{"id":49717,"date":"2020-12-26T14:37:44","date_gmt":"2020-12-26T14:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/12\/26\/new-in-2021-military-pay-raise-likely-to-be-smaller-next-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:44:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:44:57","slug":"new-in-2021-military-pay-raise-likely-to-be-smaller-next-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/2020\/12\/26\/new-in-2021-military-pay-raise-likely-to-be-smaller-next-year\/","title":{"rendered":"New in 2021: Military pay raise likely to be smaller next year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After two consecutive years of pay raises<\/a> of at least 3 percent, troops shouldn\u2019t count on a third one that large in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even before the new White House and Congress begin their work on the next military budget, the federal formula for next year\u2019s pay raise has already been set. Under the latest employment cost index calculation \u2014 which estimates the expected growth in private-sector wages next year \u2014 the military pay raise will be set at 2.7 percent for 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, that slight dip in pay raises may appear generous given the uncertain economic outlook facing much of the country after nine months of lockdowns, layoffs and other financial problems related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the 2.7 percent figure isn\u2019t completely locked in. The White House and Congress can still increase that amount, if they feel the gap between military and civilian wages has grown in recent years, or decreases it, as a way to save military funding for other priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials from the new administration led by President-elect Joe Biden and the new session of Congress which begins in January are expected to debate the issue over the next few months. Biden\u2019s first proposed military budget plan is expected to be released sometime this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\t