How Much Can I Earn from T-Bills in 2026?
Your T-Bill earnings depend on three things: how much you invest, the current rate, and how long you hold. This guide shows exactly what you earn at every common amount — from $1,000 to $1 million — so you can see the real numbers before you invest.
Current T-Bill Rates — April 2026
All examples below use a 4.5% discount rate — close to current auction results as of April 2026. Rates change every week, so check TreasuryDirect.gov for today's rate, then use our T-Bill Calculator for your exact numbers.
| Duration | Discount Rate | Investment Rate (BEY) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | ~4.3% | ~4.46% |
| 8-Week (56 days) | ~4.35% | ~4.50% |
| 13-Week (91 days) | ~4.4% | ~4.53% |
| 17-Week (119 days) | ~4.45% | ~4.60% |
| 26-Week (182 days) | ~4.5% | ~4.68% |
| 52-Week (364 days) | ~4.6% | ~4.83% |
How Much Can I Earn from $1,000 in T-Bills?
$1,000 is the practical minimum. The earnings are modest but guaranteed — and better than most savings accounts pay on the same amount.
| Duration | You Pay | Earnings | Investment Rate (BEY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $996.50 | $3.50 | ~4.58% |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $993.00 | $7.00 | ~4.59% |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $988.63 | $11.38 | ~4.62% |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $985.12 | $14.88 | ~4.63% |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $977.25 | $22.75 | ~4.67% |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $954.50 | $45.50 | ~4.78% |
How Much Can I Earn from $5,000 in T-Bills?
A popular starting amount for first-timers. A 6-month T-Bill earns $113.75 on $5,000 — more than most savings accounts on the same amount.
| Duration | You Pay | Earnings | Investment Rate (BEY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $4,982.50 | $17.50 | ~4.58% |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $4,965.00 | $35.00 | ~4.59% |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $4,943.13 | $56.88 | ~4.62% |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $4,925.62 | $74.38 | ~4.63% |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $4,886.25 | $113.75 | ~4.67% |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $4,772.50 | $227.50 | ~4.78% |
How Much Can I Earn from $10,000 in T-Bills?
The most common T-Bill investment amount. Fits neatly into laddering strategies and produces meaningful earnings from day one.
| Duration | You Pay | Earnings | Investment Rate (BEY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $9,965.00 | $35.00 | ~4.58% |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $9,930.00 | $70.00 | ~4.59% |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $9,886.25 | $113.75 | ~4.62% |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $9,851.25 | $148.75 | ~4.63% |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $9,772.50 | $227.50 | ~4.67% |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $9,545.00 | $455.00 | ~4.78% |
Gross = $227.50 Federal tax = $50.05 State tax = $0 (T-Bills are exempt)
You keep $177.45 — a CD with the same gross would lose another $30+ to California state tax.
Enter the current auction rate for precise numbers.
How Much Can I Earn from $25,000 in T-Bills?
A common amount for emergency fund overflow or short-term savings. A 26-week T-Bill earns $568.75 gross — more than most banks offer on the same amount.
| Duration | You Pay | Earnings | Investment Rate (BEY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $24,912.50 | $87.50 | ~4.58% |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $24,825.00 | $175.00 | ~4.59% |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $24,715.63 | $284.38 | ~4.62% |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $24,628.12 | $371.88 | ~4.63% |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $24,431.25 | $568.75 | ~4.67% |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $23,862.50 | $1,137.50 | ~4.78% |
How Much Can I Earn from $50,000 in T-Bills?
At $50,000 the earnings are real money. A 52-week T-Bill earns $2,275 — enough to cover a few months of expenses or fund a planned purchase. A ladder gives you regular cash flow throughout the year instead of one lump sum.
| Duration | You Pay | Earnings | Investment Rate (BEY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $49,825.00 | $175.00 | ~4.58% |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $49,650.00 | $350.00 | ~4.59% |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $49,431.25 | $568.75 | ~4.62% |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $49,256.25 | $743.75 | ~4.63% |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $48,862.50 | $1,137.50 | ~4.67% |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $47,725.00 | $2,275.00 | ~4.78% |
Split $50,000 across multiple T-Bills for regular monthly cash flow.
How Much Can I Earn from $100,000 in T-Bills?
At $100,000 the returns are substantial — $350 to $4,550 depending on duration. The state tax exemption also gets significant at this level: in California, it saves you roughly $302 on a 26-week T-Bill compared to a CD.
| Duration | Gross Earnings | After-Tax (22% fed) | After-Tax (32% fed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $350 | $273 | $238 |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $700 | $546 | $476 |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $1,138 | $887 | $773 |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $1,488 | $1,160 | $1,011 |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $2,275 | $1,774 | $1,547 |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $4,550 | $3,549 | $3,094 |
In California: a 26-week T-Bill saves you roughly $302 in state tax vs a CD. In New York: about $201 saved. In Texas or Florida: $0 saved — no state tax either way.
How Much Can I Earn from $250,000 in T-Bills?
$250,000 is exactly the FDIC insurance limit. If you have this much or more in a bank account, the amount above $250,000 is uninsured. T-Bills have no such cap — every dollar is backed directly by the U.S. government.
| Duration | Gross Earnings | After-Tax (22% fed) | After-Tax (37% fed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $875 | $682 | $551 |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $1,750 | $1,365 | $1,102 |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $2,844 | $2,218 | $1,792 |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $3,719 | $2,901 | $2,343 |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $5,688 | $4,436 | $3,583 |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $11,375 | $8,872 | $7,166 |
How Much Can I Earn from $500,000 in T-Bills?
$500,000 generates $11,375–$22,750 per year gross — or $947–$1,896 per month equivalent. At this level a rolling ladder is the standard approach: always have cash coming in while the rest keeps earning.
| Duration | Gross Earnings | After-Tax (22% fed) | After-Tax (37% fed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $1,750 | $1,365 | $1,102 |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $3,500 | $2,730 | $2,205 |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $5,688 | $4,436 | $3,583 |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $7,438 | $5,801 | $4,686 |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $11,375 | $8,872 | $7,166 |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $22,750 | $17,745 | $14,332 |
See how $500,000 grows when you keep rolling over T-Bills for 1–5 years.
How Much Can I Earn from $1 Million in T-Bills?
$1 million at 4.5% earns approximately $45,500 per year gross — or roughly $3,790 per month equivalent. After federal tax at the 37% bracket, take-home is about $28,665 per year. No state tax anywhere in the US.
| Duration | Gross Earnings | After-Tax (22% fed) | After-Tax (37% fed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Week (28 days) | $3,500 | $2,730 | $2,205 |
| 8-Week (56 days) | $7,000 | $5,460 | $4,410 |
| 13-Week (91 days) | $11,375 | $8,872 | $7,166 |
| 17-Week (119 days) | $14,875 | $11,602 | $9,371 |
| 26-Week (182 days) | $22,750 | $17,745 | $14,332 |
| 52-Week (364 days) | $45,500 | $35,490 | $28,665 |
T-Bill After-Tax Earnings by State
T-Bills skip state and local tax by federal law. This means after-tax earnings are the same whether you live in California or Texas — the state column only matters when comparing against a CD or savings account. Here is what $10,000 in a 26-week T-Bill earns after tax:
| State | State Tax Rate | Gross Earnings | After-Tax (22% fed) | After-Tax (32% fed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas / Florida | 0% | $227.50 | $177.45 | $154.70 |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% | $227.50 | $177.45 | $154.70 |
| New York | 8.82% | $227.50 | $177.45 | $154.70 |
| Oregon | 9.9% | $227.50 | $177.45 | $154.70 |
| California | 13.3% | $227.50 | $177.45 | $154.70 |
Because T-Bills are state-tax exempt everywhere. The advantage appears when you compare against a CD — a California investor in the 22% bracket needs a CD paying 5.85% just to match a 4.5% T-Bill after all taxes. Use the Break-Even Calculator to find your number.
Enter your exact bracket and state to see your personal after-tax yield.
How Much Do I Need to Earn $500/Month from T-Bills?
T-Bills do not pay monthly — they pay a lump sum at maturity. The only way to get near-monthly cash flow is a 4-week rolling ladder: buy four bills staggered one week apart, and one matures every week. Here is how much you need to invest for different income targets:
| Target per Maturity | At 4.0% | At 4.5% | At 5.0% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100/maturity | ~$32,000 | ~$29,000 | ~$26,000 |
| $250/maturity | ~$80,000 | ~$71,000 | ~$64,000 |
| $500/maturity | ~$161,000 | ~$143,000 | ~$129,000 |
| $1,000/maturity | ~$321,000 | ~$286,000 | ~$257,000 |
| $2,000/maturity | ~$643,000 | ~$571,000 | ~$514,000 |
| $5,000/maturity | ~$1,607,000 | ~$1,429,000 | ~$1,286,000 |
Build your personalized ladder and see exact monthly cash flow at current rates.
Related Calculators
Learn more: What Are Treasury Bills — Complete Guide · Are T-Bills Worth It? · Best T-Bill Duration Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much can I earn from $1,000 in T-Bills?
You can earn about $40 to $50 per year from $1,000 in T-Bills at current rates. The exact amount depends on the duration and auction rate.
How much can I earn from $10,000 in T-Bills?
You can earn around $450 per year from a $10,000 T-Bill at a 4.5% rate. A 6-month T-Bill earns about $227 over 182 days.
How much can I earn from $100,000 in T-Bills?
You can earn approximately $4,500 per year from $100,000 in T-Bills at current rates. After federal tax, take-home depends on your tax bracket.
How much can I earn from $1 million in T-Bills?
You can earn about $45,000 per year from $1 million in T-Bills at a 4.5% rate. After federal tax, take-home income depends on your tax bracket.
How much do I need to invest to earn $1,000 per month?
You need roughly $500,000 to earn about $1,000 per month from T-Bills at current rates. This assumes a ladder strategy to generate regular cash flow.
Do T-Bills pay monthly interest?
No, T-Bills do not pay monthly interest. They pay the full return at maturity, but you can create monthly cash flow using a ladder strategy.
Are T-Bill earnings taxable?
Yes, T-Bill earnings are taxed at the federal level but are exempt from state and local taxes. This makes them more tax-efficient than CDs or savings accounts.
Why are T-Bills better after tax than CDs?
T-Bills are better after tax because they are exempt from state and local taxes. CDs are fully taxable, which reduces your effective return.
How are T-Bill returns calculated?
T-Bill returns are calculated as the difference between the purchase price and face value. The yield is then annualized based on the investment period.
What affects how much I earn from T-Bills?
Your earnings depend on the investment amount, the current interest rate, and the duration of the T-Bill. Higher amounts and longer durations produce higher returns.