National Guard Pay Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your potential annual pay as a member of the U.S. National Guard. This tool considers your rank, years of service, typical drill schedule, and annual training days, along with optional housing and subsistence allowances.
E-1 (Private)
E-2 (Private Second Class)
E-3 (Private First Class)
E-4 (Specialist/Corporal)
E-5 (Sergeant)
E-6 (Staff Sergeant)
E-7 (Sergeant First Class)
E-8 (Master Sergeant/First Sergeant)
E-9 (Sergeant Major/Command Sergeant Major)
W-1 (Warrant Officer 1)
W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2)
W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3)
W-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4)
W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5)
O-1 (Second Lieutenant)
O-2 (First Lieutenant)
O-3 (Captain)
O-4 (Major)
O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel)
O-6 (Colonel)
Less than 2
2 to 4
4 to 6
6 to 8
8 to 10
10 to 12
12 to 14
14 to 16
16 to 18
18 to 20
20 to 22
22 to 24
24 to 26
26 or more
Understanding National Guard Pay
The National Guard is a unique component of the U.S. Armed Forces, serving both federal and state missions. Members typically serve part-time, usually one weekend a month and two weeks a year for Annual Training (AT), but can also be activated for longer periods for state emergencies or federal deployments. Understanding how your pay is calculated is crucial for financial planning.
How National Guard Pay Works
National Guard pay is primarily based on the federal military pay scales, which are determined by your rank and years of service. However, unlike active duty, Guard members are paid for specific periods of service:
- Drill Pay: This is for your monthly drill weekends. A standard drill weekend consists of four "drill periods." Each drill period is equivalent to one day of active duty pay. So, a typical drill weekend earns you 4/30ths of your monthly active duty base pay.
- Annual Training (AT) Pay: This is for your extended training periods, usually 15 days per year. During AT, you receive active duty pay and allowances for each day served.
- Active Duty Pay: If you are activated for state active duty (e.g., disaster response) or federal active duty (e.g., deployment), you receive full active duty pay and allowances for the duration of your service. This calculator focuses on typical part-time service.
Key Factors Affecting Your Pay
- Rank: Your pay grade (e.g., E-4, O-2, W-3) is the primary determinant of your base pay. Higher ranks generally receive higher pay.
- Years of Service: Within each rank, your pay increases with your total cumulative years of service. This includes both active and reserve time.
- Drill Periods: The more drill periods you perform in a month, the higher your monthly drill pay. While 4 periods per month is standard, some units may have more.
- Annual Training Days: The number of days you spend on Annual Training directly impacts your annual income from the Guard.
- Allowances:
- Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): This allowance helps offset housing costs and varies significantly by geographic location, rank, and dependency status. It's typically paid when on active duty orders or for specific types of reserve duty. For drill weekends, BAH is generally not paid unless you are on specific types of orders. However, if you receive it, you can include it in the calculator.
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): This allowance helps offset the cost of food. It's primarily for officers and enlisted members on active duty. For drill weekends, BAS is generally not paid unless on specific types of orders. If you receive it, you can include it.
How to Use the Calculator
Simply select your current rank and years of service. Enter the typical number of drill periods you perform per month (a standard drill weekend is 4 periods) and your annual training days. If you receive monthly BAH or BAS, enter those amounts. Click "Calculate Annual Pay" to see an estimate of your total annual earnings from your National Guard service.
Important Considerations
- Taxes: All military pay is subject to federal and state income taxes, as well as FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes. This calculator provides gross pay estimates.
- State-Specific Pay: Some states offer additional pay for state active duty, which is not included in this federal pay calculator.
- Bonuses & Special Pays: Reenlistment bonuses, special duty pays, and other incentives are not included in this general calculator.
- Pay Scale Updates: Military pay scales are updated annually, usually effective January 1st. This calculator uses the 2024 pay scales.
Example Calculation:
Let's say an E-5 (Sergeant) with 6 years of service performs 4 drill periods per month and 15 days of Annual Training, and receives no BAH or BAS:
- Rank: E-5
- Years of Service: 6-8 (using the closest bracket)
- Monthly Base Pay (E-5, 6-8 years): $2,995.50 (from 2024 pay scale)
- Drill Pay per Period: $2,995.50 / 30 = $99.85
- Monthly Drill Pay (4 periods): 4 * $99.85 = $399.40
- Annual Drill Pay: $399.40 * 12 = $4,792.80
- Annual Training Pay (15 days): 15 * $99.85 = $1,497.75
- Total Estimated Annual Pay: $4,792.80 + $1,497.75 = $6,290.55
This example demonstrates how the calculator estimates your annual earnings based on the provided inputs.