are reduced until the separation pay is recovered.