Military pay reference
2026 Active Duty Military Pay Dates
All 24 official DFAS paydays for active-duty service members, verified against the published DFAS schedule.
Official DFAS pay schedule
| Pay period | DFAS official |
|---|---|
| January mid-month | |
| January end-of-month | |
| February mid-month | |
| February end-of-month | |
| March mid-month | |
| March end-of-month | |
| April mid-month | |
| April end-of-month | |
| May mid-month | |
| May end-of-month | |
| June mid-month | |
| June end-of-month | |
| July mid-month | |
| July end-of-month | |
| August mid-month | |
| August end-of-month | |
| September mid-month | |
| September end-of-month | |
| October mid-month | |
| October end-of-month | |
| November mid-month | |
| November end-of-month | |
| December mid-month | |
| December end-of-month |
Why some paydays move
The familiar “1st and 15th” shorthand is only a starting point. When the normal date is unavailable, DFAS publishes an adjusted payday. For example, the August mid-month payday is Friday, August 14 because August 15 falls on Saturday.
The March end-of-month payment appears on April 1. This is still March end-of-month pay; the label describes the pay period rather than the calendar month in which the deposit arrives.
When your LES becomes available
DFAS also publishes Notice of Pay Advice and Leave and Earnings Statement availability dates through myPay. An LES is not a bank-deposit confirmation, but it is the first place to check if the expected amount changed because of a promotion, PCS, allotment, debt or entitlement adjustment.
Common questions
Does every military member receive pay on these dates?
This table is for active-duty pay. Reserve drill pay, military retirement, Survivor Benefit Plan annuities and VA benefits use different schedules.
Why did my bank pay me earlier?
Some institutions make an incoming ACH deposit available before its official settlement date. That changes funds availability, not the underlying DFAS payday.
What if my pay is missing on the official date?
Review your LES or NPA in myPay, confirm your direct-deposit account, then contact your servicing finance office or DFAS. See the missing military pay checklist.