# How much is National Guard pay?

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.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/national-guard-pay-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/national-guard-pay-calculator.json
- Version: 40bb05b763a3

## Default answer

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.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| grade | Pay grade | Your pay grade. O-1E to O-3E are officers with over 4 years of prior enlisted or warrant service. |
| yos | Years of service | Your cumulative years of service for pay, including Guard and Reserve time. |
| drills | Drills a year | Paid drill periods in a year: 48 for one weekend (4 drills) a month. |
| at | Annual training days | Days of annual training, usually 15 (paid at one day of basic pay each). |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| perDrill | Pay per drill | Monthly basic pay ÷ 30, to the cent. |
| weekend | Pay per drill weekend | Four drills. |
| yearly | Basic pay for the year | Drills a year plus annual training days, each at the pay per drill. |
| monthlyBasic | Full-time monthly basic pay | The 2026 monthly basic pay for the grade and years of service, the base of drill pay. |

## 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.

## Assumptions

- 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

1. grade = E-4, yos = 1, drills = 48, at = 15 gives monthlyBasic = $3,303.00, perDrill = $110.10, weekend = $440.40, yearly = $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.
2. grade = E-7, yos = 11, drills = 48, at = 15 gives monthlyBasic = $6,245.70, perDrill = $208.19, weekend = $832.76, yearly = $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.
3. grade = E-8, yos = 15, drills = 48, at = 15 gives monthlyBasic = $7,908.90, perDrill = $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.
4. grade = O-3, yos = 0, drills = 48, at = 0 gives monthlyBasic = $5,534.10, perDrill = $184.47, yearly = $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.
5. grade = O-1E, yos = 3, drills = 48, at = 15 gives monthlyBasic = $5,222.40, perDrill = $174.08, 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.

## FAQ

### 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.

## Sources

- Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Reserve Component Drill Pay – Enlisted, effective January 1, 2026: https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay_E/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service, RC Drill Pay – Commissioned Officers: https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay-CO/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Reserve Component Drill Pay – Warrant Officer: https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/Drill-Pay/Drill-Pay_WO/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service, 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/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)