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2026 Reserve and National Guard Drill Pay

Drill pay saw a 3.8% increase in 2026 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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Drill pay in 2026 increased by 3.8% from last year. Drill pay increases take effect on January 1, 2026.

Drill pay for a National Guard or reserve service member depends on the length of service and rank (most enlisted soldiers enter as E-1). National Guard and reserve service members must perform at least one weekend drill per month and two weeks of active duty training each year.

Each drill period is 4 hours; a drill weekend consists of 4 drill periods. There are two drill periods each day. National Guard and reserve service members must perform a minimum of one weekend drill per month and two weeks of active duty training each year.

See 2026 military pay rates and charts here.

2026 National Guard and Reserve Drill Pay

The following charts reflect only drill pay. They do not include sign-on bonuses, allowances, specialty pay or tuition assistance. 2026 drill pay goes into effect January 1, 2026.

2026 Reserve Component Drill Pay (0 – 10 Years in Service)

Pay GradeLess than 2 Years2+ Years3+ Years4+ Years6+ Years8+ Years
O-7$11,540$12,076$12,324$12,522$12,879$13,232
One Drill$385$403$411$417$429$441
Four Drills$1,539$1,610$1,643$1,670$1,717$1,764
O-6$8,751$9,614$10,245$10,245$10,284$10,725
One Drill$292$320$342$342$343$357
Four Drills$1,167$1,282$1,366$1,366$1,371$1,430
O-5$7,295$8,787$8,787$8,894$9,250$9,461
One Drill$243$293$293$296$308$315
Four Drills$973$1,172$1,172$1,186$1,233$1,262
O-4$6,295$7,773$7,773$7,881$8,332$8,816
One Drill$210$259$259$263$278$294
Four Drills$839$1,036$1,036$1,051$1,111$1,176
O-3$5,534$6,770$6,770$7,383$7,737$8,125
One Drill$184$226$226$246$258$271
Four Drills$738$903$903$984$1,032$1,083
O-2$4,782$6,273$6,273$6,485$6,618$6,618
One Drill$159$209$209$216$221$221
Four Drills$638$836$836$865$882$882
O-1$4,150$4,320$5,222$5,222$5,222$5,222
One Drill$138$144$174$174$174$174
Four Drills$553$576$696$696$696$696
O-3E---$7,383$7,737$8,125
One Drill---$246$258$271
Four Drills---$984$1,032$1,083
O-2E---$6,485$6,618$6,828
One Drill---$216$221$228
Four Drills---$865$882$910
O-1E---$5,222$5,577$5,783
One Drill---$174$186$193
Four Drills---$696$744$771
W-5------
One Drill------
Four Drills------
W-4$5,720$6,152$6,329$6,502$6,802$7,098
One Drill$191$205$211$217$227$237
Four Drills$763$820$844$867$907$946
W-3$5,223$5,440$5,664$5,737$5,971$6,431
One Drill$174$181$189$191$199$214
Four Drills$696$725$755$765$796$857
W-2$4,622$5,059$5,193$5,286$5,585$6,051
One Drill$154$169$173$176$186$202
Four Drills$616$675$692$705$745$807
W-1$4,057$4,494$4,611$4,859$5,152$5,584
One Drill$135$150$154$162$172$186
Four Drills$541$599$615$648$687$745
E-9------
One Drill------
Four Drills------
E-8-----$5,413
One Drill-----$180
Four Drills-----$722
E-7$3,932$4,291$4,456$4,673$4,844$5,136
One Drill$131$143$149$156$161$171
Four Drills$524$572$594$623$646$685
E-6$3,401$3,743$3,908$4,069$4,236$4,613
One Drill$113$125$130$136$141$154
Four Drills$453$499$521$543$565$615
E-5$3,116$3,325$3,486$3,651$3,907$4,175
One Drill$104$111$116$122$130$139
Four Drills$415$443$465$487$521$557
E-4$2,857$3,003$3,166$3,326$3,468$3,468
One Drill$95$100$106$111$116$116
Four Drills$381$400$422$443$462$462
E-4 projected$3,130$3,290$3,469$3,644$3,800$3,800
One Drill$104$110$116$121$127$127
Four Drills$417$439$462$486$507$507
E-3$2,468$2,623$2,782$2,782$2,782$2,782
One Drill$82$87$93$93$93$93
Four Drills$329$350$371$371$371$371
E-3 projected$2,826$3,003$3,185$3,185$3,185$3,185
One Drill$94$100$106$106$106$106
Four Drills$377$400$425$425$425$425
E-2$2,347$2,347$2,347$2,347$2,347$2,347
One Drill$78$78$78$78$78$78
Four Drills$313$313$313$313$313$313
E-2 projected$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687
One Drill$90$90$90$90$90$90
Four Drills$358$358$358$358$358$358
E-1$2,188-----
One Drill$73-----
Four Drills$292-----
E-1 projected$2,398
One Drill$80
Four Drills$320
E-1<4 mo$2,023-----
One Drill$67-----
Four Drills$270-----
E-1<4 mo projected$2,217
One Drill$74
Four Drills$296

2026 Reserve Component Drill Pay (10 – 22 Years in Service)

Pay Grade10+ Years12+ Years14+ Years16+ Years18+ Years20+ Years
O-7$13,639$14,046$14,454$15,735$16,818$16,818
One Drill$455$468$482$525$561$561
Four Drills$1,819$1,873$1,927$2,098$2,242$2,242
O-6$10,783$10,783$11,396$12,480$13,116$14,113
One Drill$359$359$380$416$437$470
Four Drills$1,438$1,438$1,520$1,664$1,749$1,882
O-5$9,928$10,272$10,715$11,391$11,714$12,033
One Drill$331$342$357$380$390$401
Four Drills$1,324$1,370$1,429$1,519$1,562$1,604
O-4$9,420$9,888$10,215$10,402$10,510$10,510
One Drill$314$330$340$347$350$350
Four Drills$1,256$1,318$1,362$1,387$1,401$1,401
O-3$8,376$8,788$9,004$9,004$9,004$9,004
One Drill$279$293$300$300$300$300
Four Drills$1,117$1,172$1,201$1,201$1,201$1,201
O-2$6,618$6,618$6,618$6,618$6,618$6,618
One Drill$221$221$221$221$221$221
Four Drills$882$882$882$882$882$882
O-1$5,222$5,222$5,222$5,222$5,222$5,222
One Drill$174$174$174$174$174$174
Four Drills$696$696$696$696$696$696
O-3E$8,376$8,788$9,137$9,337$9,609$9,609
One Drill$279$293$305$311$320$320
Four Drills$1,117$1,172$1,218$1,245$1,281$1,281
O-2E$7,184$7,459$7,664$7,664$7,664$7,664
One Drill$239$249$255$255$255$255
Four Drills$958$995$1,022$1,022$1,022$1,022
O-1E$5,994$6,201$6,485$6,485$6,485$6,485
One Drill$200$207$216$216$216$216
Four Drills$799$827$865$865$865$865
W-5-----$10,170
One Drill-----$339
Four Drills-----$1,356
W-4$7,398$7,848$8,244$8,620$8,928$9,229
One Drill$247$262$275$287$298$308
Four Drills$986$1,046$1,099$1,149$1,190$1,231
W-3$6,911$7,136$754$7,666$8,150$8,477
One Drill$230$238$25$256$272$283
Four Drills$921$952$101$1,022$1,087$1,130
W-2$6,282$6,510$6,787$7,005$7,201$7,437
One Drill$209$217$226$233$240$248
Four Drills$838$868$905$934$960$992
W-1$5,786$6,069$6,347$6,565$6,766$7,010
One Drill$193$202$212$219$226$234
Four Drills$771$809$846$875$902$935
E-9$6,910$7,067$7,264$7,496$7,731$8,105
One Drill$230$236$242$250$258$270
Four Drills$921$942$968$999$1,031$1,081
E-8$5,907$6,062$6,247$6,448$6,811$6,995
One Drill$197$202$208$215$227$233
Four Drills$788$808$833$860$908$933
E-7$5,300$5,592$5,835$6,001$6,177$6,246
One Drill$177$186$195$200$206$208
Four Drills$707$746$778$800$824$833
E-6$4,759$5,043$5,130$5,194$5,268$5,268
One Drill$159$168$171$173$176$176
Four Drills$635$672$684$692$702$702
E-5$4,395$4,422$4,422$4,422$4,422$4,422
One Drill$147$147$147$147$147$147
Four Drills$586$590$590$590$590$590
E-4$3,468$3,468$3,468$3,468$3,468$3,468
One Drill$116$116$116$116$116$116
Four Drills$462$462$462$462$462$462
E-4 projected$3,800$3,747$3,747$3,747$3,747$3,747
One Drill$127$125$125$125$125$125
Four Drills$507$500$500$500$500$500
E-3$2,907$2,907$2,907$2,907$2,907$2,907
One Drill$97$97$97$97$97$97
Four Drills$388$388$388$388$388$388
E-3 projected$3,185$3,185$3,185$3,185$3,185$3,185
One Drill$106$106$106$106$106$106
Four Drills$425$425$425$425$425$425
E-2$2,453$2,453$2,453$2,453$2,453$2,453
One Drill$82$82$82$82$82$82
Four Drills$327$327$327$327$327$327
E-2 projected$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687
One Drill$90$90$90$90$90$90
Four Drills$358$358$358$358$358$358
E-1------
One Drill------
Four Drills------

2026 Reserve Component Drill Pay (22 – 32 Years in Service)

Pay Grade22+ Years24+ Years26+ Years28+ Years30+ Years
O-7$16,818$16,818$16,904$16,904$17,242
One Drill$561$561$563$563$575
Four Drills$2,242$2,242$2,254$2,254$2,299
O-6$14,113$14,479$15,189$15,189$15,492
One Drill$470$483$506$506$516
Four Drills$1,882$1,931$2,025$2,025$2,066
O-5$12,395$12,395$12,395$12,395$12,395
One Drill$413$413$413$413$413
Four Drills$1,653$1,653$1,653$1,653$1,653
O-4$10,510$10,510$10,510$10,510$10,510
One Drill$350$350$350$350$350
Four Drills$1,401$1,401$1,401$1,401$1,401
O-3$9,004$9,004$9,004$9,004$9,004
One Drill$300$300$300$300$300
Four Drills$1,201$1,201$1,201$1,201$1,201
O-2$6,618$6,618$6,618$6,618$6,618
One Drill$221$221$221$221$221
Four Drills$882$882$882$882$882
O-1$5,222$5,222$5,222$5,222$5,222
One Drill$174$174$174$174$174
Four Drills$696$696$696$696$696
O-3E$9,609$9,609$9,609$9,609$9,609
One Drill$320$320$320$320$320
Four Drills$1,281$1,281$1,281$1,281$1,281
O-2E$7,664$7,664$7,664$7,664$7,664
One Drill$255$255$255$255$255
Four Drills$1,022$1,022$1,022$1,022$1,022
O-1E$6,485$6,485$6,485$6,485$6,485
One Drill$216$216$216$216$216
Four Drills$865$865$865$865$865
W-5$10,686$11,070$11,495$11,495$12,071
One Drill$356$369$383$383$402
Four Drills$1,425$1,476$1,533$1,533$1,609
W-4$9,670$10,032$10,445$10,445$10,654
One Drill$322$334$348$348$355
Four Drills$1,289$1,338$1,393$1,393$1,420
W-3$8,672$8,880$9,163$9,163$9,163
One Drill$289$296$305$305$305
Four Drills$1,156$1,184$1,222$1,222$1,222
W-2$7,592$7,714$7,714$7,714$7,714
One Drill$253$257$257$257$257
Four Drills$1,012$1,029$1,029$1,029$1,029
W-1$7,010$7,010$7,010$7,010$7,010
One Drill$234$234$234$234$234
Four Drills$935$935$935$935$935
E-9$8,423$8,757$9,268$9,268$9,730
One Drill$281$292$309$309$324
Four Drills$1,123$1,168$1,236$1,236$1,297
E-8$7,308$7,482$7,909$7,909$8,067
One Drill$244$249$264$264$269
Four Drills$974$998$1,055$1,055$1,076
E-7$6,475$6,598$7,068$7,068$7,068
One Drill$216$220$236$236$236
Four Drills$863$880$942$942$942
E-6$5,268$5,268$5,268$5,268$5,268
One Drill$176$176$176$176$176
Four Drills$702$702$702$702$702
E-5$4,422$4,422$4,422$4,422$4,422
One Drill$147$147$147$147$147
Four Drills$590$590$590$590$590
E-4$3,468$3,468$3,468$3,468$3,468
One Drill$116$116$116$116$116
Four Drills$462$462$462$462$462
E-4 projected$3,747$3,747$3,747$3,800$3,800
One Drill$125$125$125$127$127
Four Drills$500$500$500$507$507
E-3$2,907$2,907$2,907$2,907$2,907
One Drill$97$97$97$97$97
Four Drills$388$388$388$388$388
E-3 projected$3,185$3,185$3,185$3,185$3,185
One Drill$106$106$106$106$106
Four Drills$425$425$425$425$425
E-2$2,453$2,453$2,453$2,453$2,453
One Drill$82$82$82$82$82
Four Drills$327$327$327$327$327
E-2 projected$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687$2,687
One Drill$90$90$90$90$90
Four Drills$358$358$358$358$358

2026 Reserve Component Drill Pay (32 – 40+ Years in Service)

Pay Grade32+ Years34+ Years36+ Years38+ Years40+ Years
O-7$16,611.00$16,611.00$16,611.00$16,611.00$16,611.00
One Drill$553.70$553.70$553.70$553.70$553.70
Four Drills$2,214.80$2,214.80$2,214.80$2,214.80$2,214.80
O-6$14,925.00$14,925.00$14,925.00$14,925.00$14,925.00
One Drill$497.50$497.50$497.50$497.50$497.50
Four Drills$1,990.00$1,990.00$1,990.00$1,990.00$1,990.00
O-5$11,940.90$11,940.90$11,940.90$11,940.90$11,940.90
One Drill$398.03$398.03$398.03$398.03$398.03
Four Drills$1,592.12$1,592.12$1,592.12$1,592.12$1,592.12
O-4$10,125.00$10,125.00$10,125.00$10,125.00$10,125.00
One Drill$337.50$337.50$337.50$337.50$337.50
Four Drills$1,350.00$1,350.00$1,350.00$1,350.00$1,350.00
O-3$8,674.50$8,674.50$8,674.50$8,674.50$8,674.50
One Drill$289.15$289.15$289.15$289.15$289.15
Four Drills$1,156.60$1,156.60$1,156.60$1,156.60$1,156.60
O-2$6,375.30$6,375.30$6,375.30$6,375.30$6,375.30
One Drill$212.51$212.51$212.51$212.51$212.51
Four Drills$850.04$850.04$850.04$850.04$850.04
O-1$5,031.30$5,031.30$5,031.30$5,031.30$5,031.30
One Drill$167.71$167.71$167.71$167.71$167.71
Four Drills$670.84$670.84$670.84$670.84$670.84
O-3E$9,257.70$9,257.70$9,257.70$9,257.70$9,257.70
One Drill$308.59$308.59$308.59$308.59$308.59
Four Drills$1,234.36$1,234.36$1,234.36$1,234.36$1,234.36
O-2E$7,383.00$7,383.00$7,383.00$7,383.00$7,383.00
One Drill$246.10$246.10$246.10$246.10$246.10
Four Drills$984.40$984.40$984.40$984.40$984.40
O-1E$6,247.20$6,247.20$6,247.20$6,247.20$6,247.20
One Drill$208.24$208.24$208.24$208.24$208.24
Four Drills$832.96$832.96$832.96$832.96$832.96
W-5$11,628.90$12,209.40$12,209.40$12,821.10$12,821.10
One Drill$387.63$406.98$406.98$427.37$427.37
Four Drills$1,550.52$1,627.92$1,627.92$1,709.48$1,709.48
W-4$10,263.60$10,263.60$10,263.60$10,263.60$10,263.60
One Drill$342.12$342.12$342.12$342.12$342.12
Four Drills$1,368.48$1,368.48$1,368.48$1,368.48$1,368.48
W-3$8,827.20$8,827.20$8,827.20$8,827.20$8,827.20
One Drill$294.24$294.24$294.24$294.24$294.24
Four Drills$1,176.96$1,176.96$1,176.96$1,176.96$1,176.96
W-2$7,431.90$7,431.90$7,431.90$7,431.90$7,431.90
One Drill$247.73$247.73$247.73$247.73$247.73
Four Drills$990.92$990.92$990.92$990.92$990.92
W-1$6,753.60$6,753.60$6,753.60$6,753.60$6,753.60
One Drill$225.12$225.12$225.12$225.12$225.12
Four Drills$900.48$900.48$900.48$900.48$900.48
E-9$9,374.10$9,843.30$9,843.30$10,336.50$10,336.50
One Drill$312.47$328.11$328.11$344.55$344.55
Four Drills$1,249.88$1,312.44$1,312.44$1,378.20$1,378.20
E-8$7,772.10$7,772.10$7,772.10$7,772.10$7,772.10
One Drill$259.07$259.07$259.07$259.07$259.07
Four Drills$1,036.28$1,036.28$1,036.28$1,036.28$1,036.28
E-7$6,808.80$6,808.80$6,808.80$6,808.80$6,808.80
One Drill$226.96$226.96$226.96$226.96$226.96
Four Drills$907.84$907.84$907.84$907.84$907.84
E-6$5,074.80$5,074.80$5,074.80$5,074.80$5,074.80
One Drill$169.16$169.16$169.16$169.16$169.16
Four Drills$676.64$676.64$676.64$676.64$676.64
E-5$4,259.70$4,259.70$4,259.70$4,259.70$4,259.70
One Drill$141.99$141.99$141.99$141.99$141.99
Four Drills$567.96$567.96$567.96$567.96$567.96
E-4$3,341.40$3,341.40$3,341.40$3,341.40$3,341.40
One Drill$111.38$111.38$111.38$111.38$111.38
Four Drills$445.52$445.52$445.52$445.52$445.52
E-4 projected$3,661.13$3,661.13$3,661.13$3,661.13$3,661.13
One Drill$122.04$122.04$122.04$122.04$122.04
Four Drills$488.15$488.15$488.15$488.15$488.15
E-3$2,800.80$2,800.80$2,800.80$2,800.80$2,800.80
One Drill$93.36$93.36$93.36$93.36$93.36
Four Drills$373.44$373.44$373.44$373.44$373.44
E-3 projected$3,068.81$3,068.81$3,068.81$3,068.81$3,068.81
One Drill$102.29$102.29$102.29$102.29$102.29
Four Drills$409.17$409.17$409.17$409.17$409.17
E-2$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80
One Drill$78.76$78.76$78.76$78.76$78.76
Four Drills$315.04$315.04$315.04$315.04$315.04
E-2 projected$2,588.90$2,588.90$2,588.90$2,588.90$2,588.90
One Drill$86.30$86.30$86.30$86.30$86.30
Four Drills$345.19$345.19$345.19$345.19$345.19

About Drill Pay

Drill pay is part of the total compensation available to National Guard and reserve soldiers performing drilling and other training duties. National Guard and reserve soldiers must perform at least one weekend drill per month and two weeks of active duty training per year.

  • A drill period is defined as four hours.
  • There are four drill periods in a one-weekend drill (16 hours per weekend or eight hours per day).
  • Pay is equal to one day of active-duty base pay for each drill period (four days’ active-duty pay for a weekend duty).
  • Pay is based on two weeks of training each year and one weekend each month.
  • Prorated basic pay is provided for training events lasting more than one weekend, and compensation is based on an hourly rate for completed work.
  • If placed on active duty, compensation is the same as that of active-duty counterparts.
  • Drill pay compensation depends on the length of service and rank.

The drill pay charts are for all military service reserve and Guard branches: Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Coast Guard Reserve.

Federal Benefits of Reserve and National Guard Members

  • Eligibility for VA home loans
  • Military retirement plan
  • Low-cost health insurance plans
  • Free-space-available air travel
  • (Re)-enlistment bonus
  • Base exchange and commissary shopping privileges
  • Legal assistance
  • Access to military clothing stores
  • Official library service
  • Use of military recreation facilities
  • U.S. citizenship eligibility
  • State benefits, where available
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