Reviewed by Jonathan Teplitsky · Updated June 2026
National Guard Pay Chart 2026
The 2026 National Guard pay chart uses the same federal basic pay table as the active Army. Guard members earn 4/30 of that monthly rate for a standard drill weekend (four UTAs). Annual training and Title 10 orders pay the full active-duty rate.
This page shows the 2026 and 2025 monthly basic pay rates, the drill-weekend dollar amounts derived from them, and the rules that decide which pay scale applies to your orders. All rates reflect the FY2026 NDAA 3.8% across-the-board raise on top of the FY2025 base (which included a separate junior-enlisted ~10% raise effective April 2025 for E-1 through E-4).
How Guard Drill Pay is Calculated
Drill pay equals 4/30 of monthly active-duty basic pay. A standard inactive duty training (IDT) weekend counts as four UTAs (Unit Training Assemblies): two on Saturday, two on Sunday. Each UTA is worth one day of basic pay. Four UTAs equal four days of pay packed into a two-day weekend.
The formula is simple: monthly basic pay ÷ 30 × 4. Round to the nearest dollar. Special pays (jump, dive, language) and bonuses are added separately and do not change the base formula.
2026 National Guard Monthly Basic Pay (Active-Duty Rate)
This is the underlying federal pay table. Use these numbers to compute drill, AT, AGR, and activated pay.
| Grade | <2 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 10 yrs | 14 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,180 | — | — | — | — |
| E-4 | $2,820 | $3,290 | $3,430 | $3,430 | $3,430 |
| E-5 | $3,135 | $3,455 | $3,665 | $3,775 | $3,775 |
| E-6 | $3,420 | $3,890 | $4,080 | $4,580 | $4,755 |
| E-7 | $3,960 | $4,260 | $4,415 | $4,830 | $5,490 |
| O-1 | $3,990 | $5,020 | $5,020 | $5,020 | $5,020 |
| O-3 | $5,265 | $6,820 | $7,150 | $7,360 | $7,540 |
| O-5 | $6,950 | $8,090 | $8,425 | $9,165 | $10,700 |
2025 Monthly Basic Pay (For Reference)
The 2025 chart reflects the FY2025 NDAA 4.5% raise plus the special ~10% junior-enlisted raise (E-1 through E-4) that took effect April 1, 2025.
| Grade | <2 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 10 yrs | 14 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-4 | $2,715 | $3,170 | $3,305 | $3,305 | $3,305 |
| E-5 | $3,020 | $3,330 | $3,530 | $3,635 | $3,635 |
| E-6 | $3,295 | $3,750 | $3,930 | $4,410 | $4,580 |
| O-3 | $5,070 | $6,570 | $6,890 | $7,090 | $7,265 |
2026 National Guard Drill Pay (Per Weekend, 4 UTAs)
Drill pay equals 4/30 of the monthly basic pay shown above. These dollar amounts are what hits your account for one IDT weekend.
| Grade | <2 yrs | 4 yrs | 6 yrs | 10 yrs | 14 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $291 | — | — | — | — |
| E-4 | $376 | $439 | $457 | $457 | $457 |
| E-5 | $418 | $461 | $489 | $503 | $503 |
| E-6 | $456 | $519 | $544 | $611 | $634 |
| E-7 | $528 | $568 | $589 | $644 | $732 |
| O-1 | $532 | $669 | $669 | $669 | $669 |
| O-3 | $702 | $909 | $953 | $981 | $1,005 |
| O-5 | $927 | $1,079 | $1,123 | $1,222 | $1,427 |
Worked Drill Pay Examples
An E-4 with 4 years of service earns $3,290 per month at the active rate. Divide by 30 to get $109.67 per day. Multiply by 4 UTAs to get about $439 per drill weekend.
An E-6 with 10 years earns $4,580 per month. That works out to $152.67 per day, or about $611 per weekend. Over 12 drill weekends in a year, that's $7,332 before AT pay.
An O-3 with 4 years earns $6,820 per month. The daily rate is $227.33, and a weekend pays about $909. With 12 drills plus 14 days of AT, an O-3 nets roughly $14,090 in basic pay alone.
National Guard Annual Training (AT) Pay
Annual training pays the full active-duty basic pay rate, prorated by day. Most Guard units do 14 to 15 days of AT each year, often in the summer. AT also pays BAS (the food allowance) and partial BAH or per diem depending on whether you sleep in a barracks or off-post.
For 14 days of AT, an E-5 with 6 years earns about $1,710 in basic pay (14 × $122.17/day). Add roughly $215 in BAS for the period. If the orders are over 30 days, full BAH for the duty ZIP also applies.
Title 10 vs Title 32 Pay
Both Title 10 and Title 32 pay the same federal basic pay, BAH, and BAS rates. The difference is who controls the duty and how the funds are routed.
- Title 10 — Federal active duty under the President. Used for overseas deployments, mobilizations, and federal disaster missions. Full active-component pay and benefits.
- Title 32 — Federal-funded duty under the governor. Used for hurricane response, border missions, COVID-19 response, and federally funded training. Same federal pay rates.
- State Active Duty (SAD) — State-funded duty under the governor. Paid by the state, usually at a lower daily rate than federal pay. Tax treatment varies by state.
Orders over 30 consecutive days on Title 10 or Title 32 unlock full BAH at the with-dependents or without-dependents rate. Shorter activations pay BAH-RC (the reduced reserve rate) instead.
AGR Pay (Active Guard Reserve)
AGR members are full-time Guard soldiers on active-duty orders. AGR pay equals full active-duty basic pay for the grade and years of service, plus BAH, BAS, and any special pays. AGR soldiers earn the same retirement points as their active-component peers and qualify for a 20-year active-duty pension if they complete the time.
An AGR E-6 with 10 years earns $4,580 per month in basic pay. Add roughly $2,000 in BAH (Texas average) and $466 in BAS for a take-home base of about $7,046 per month before federal tax.
Net-New Worked Example: Texas E-5 with 6 Years
This is the kind of cents-level breakdown most generic Guard pay pages skip. Imagine SGT Garcia, an E-5 with 6 years of service, drilling with a Texas Army National Guard unit in San Antonio (BAH ZIP 78201).
- Annual drill pay: 12 weekends × $489 = $5,868. BAH-RC for an E-5 with dependents in San Antonio adds about $43 per drill day × 48 drill days = $2,064. Drill total: $7,932.
- Annual training (14 days): Basic pay 14 × $122.17 = $1,710. BAS 14 × $15.39 = $215. BAH (orders are under 30 days, so BAH-RC applies, not full BAH): $43 × 14 = $602. AT total: $2,527.
- One-month Title 32 hurricane activation (30 days exactly): Basic pay 30 × $122.17 = $3,665. BAS 30 × $15.39 = $462. BAH for 30 days is the trigger point — orders over 30 days unlock full BAH. A 30-day order pays BAH-RC: $43 × 30 = $1,290. Activation total: $5,417.
- Year-one total (basic pay + BAS + BAH-RC): $15,876 before any state allowances, special pays, or federal tax.
If the Title 32 orders had been written for 31 days instead of 30, full BAH at the San Antonio with-dependents rate (about $2,100/month) would replace the $1,290 BAH-RC payment. That single extra day is worth roughly $810 in the paycheck. This is the kind of orders-writing detail that decides real take-home pay.
BAH and BAS Rules for Guard Members
BAH-RC (the Reserve rate) is a flat national rate by grade. It applies on every drill day and on activation orders of 30 days or less. Full BAH (based on duty ZIP code) kicks in only on orders over 30 days. BAS is the food allowance: $465.77 per month for enlisted in 2026, $320.78 for officers, prorated by day on activations.
State Active Duty Pay
State Active Duty pay comes from the state budget, not the federal one. Rates vary widely. Some states (like California and New York) pay at or near federal rates. Others pay a flat daily stipend that can be well below federal basic pay. Some states add a per diem or state-only hazard pay on top. Always read the orders carefully.
National Guard Retirement and the Point System
Guard retirement is point-based. You earn one point per drill day, 15 free points per year, and one point per day of active duty. A "good year" requires 50+ points. After 20 good years, you qualify for a non-regular (reserve) retirement that begins paying at age 60.
The pension formula is: (total points ÷ 360) × 2.5% × high-three basic pay. A typical 20-year Guard retiree with 2,700 points and a final high-three of $5,000/month earns about $937/month for life starting at age 60. Qualifying active-duty time after January 28, 2008 lowers the start age by 90 days per 90 days served.
For deeper detail, see our military retirement guide.
Is National Guard Pay Taxable?
Drill pay, AT pay, AGR pay, and most Title 10 and Title 32 pay are federally taxable. Combat-zone pay is excluded from federal income tax under IRC Section 112. BAH and BAS are always federal-tax-free. State tax rules vary widely; some states (Pennsylvania, Illinois) exempt Guard pay entirely, while others tax it as ordinary income.
Related Pay Charts
Compare Guard pay against the active-component charts and the sibling reserve chart:
- Army pay chart — the source table all Guard pay is computed from.
- Reserve drill pay chart — same federal pay rates, slightly different orders rules.
- Enlisted pay chart — full E-1 through E-9 detail.
Sources
- DFAS Pay Tables — official monthly basic pay rates.
- National Guard Bureau — activation and AGR program guidance.
- DoD Military Compensation — BAH, BAS, and special-pay tables.
Bottom Line: 2026 National Guard Pay Chart
The 2026 National Guard pay chart pays the same federal basic pay as the active Army, with drill weekends worth 4/30 of the monthly rate. Annual training, Title 10, Title 32, and AGR orders all use that same table. The big variables are how many days you serve and whether the orders are over 30 days — the threshold that unlocks full BAH.
For more detail, compare our officer pay chart, BAH calculator, and special pays guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the National Guard pay per drill weekend in 2026?
A drill weekend pays 4/30 of monthly active-duty basic pay. An E-4 with 4 years gets about $439 per weekend; an E-6 with 10 years gets about $611; an O-3 with 4 years gets about $909.
Is National Guard pay the same as Army pay?
Yes, the basic pay rate is identical. Guard members are paid from the same DFAS pay table as active-duty soldiers. The difference is days served: drillers get 4/30 per weekend instead of 30/30 per month.
What is the difference between Title 10 and Title 32 pay?
Title 10 is federal active duty under the President. Title 32 is federal-funded duty under the governor. Both pay the same federal basic pay, BAH, and BAS. The legal status differs, but the paycheck does not.
How much does AGR pay in 2026?
AGR pay equals full active-duty pay for your rank and years of service. An AGR E-6 with 10 years earns about $4,580 per month in basic pay plus BAH, BAS, and any special pays.
Do National Guard members get BAH?
Drilling Guard members get BAH-Reserve (BAH-RC), a lower rate, only for the drill days. Activated Guard members on orders over 30 days get full BAH at the with-dependents or without-dependents rate for their duty ZIP.
When can a National Guard member retire?
Guard retirement pay starts at age 60 in most cases. You need 20 good years (50+ points each). Qualifying active-duty time after Jan 28, 2008 can lower the start age by 90 days per 90 days served.
Is National Guard pay taxed?
Yes. Drill pay, AT pay, AGR pay, and most Title 10 and Title 32 pay are federally taxable. Combat-zone pay is excluded under IRC Section 112. State tax rules vary; some states exempt Guard pay entirely.
How much is National Guard annual training pay?
AT pays the full active-duty basic pay rate, prorated by day. For 14 days, an E-5 with 6 years earns about $1,710. AT also pays BAS and partial BAH or per diem depending on the orders.