2026 Military Pay Dates

Active duty military service members in the United States are paid on a semi-monthly schedule, receiving wages on the 1st and 15th of every month. This produces 24 pay dates per year, which is different from the biweekly schedule used by most federal civilian employees. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) administers military pay and ensures that when a scheduled pay date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the payment is issued on the last business day before that date.

The 2026 military pay year begins with good news for service members: a 3.8 percent pay raise took effect on January 1, 2026, as authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act. This raise applies across all pay grades, from E-1 through O-10, and is reflected automatically in January pay statements. For a typical E-5 with six years of service, the increase adds roughly $140 per month to basic pay. The raise is indexed to the Employment Cost Index (ECI), which tracks changes in private-sector compensation to ensure military pay remains competitive.

Here are the adjusted active duty pay dates for 2026, accounting for weekends and holidays. January: Thu Jan 1 (New Year's, paid Wed Dec 31, 2025) and Thu Jan 15. February: Sun Feb 1 (paid Fri Jan 30) and Sun Feb 15 (paid Fri Feb 13). March: Sun Mar 1 (paid Fri Feb 27) and Sun Mar 15 (paid Fri Mar 13). April: Wed Apr 1 and Wed Apr 15. May: Fri May 1 and Thu May 15. June: Mon Jun 1 and Mon Jun 15. July: Wed Jul 1 and Wed Jul 15. August: Sat Aug 1 (paid Fri Jul 31) and Sat Aug 15 (paid Fri Aug 14). September: Tue Sep 1 and Mon Sep 15. October: Thu Oct 1 and Thu Oct 15. November: Sun Nov 1 (paid Fri Oct 30) and Sat Nov 15 (paid Fri Nov 14). December: Tue Dec 1 and Mon Dec 15.

Retired military pay operates on a different schedule. Retirees and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuitants receive a single monthly payment on the 1st of each month. The same weekend and holiday adjustment rules apply — when the 1st falls on a non-business day, payment is issued on the preceding business day. Retired pay also receives an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that is separate from the active duty pay raise. The 2026 COLA for military retirees is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) and is applied to December 2025 retired pay, appearing in January 2026 payments.

Military pay consists of several components beyond basic pay. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) covers housing costs and varies by duty station, pay grade, and dependency status. BAH rates are updated annually, and the 2026 rates reflect current rental market conditions across all military housing areas. Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) covers food costs and is adjusted each year based on the USDA food cost index. For 2026, enlisted BAS is approximately $452 per month and officer BAS is approximately $311 per month.

Service members can access their pay information, Leave and Earnings Statements (LES), and tax documents through the myPay portal managed by DFAS. The LES is typically available several days before each pay date and provides a detailed breakdown of all pay, allowances, deductions, and leave balances. For additional pay tables and information, visit militarypay.defense.gov or the Military.com pay center.

Planning around your military pay dates is especially important if you have allotments, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions, or Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) premiums deducted from your pay. These deductions are typically split evenly between mid-month and end-of-month pay, so understanding when each deposit will arrive helps you ensure sufficient funds are available for automatic payments and other financial obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do military members get paid in 2026?

Active duty military members are paid on a semi-monthly schedule, receiving paychecks on the 1st and 15th of every month. This results in 24 pay dates per year. When the 1st or 15th falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) processes the payment on the last business day before that date. For example, if the 1st falls on a Sunday, pay is deposited on the preceding Friday. In 2026, several pay dates are adjusted this way, including February 15 (Sunday, paid February 13), March 1 (Sunday, paid February 27), and November 1 (Sunday, paid October 30).

What happens when military payday falls on a weekend?

When a scheduled military pay date (the 1st or 15th of the month) falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, DFAS moves the payment to the last business day before the scheduled date. If the 15th falls on a Saturday, pay arrives on Friday the 14th. If the 1st falls on a Sunday, pay arrives on the preceding Friday. This early-payment policy ensures that service members always have access to their funds before a non-business day. The adjustment applies to both active duty and reserve component members who are on active orders. Direct deposit funds are typically available by early morning on the adjusted pay date.

How much did military pay increase in 2026?

Military basic pay increased by 3.8 percent effective January 1, 2026, as authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026. This raise applies to all active duty, reserve, and National Guard service members across all pay grades from E-1 through O-10. The 3.8 percent increase is tied to the Employment Cost Index (ECI), which measures changes in private-sector wages and salaries. For an E-5 with 6 years of service, the raise amounts to approximately $140 more per month in basic pay. The increase is automatically reflected in January pay statements without any action required by the service member.

Is retired military pay on the same schedule as active duty?

No, retired military pay follows a different schedule. Retired service members and survivors receiving Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities are paid once per month on the 1st of each month, rather than the semi-monthly (1st and 15th) schedule used for active duty members. When the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, the same early-payment rule applies and the deposit arrives on the last preceding business day. DFAS processes retired pay separately from active duty pay, and retirees manage their accounts through the myPay portal. Additionally, retired pay receives an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based on the Consumer Price Index, which is separate from the active duty pay raise.

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