How much is National Guard pay?
Pick your pay grade and years of service. The calculator shows your 2026 Guard or Reserve pay per drill, per drill weekend and for a year of drills and annual training.
- Pay per drill
- $121.95
In 2026, pay grade E-4 earns $121.95 a drill and $487.80 a drill weekend.
- Pay per drill weekend
- $487.80
- Basic pay for the year
- $7,682.85
- Full-time monthly basic pay
- $3,658.50
Pay per drill: $121.95. In 2026, pay grade E-4 earns $121.95 a drill and $487.80 a drill weekend.
The results are estimates for information only. They are not financial, tax, or legal advice. Check the numbers with your lender or a qualified professional before you decide. Terms of use
How to calculate
Works out 2026 National Guard and Reserve drill pay for any pay grade and years of service: pay per drill, per drill weekend and per year with annual training.
Example with the default inputs (Pay grade E-4, Years of service Over 4, Drills a year 48, Annual training days 15): In 2026, pay grade E-4 earns $121.95 a drill and $487.80 a drill weekend.
Method: Pay per drill = 2026 monthly basic pay for your grade and years of service ÷ 30, to the cent; weekend = 4 drills; year = (drills + annual training days) × pay per drill.
- DFAS 2026 pay tables, effective January 1, 2026.
- Basic pay only: no housing allowance, food allowance, special or incentive pay, and before taxes.
- Each annual training day pays one day of basic pay (1/30 of the monthly rate).
- O-8 to O-10 are not listed on the drill pay tables.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Pay grade E-4, Years of service Over 2, Drills a year 48, Annual training days 15 gives Full-time monthly basic pay $3,303.00, Pay per drill $110.10, Pay per drill weekend $440.40, Basic pay for the year $6,936.30.Source: DFAS Reserve Component Drill Pay – Enlisted, effective January 1, 2026 (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay_E/): E-4 over 2 years, $3,303.00 a month, 1 drill $110.10, 4 drills $440.40
- Pay grade E-7, Years of service Over 20, Drills a year 48, Annual training days 15 gives Full-time monthly basic pay $6,245.70, Pay per drill $208.19, Pay per drill weekend $832.76, Basic pay for the year $13,115.97.Source: DFAS Reserve Component Drill Pay – Enlisted, effective January 1, 2026 (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay_E/): E-7 over 20 years, $6,245.70, 1 drill $208.19, 4 drills $832.76
- Pay grade E-8, Years of service Over 28, Drills a year 48, Annual training days 15 gives Full-time monthly basic pay $7,908.90, Pay per drill $263.63.Source: DFAS Reserve Component Drill Pay – Enlisted, effective January 1, 2026 (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay_E/): E-8 over 26 through over 28 years, $7,908.90, 1 drill $263.63
- Pay grade O-3, Years of service 2 or less, Drills a year 48, Annual training days 0 gives Full-time monthly basic pay $5,534.10, Pay per drill $184.47, Basic pay for the year $8,854.56.Source: DFAS RC Drill Pay – Commissioned Officers (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay-CO/): O-3, 2 or less, $5,534.10
- Pay grade O-1E, Years of service Over 4, Drills a year 48, Annual training days 15 gives Full-time monthly basic pay $5,222.40, Pay per drill $174.08, Pay per drill weekend $696.32.Source: DFAS Reserve Component Drill Pay – Officers with more than 4 years of creditable service (https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay-CO_FE/): O-1E over 4, $5,222.40, 1 drill $174.08
How it works
Monthly basic pay. DFAS publishes 2026 monthly basic pay by pay grade (E-1 to E-9, W-1 to W-5, O-1E to O-3E, O-1 to O-7) and years of service (2 or less, over 2, over 3, over 4, then every 2 years to over 40). A blank cell means the grade has no rate at that length of service, and the page gives no answer.
Pay per drill = monthly basic pay ÷ 30, rounded to the cent (half up). This rule gives every "1 Drill" amount on the four 2026 DFAS drill pay tables.
Pay per drill weekend = 4 × pay per drill.
Basic pay for the year = (drills a year + annual training days) × pay per drill. Each annual training day pays one day of basic pay, which is also 1/30 of the monthly rate.
Assumptions
- Basic pay only, before taxes. Housing and food allowances, special and incentive pay, and travel pay are not included.
- Years of service are cumulative years for pay, including Guard and Reserve time.
- E-1 pays $2,407.20 at every length of service. The DFAS enlisted page shows E-9 amounts in the E-1 cells from over 26 years, which is a page error, so the page does not use them.
- O-8 to O-10 are not on the DFAS drill pay tables.
When the data is out of date
The page uses the 2026 DFAS pay tables. After December 31, 2026 it keeps them until it is updated, and says so above the result.
Worked examples by hand
E-4, over 2 years, 48 drills and 15 days. Monthly basic pay $3,303.00. Drill = 3,303 ÷ 30 = $110.10. Weekend = 4 × 110.10 = $440.40. Year = 63 × 110.10 = $6,936.30.
E-7, over 20 years. Monthly $6,245.70. Drill = 6,245.70 ÷ 30 = 208.19. Weekend = $832.76. Year = 63 × 208.19 = $13,115.97.
E-8, over 26 years. Monthly $7,908.90. Drill = 263.63.
O-3, 2 years or less, 48 drills and no annual training. Monthly $5,534.10. Drill = 5,534.10 ÷ 30 = $184.47. Year = 48 × 184.47 = $8,854.56.
O-1E, over 4 years. Monthly $5,222.40. Drill = 174.08; weekend $696.32.
Other questions people ask
How is National Guard drill pay calculated?
One drill, a 4-hour training period, pays 1/30 of the monthly basic pay for your grade and years of service. An E-4 with over 2 years has $3,303.00 a month, so one drill pays 3,303 ÷ 30 = $110.10.
How much does a National Guard drill weekend pay?
A regular drill weekend is 4 drills, so it pays 4 times the drill rate. For an E-4 with over 2 years of service that is $440.40 in 2026.
How much does the National Guard pay a year?
A typical year is 48 drills (one weekend a month) and 15 days of annual training, or 63 days of basic pay. For an E-4 with over 2 years that is 63 × $110.10 = $6,936.30 before taxes and allowances.
Does drill pay include housing allowance?
No. Drill pay is basic pay only. On annual training or other active duty you may also get a housing allowance and a food allowance, which this page does not include.
Did military pay go up in 2026?
Yes. The 2026 basic pay tables took effect on January 1, 2026, and drill pay follows them. Each year the page needs the new tables.