The National Guard salary isn’t the only reason people serve. Patriotism, benefits, and the drive to serve others are all key components of joining. But we all have bills to pay, and job research is an important step before deciding on any career. Explore how the pay breaks down, the tools you can use to find out your estimated salary, and the many benefits that go along with joining the military as a National Guardsman.

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How Much Is the National Guard Salary?

When you look at the data provided by workplace-leading authorities at Indeed in response to the inquiry, "How much does Army National Guard pay?" you’ll find a range between $23,212 to $135,978 per year. However, there is an even better way to determine the National Guard salary. While only an estimate, there is a great tool to determine the Army National Guard pay. Here, you can plug in your enlistment type, rank, and time of service to receive an accurate estimate of what your pay is/would be. It also breaks down how much you’ll receive depending on the type of service you are performing. For example, you’ll receive a breakdown of your weekend drill pay, annual training pay, and active-duty monthly amounts. The tool is also useful because it’s run by the Army National Guard itself. While we continue to work toward providing accurate, up-to-date information, things can change. Specifically, pay rates due to raises and economic factors such as inflation can affect a lot. You should also note that military pay is pretty standardized across the board. This means if you were to compare the Air National Guard salary and Army National Guard salary, you’d find that base pay is the same. Even as you go up by rank, your compensation is similar between them. There are, however, some discrepancies that can occur. For starters, pay may change if there is a specialized task. This may include special assignments during active duty. Furthermore, having a family can affect your pay, as well. Finally, while the National Guard’s responsibilities are dedicated to helping individual states, it should be noted that military compensation can increase when called to the battlefield. In recent years, warfare has, thankfully, kept itself away from our homeland, so, let’s hope it stays that way. National Guard salaries are only part of the equation when it comes to compensation. Many benefits come with joining. This includes both monetary and non-monetary benefits.

Breaking Down the Benefits of Joining the National Guard

Salary for National Guard members isn't the only thing to gain when joining the service. Let’s explore the many benefits of becoming a National Guardsmen:

• Assistance with education, which includes: tuition assistance, GI Bill benefits, student loan repayment, and various other benefits for education-related expenses.
• Healthcare benefits such as TRICARE and access to healthcare facilities specifically for the military community.
• Benefits for retirement pay once you become eligible after age 60.
• Life insurance policies.
• Career assistance, skill development, and meaningful experience within your field.
• A sense of pride in serving one’s country and community.

Who Pays National Guard Salary?

There is a mix of places from which funding comes for the National Guard; however, unlike other portions of the military, it primarily comes from that unit’s state or territory, which includes the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Basically, during full-time National Guard duty, Federal funding pays, and during state active duty, National Guard members are paid by state funds. Part-time duty is also paid by state funding. It’s a bit convoluted at times, and it can sometimes mean the same mission gets different pay for National Guard personnel. Overall, the duties of National Guardsmen can range, but no matter who is paying the National Guard salary, everyone benefits from their service. From domestic service and defense to missions abroad, the Guardsmen continue to help those in need and defend the United States.

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The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Photo by Staff Sgt. Colton Elliott 131st Bomb Wing