IAW DoD 2010 Pay Chart:
Army SGT 4 years service with dependants: Annual Income (Not Deployed)
Base Pay = 28972.80
Enlisted Basic Allowance for Subsistence = 3886.44
Housing Allowance = 9648.00
Basic Clothing Allowance (Male) = 370.80
Total = 42878.04
The figure they're using for an E5's compensation package really isn't out of whack at all despite the way those numbers make it seem. Whether it's enough or too much is a whole other question, but the number isn't dishonest at all for these reasons:
1. Part of the calculation of true compensation value includes factoring in that those allowances are all tax exempt, which greatly increases their actual value in the package over the bare dollar figure;
2. In the case of career military, as opposed to one-and-done troops, the military retired pay and benefits is nearly unrivalled in private sector pension plans, particularly taking into account the very early possible starting age for it, though it technically doesn't vest until you actually retire. Actuarially, present value of it makes the 52 grand figure even seem like the value of retired pay was not even counted in, or perhaps heavily discounted due to the fact that being only at the E5 level, a lot of people are still young enough to chuck it and start over in civilian life instead of staying around to retire.
3. As far as losing the BAH for quarters, the fair market rental value of the quarters really is considerably more than the amount that's being given up in most places, especially considering generally all the utilities but cable are provided and there aren't any property taxes cranked into it. All the bullshit that goes with living in quarters is really no worse than living in any civilian suburban community with restrictive covenants and an intrusive neighborhood association run by the typical assholes who like to be on those kinds of things.
