| Topics |
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Active Duty - Pay - Allowances - Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
| Cost
of Living Allowance (COLA) |
Members of the
uniformed services move about the country as a requirement of their service—often
with no choice. Over a career, a member is likely to be assigned to a variety
of low-cost, moderate-cost, and high-cost locations. Private sector pay scales
tend to reflect local living costs in U.S. cities or regions, but military pay
tables do not. Congress enacted the CONUS Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) to
provide compensation for variations in non-housing costs in the continental
United States.
The seventh Quadrennial
Review of Military Compensation (QRMC), in a 1991 study, found non-housing costs
vary from five percent below to 19 percent above the national average. A follow-up
study using December 1994 data found non-housing costs vary from five percent
below to 20 percent above. Given these results, it is possible for a member
to move to a high-cost area and suffer a more severe loss of non-housing purchasing
power than that resulting from a reduction in grade.
Disparities between
high-cost and low-cost cities had to be addressed both to prevent a substantial
degradation in the military member’s standard of living in high-cost areas and
to avoid situations wherein members systematically avoid assignment to high-cost
areas. Given cost-of-living differences, it is unlikely that members assigned
to the highest-cost areas would ever regain purchasing power lost as a result
of their location over the course of their career. For these reasons the Department
of Defense sought, and the Congress approved, a cost-of-living allowance for
members assigned to the highest-cost areas in the 48 contiguous States (CONUS
COLA).
In order for the
COLA payments to be meaningful to the military member, the DoD set the minimum
COLA payment at one percent. The DoD has established a “with” and “without dependent”
rate for CONUS COLA. The without dependent rate would equal the spendable income
by grade for zero dependents, while the with dependent rate would be set at
2.5 dependents (the average number of dependents in military households).
A total of 85
Housing Areas where expenses are at least eight percent higher than the national
average will be receiving the CONUS COLA in 2000. Most of the 32,920 service
members stationed in these areas will receive the modest allowance as indicated
in the following table. See note on CONUS COLA Tables for instructions on figuring
your pay.
Note: To
figure your CONUS COLA payment, multiply the Housing Areas factor - located
below the following two charts - for your area by the base amount on the CONUS
COLA tables. For example, an O-3 with dependents and 14 years of service (base
amount = $31), living in New York City (factor = 7) would receive $217.00 (multiply
$31 x 7 = $217).
|
CONUS
COLA Base Amount (with Dependents)
|
|
Years
of Service
|
| Pay Grade |
Under
2
|
Over
2
|
Over
3
|
Over
4
|
Over
6
|
Over
8
|
Over
10
|
Over
12
|
Over
14
|
Over
16
|
Over
18
|
Over
20
|
Over
22
|
Over
24
|
Over
26
|
|
O-10
|
46
|
46
|
46
|
46
|
46
|
47
|
47
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
|
O-9
|
44
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
46
|
46
|
47
|
47
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
48
|
|
O-8
|
43
|
43
|
43
|
43
|
43
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
46
|
46
|
47
|
47
|
47
|
47
|
|
O-7
|
39
|
40
|
40
|
40
|
42
|
42
|
43
|
43
|
43
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
45
|
|
O-6
|
34
|
35
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
39
|
40
|
40
|
42
|
42
|
43
|
|
O-5
|
29
|
31
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
36
|
38
|
38
|
39
|
39
|
39
|
|
O-4
|
26
|
29
|
30
|
30
|
30
|
31
|
31
|
33
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
|
O-3
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
|
O-2
|
22
|
23
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
|
O-1
|
21
|
21
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
|
Commissioned
Officers with Over 4 Years of Active Service as an Enlisted Member or
Warrant Officer
|
|
O-3E
|
|
|
|
29
|
29
|
30
|
30
|
31
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
|
O-2E
|
|
|
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
|
O-1E
|
|
|
|
24
|
24
|
25
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
|
Warrant
Officers
|
|
W-5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
|
W-4
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
29
|
30
|
30
|
31
|
31
|
31
|
33
|
|
W-3
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
25
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
|
W-2
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
25
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
|
W-1
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
|
Enlisted
Members
|
|
E-9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
E-8
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
|
E-7
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
E-6
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
|
E-5
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
|
E-4
|
18
|
18
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
|
E-3
|
17
|
17
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
|
E-2
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
|
E-1
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
|
CONUS
COLA Base Amount (without Dependents)
|
|
Years
of Service
|
| Pay Grade |
Under
2
|
Over
2
|
Over
3
|
Over
4
|
Over
6
|
Over
8
|
Over
10
|
Over
12
|
Over
14
|
Over
16
|
Over
18
|
Over
20
|
Over
22
|
Over
24
|
Over
26
|
|
O-10
|
35
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
|
O-9
|
33
|
34
|
34
|
34
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
|
O-8
|
32
|
32
|
33
|
33
|
33
|
34
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
36
|
36
|
37
|
37
|
37
|
|
O-7
|
29
|
30
|
30
|
30
|
31
|
31
|
32
|
32
|
32
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
35
|
|
O-6
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
30
|
31
|
32
|
32
|
|
O-5
|
22
|
24
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
28
|
28
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
|
O-4
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
|
O-3
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
|
O-2
|
17
|
18
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
|
O-1
|
16
|
16
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
|
Commissioned
Officers with Over 4 Years of Active Service as an Enlisted Member or
Warrant Officer
|
|
O-3E
|
|
|
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
|
O-2E
|
|
|
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
|
O-1E
|
|
|
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
|
Warrant
Officers
|
|
W-5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
|
W-4
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
23
|
24
|
24
|
24
|
25
|
|
W-3
|
18
|
19
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
|
W-2
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
18
|
18
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
|
W-1
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
18
|
18
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
|
Enlisted
Members
|
|
E-9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
23
|
23
|
|
E-8
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
21
|
22
|
|
E-7
|
16
|
16
|
17
|
17
|
17
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
19
|
19
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
21
|
|
E-6
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
17
|
17
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
18
|
|
E-5
|
14
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
|
E-4
|
13
|
13
|
14
|
14
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
|
E-3
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
|
E-2
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
|
E-1
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
|
Housing
Factor - Location and CONUS COLA Rates
|
| Angels
Camp, CA 95222 |
1%
|
Volcano,
CA 95689 |
1%
|
Grand
Blanc, MI 48439 |
1%
|
| Avery, CA
95224 |
1%
|
New Haven/Fairchild
CT |
7%
|
Millington,
MI 48746 |
1%
|
| Bridgeport,
CA |
2%
|
Chicago, IL |
2%
|
Mount Morris,
MI 48458 |
1%
|
| Chinese Camp,
CA 95309 |
1%
|
Joliet Army
Depot IL |
1%
|
Vassar, MI
48768 |
1%
|
| Fresno, CA |
1%
|
Boston, MA |
7%
|
Atlantic City,
NJ |
5%
|
| Fort Bragg,
CA |
1%
|
Cape Cod,
MA |
1%
|
Cape May,
NJ |
1%
|
| Jamestown,
CA 95327 |
1%
|
Devens, Ayer
MA |
3%
|
Fort
Monmouth/Earls NWS NJ
| 1% |
| Kelseyville,
CA 95451 |
1% |
Essex County,
MA |
4% |
Northern New
Jersey, NJ
| 1% |
| Lakeport,
CA 95453 |
1% |
Greenfield,
MA 01301/01302 |
2% |
Perth Amboy,
NJ
| 6% |
| Lose Angeles,
CA |
1% |
Hampden County,
MA |
3% |
Trenton, NJ
| 2% |
| Marin/Sonome
CA |
1% |
Hanscom Field,
MA |
1% |
Arcade, NY
14009
| 1% |
| Mountain Ranch,
CA 95246 |
1% |
Martha's Vineyard,
MA |
4% |
Basom, NY
14013
| 1% |
| Mi Wuk Village
CA 95346 |
1% |
Nantucket,
MA |
4% |
Batavia, NY
14020
| 1% |
| Mokelumne,
CA 95245 |
1% |
Pittsfield,
MA |
2% |
Buffalo, NY
| 1% |
| Murphys, CA
95247 |
1% |
S. Weymouth/Brockton
MA |
6% |
Corfu, NY
14036
| 1% |
| Oakland, CA |
8% |
Sunderland,
MA 01375 |
2% |
Long Island,
NY
| 7% |
| Palmdale,
CA |
3% |
Whately, MA
01093 |
2% |
Medina, NY
14103
| 1% |
| Pine Grove,
CA 95665 |
1% |
Worcester,
MA |
4% |
New York City,
NY
| 7% |
| Pioneer, CA
95666 |
1% |
Caro, MI 48723 |
1% |
Oakfield,
NY 14125
| 1% |
| San Bernadino,
CA |
3% |
Davison, MI
48423 |
1% |
Philmont,
NY 12565
| 1% |
| San Francisco,
CA |
4% |
Detroit, MI |
1% |
Westcheswter
County, NY
| 9% |
| San Luis Obispo,
CA |
1% |
Fenton, MI
48430 |
1% |
Nas Willow
Grove, PA
| 3% |
| Santa Clara
County, CA |
3% |
Flint, MI
48502-48507, 48509, 48519, 48532 |
1% |
Philadelphia,
PA/Camden, NJ
| 5% |
| Sonora, CA
95370 |
1% |
Fostoria,
MI 48435 |
1% |
Port Angeles,
WA
| 1% |
| Stockton,
CA |
1% |
Goodrich,
MI 48438 |
1% |
Seattle, WA
| 3% |
| Tuolumne,
CA 95379 |
1% |
|
|
| |
Most
of this information has been provided by the Uniformed Services Almanac™.
Click
here to learn how to obtain a copy.
|
