Payment Dates
Active Duty Military Pay Dates for 2026 and 2027
By the ForLowerBills Editorial Team · Reviewed by the ForLowerBills Editorial Team against official sources · Last updated: November 1, 2026 · Sources checked: November 1, 2026 · How we research
Active duty service members are paid twice a month: a mid-month payday around the 15th and an end-of-month payday around the 1st. When a payday lands on a weekend or holiday, DFAS moves it earlier. Here is the official DFAS schedule for 2026 and the status of 2027.
How Military Paydays Work
DFAS lists a mid-month payday and an end-of-month payday for each pay period, plus the dates your mid-month notice of pay advisory and end-of-month Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) appear in myPay. When the 15th or the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, the DFAS table shows payday on the business day before. For example, Feb. 15, 2026 was a Sunday, so mid-month pay was Fri, Feb. 13, and Nov. 15, 2026 is a Sunday, so mid-month pay is Fri, Nov. 13.
Next Active Duty Paydays
- Fri, Nov. 13, 2026: November mid-month pay
- Tue, Dec. 1, 2026: November end-of-month pay
- Tue, Dec. 15, 2026: December mid-month pay
- Thu, Dec. 31, 2026: December end-of-month pay (Jan. 1, 2027 is New Year's Day)
2026 Active Duty Pay Calendar
From the official DFAS 2026 Active Duty Paydays (opens in a new tab) page (updated Aug. 25, 2026; verified Nov 1, 2026). Upcoming months are listed first.
| Pay period | Mid-month payday | Mid-month advisory in myPay | End-of-month payday | LES in myPay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 7 | Dec. 1 | Nov. 24 |
| December 2026 | Dec. 15 | Dec. 10 | Dec. 31 | Dec. 24 |
| January 2026 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 8 | Jan. 30 | Jan. 23 |
2027 Active Duty Pay Calendar
Unknown. As of Nov. 1, 2026, DFAS has not published a 2027 active duty payday table. We will not list projected dates. The only 2027-related date DFAS has published is that December 2026 end-of-month pay comes Thu, Dec. 31, 2026. Check the DFAS pay dates page (opens in a new tab) for the 2027 table.
| 2027 pay period | Mid-month payday | End-of-month payday |
|---|---|---|
| January to December 2027 | Unknown | Unknown |
Ways to stretch each payment
Moving often means new internet, heat and water accounts. Set them up cheaper from day one:
- Lower your internet bill: Ask about affordable plans and drop fees you do not need. See all tips
- Lower your heating bill: Cheap fixes and assistance programs before winter bills land. See all tips
- Lower your water bill: Find leaks and ask your utility about assistance. See all tips
Independent site, not a government agency
ForLowerBills.com is an independent, free resource, not affiliated with or endorsed by DFAS, the Department of Defense, or any government agency. Dates are copied from DFAS and can change. Confirm in myPay or with your finance office.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next military payday?
Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 for November mid-month pay, then Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026 for November end-of-month pay, according to DFAS.
Why is mid-month pay on Nov. 13, 2026?
Nov. 15, 2026 is a Sunday. The DFAS schedule moves it to the business day before, Friday, Nov. 13.
When is the December 2026 end-of-month payday?
Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, because Jan. 1, 2027 is New Year's Day.
What are the 2027 military pay dates?
Unknown for now. DFAS had not published its 2027 active duty payday table when we checked on Nov. 1, 2026. We will add it once DFAS does.
When does my LES come out?
DFAS lists LES dates with each payday. For November 2026 end-of-month pay, the LES is in myPay Nov. 24, 2026.
Official sources
More ways veterans save
Free park passes
Free lifetime and annual passes for veterans, service members and Gold Star Families.
See all veteran park pass details →Lifeline phone and internet
Up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet, plus low-cost carriers compared.
See all Lifeline and phone plan details →Verify once, save often
ID.me, SheerID, VA ID cards and how to use them safely.
See how to verify your status →Military discounts
Year-round brand discounts we checked against official pages.
See our military discounts list →Ways to lower your bills
VA pay, health coverage, property tax relief and SCRA rate caps.
See all ways veterans can lower bills →Veterans Day 2026
Verified free meals and free park entry on Nov. 11.
See Veterans Day free meals →
Related guides
The ForLowerBills team
ForLowerBills.com is run by a disabled U.S. Air Force wartime veteran and team.
General information only, not legal, medical, tax or financial advice.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on our site may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission, points, credits, cash or other payment at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Lower your bills this week, free
- A bill-cutting checklist across 7 areas of your budget
- Word-for-word call scripts to ask for a lower rate
- A quick-wins table of things you can do this week