In the military, drill pay is one of the things that most members don’t really think about until they see that the numbers don’t line up. Some members might assume that drill pay is a flat rate. On the other hand, some members don’t realize how much rank or years of service actually matter with their pay.

Many members don’t learn about VA conflicts until they receive a letter they weren't expecting. This guide will help you understand what drill pay charts are, how the charts are set up, and what is changing in 2026.

If you want to avoid confusion and make sure you are getting paid what you've earned, keep reading to learn how to navigate the 2026 charts.

What Are the Changes for 2026?

Drill pay charts are tables that show how much National Guard and Reserve members earn for drill duty. The pay is based on the same base pay tables used for active-duty service members. The only difference is that the drill pay charts are broken down into smaller pieces.

The good news for 2026 is that the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) grants all service members a 3.8% pay increase across the board.

The key thing to know about the 2026 military drill pay chart is that it is based on active-duty base pay and is not a bonus or a special rate. Military base pay is calculated monthly and divided into 30 equal parts. One of those parts is equal to a single "drill period."

For easy understanding, most drill weekends include:

• Two drill periods on Saturday
• Two drill periods on Sunday

This means that a typical drill weekend (often called a MUTA 4) is usually equal to 4 drill periods.

Breakdown of the 2026 Military Drill Pay Chart

The 2026 drill pay chart below is organized to help you quickly find your pay, reflecting the 3.8% increase in military base pay.

Instead of making you do the math yourself, our comprehensive graphic breaks down exactly what you need to know. For every rank and year-of-service combination, you will see three numbers:

1. Top Number (Monthly Base): This is the full active-duty monthly base pay for that rank and time in service.
2. Middle Number (1 DRILL): This is exactly 1/30th of the monthly base pay.
3. Bottom Number (4 DRILLS): This is your standard weekend drill payout (the 1 Drill amount multiplied by 4).

Understanding the Categories

The chart above is divided into four distinct sections based on your career path:

• Enlisted Members: Covering junior, mid-career, and senior enlisted members (E-1 through E-9). You will notice how pay increases over the first few years of service as you gain time and experience, and continues to rise even if your rank stays the same.
• Commissioned Officers: Covering standard commissioned officers (O-1 through O-10).
• Commissioned Officers with Over 4 Years Enlisted Service: These are special pay rates (O-1E through O-3E) for officers who have at least four years of prior enlisted or warrant officer service, acknowledging their prior experience with higher compensation.
• Warrant Officers: Covering technical experts and specialists (W-1 through W-5).

A Note on Pay Caps and Fixed Rates:

• Senior Enlisted: Noncommissioned officers holding distinct positions (such as the Sergeant Major of the Army or Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force) receive a fixed basic pay, regardless of their number of years of service.
• General/Flag Officers: Military basic pay for O-7 through O-10 is limited by Level II of the Executive Schedule. Basic pay for pay grades O-6 and below is limited to the Level V rate of the Executive Schedule.

Make Sure to Know Your Drill Pay

Drill pay shouldn’t feel like a monthly routine you have to guess about. You earn drill pay through your service, and the numbers on the drill pay chart are laid out clearly when you know how to read them.

If something doesn’t look right on your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), Veteran Service Organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) can help review pay and benefits questions at no cost.

Understanding the charts doesn't mean you have to be good with numbers—that's what our graphic is for! What's important is that you know what you’ve earned, making sure it is right so you can plan for your financial future.

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