Drill Pay Calculator 2026 (Guard & Reserve)

2026

Calculate National Guard and Reserve drill pay from the 2026 DFAS table: per drill period, MUTA-4 weekend, and annual pay with AT days.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated August 2026 · Source: DFAS Pay Tables

Per Drill Period

$136.99

Drill Weekend (MUTA-4)

$547.96

Estimated Annual Pay

$8,630.37

Annual Breakdown

Monthly basic pay (active-duty table)$4,109.70
Inactive-duty drills$6,575.52
Annual Training$2,054.85
Total (before taxes)$8,630.37

Use the Drill Pay Calculator 2026 (Guard & Reserve) above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Drill pay follows one statutory rule (37 U.S.C. §206): a single inactive-duty drill period pays 1/30 of the monthly basic pay for your grade and years of service, straight from the same DFAS table active-duty members are paid from. This page uses the 2026 table, which carries the 3.8% raise effective January 1, 2026, with the real longevity steps rather than an approximation.

The arithmetic that surprises people is the weekend: a standard drill weekend is a MUTA-4 — four drill periods over two days — so those two days pay 4/30 of a month, exactly twice the daily rate an active-duty member earns. A typical year is 48 drill periods (one weekend a month) plus about 15 days of Annual Training, each AT day paying 1/30 of monthly basic pay.

What this page shows is base drill pay only, before taxes. It does not include bonuses, incentive pays, or the allowances that attach to longer active-duty periods — once orders run 30+ days, BAH and BAS enter the picture and the math changes entirely. State National Guard activations are paid under state rules and can differ.

Example: E-5 with 6 Years — a Standard Guard Year

  1. 1 A staff sergeant (E-5) with 6 years of service checks the 2026 table: monthly basic pay is $4,109.70, so one drill period pays $4,109.70 ÷ 30 = $136.99.
  2. 2 A MUTA-4 drill weekend is four periods: 4 × $136.99 = $547.96 for the two days.
  3. 3 Over a standard year: 48 drill periods pay $6,575.52, and 15 days of Annual Training add 15 × $136.99 = $2,054.85.
  4. 4 Total estimated annual drill pay: $8,630.37 before taxes — roughly what one month and a half of active duty at the same grade would pay.

Source: DFAS Pay Tables · Last updated: August 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How is drill pay calculated?
One drill period pays 1/30 of the monthly basic pay for your grade and years of service, from the same DFAS table as active duty. A standard drill weekend is a MUTA-4 (four periods over two days), so it pays 4/30 of a month — double the daily active-duty rate for those days.
How many drills are in a typical Guard/Reserve year?
The standard schedule is 48 drill periods (one MUTA-4 weekend per month) plus about 14-15 days of Annual Training. AT days pay 1/30 of monthly basic pay each, like active-duty days.
Is drill pay taxable?
Yes — federal income tax and FICA apply, and most states tax it too, though several fully or partially exempt military pay. Unlike longer active-duty orders, inactive-duty drills do not come with BAH or BAS.
Did drill pay increase in 2026?
Yes. The January 1, 2026 military pay raise of 3.8% flows straight into drill pay, since each drill period is 1/30 of the monthly table rate. This calculator already uses the 2026 DFAS table.

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