2026 Military Pay Dates
The official DFAS paydays for 2026, mid-month and end-of-month, with the dates your LES posts to myPay. Active duty and Reserve paydays match this year; a few LES dates differ, shown below.
Active duty paydays and LES dates
| Pay Period | Mid-Month Payday | LES Available | End-of-Month Payday | LES Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan. 15 | Jan. 8 | Jan. 30 | Jan. 23 |
| February | Feb. 13 | Feb. 6 | Feb. 27 | Feb. 20 |
| March | Mar. 13 | Mar. 6 | Apr. 1 | Mar. 25 |
| April | Apr. 15 | Apr. 8 | May 1 | Apr. 25 |
| May | May 15 | May 8 | June 1 | May 22 |
| June | June 15 | June 5 | July 1 | June 24 |
| July | July 15 | July 8 | July 31 | July 24 |
| August | Aug. 14 | Aug. 7 | Sep. 1 | Aug. 25 |
| September | Sep. 15 | Sep. 4 | Oct. 1 | Sep. 24 |
| October | Oct. 15 | Oct. 8 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 23 |
| November | Nov. 13 | Nov. 6 | Dec. 1 | Nov. 24 |
| December | Dec. 15 | Dec. 8 | Dec. 31 | Dec. 24 |
Mid-month pay covers the 1st through the 15th; end-of-month pay covers the 16th through the last day. When a payday falls on a weekend or holiday, DFAS pays on the preceding business day, which is why some "end-of-month" paydays land on the 1st of the next month.
Guard and Reserve paydays and LES dates
| Pay Period | Mid-Month Payday | LES Available | End-of-Month Payday | LES Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan. 15 | Jan. 8 | Jan. 30 | Jan. 23 |
| February | Feb. 13 | Feb. 6 | Feb. 27 | Feb. 20 |
| March | Mar. 13 | Mar. 6 | Apr. 1 | Mar. 25 |
| April | Apr. 15 | Apr. 8 | May 1 | Apr. 24 |
| May | May 15 | May 8 | June 1 | May 22 |
| June | June 15 | June 5 | July 1 | June 23 |
| July | July 15 | July 8 | July 31 | July 24 |
| August | Aug. 14 | Aug. 7 | Sep. 1 | Aug. 25 |
| September | Sep. 15 | Sep. 9 | Oct. 1 | Sep. 23 |
| October | Oct. 15 | Oct. 7 | Oct. 30 | Oct. 23 |
| November | Nov. 13 | Nov. 6 | Dec. 1 | Nov. 24 |
| December | Dec. 15 | Dec. 9 | Dec. 31 | Dec. 22 |
Reserve component paydays match the active schedule in 2026. Drill pay timing depends on when your unit processes the drill; these dates apply to regular payroll processing.
Why your bank may pay you early
Many banks and credit unions that serve the military community post your pay as soon as DFAS transmits it, which is often 1 to 2 business days before the official payday. That early posting is each institution's own policy, not a DFAS rule: the amount and official pay date do not change, only when your bank chooses to release the deposit.
Two things worth knowing. First, early-deposit policies can change or pause, so check your own bank's published policy rather than planning bills around the early date. Second, autopay drafts pull on their own schedule regardless of when the deposit posts, so the official DFAS date above is the safe date to plan around.
Sources
Transcribed July 15, 2026 from DFAS: 2026 Active Duty Paydays and DFAS: 2026 Reserve Paydays. LES documents are at myPay. StandWatch is not affiliated with DFAS or DoD.
