Posted on Sep 5, 2015
How Much Did You Get Paid When You Joined The Military? My Take Home Pay Was $457 a Month as a (Army) Private in 1990?
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How much did you make when you joined the military? Back then I got paid on FRIDAY AND BROKE ON MONDAY!! (was not making too much-no family but me, myself and I). Times have changed since the days of your era. Who remembers the Green JUMPs Statement?(DA 3681-6) and getting once a month pay out the finance cage. Yes you had to salute the payroll officer. I remember in Basic Training getting American Travels checks and the Senior Drill Sergeant/1SG keeping it in a safe. Getting once a month pay(cold hard cash), this was before surepay, it was known as casual pay before direct deposit kicked in before the internet. I am referring to 1989-1990. Much respect to all the Army Veterans (Private Pay) who got $75 dollars a month in 1949. The Private in 2015 makes about $1430 a month(under 4 months). Use the link below if you served in the DOD since 1949.
http://www.militarypay.com/MilitaryPayCharts.php
http://www.militarypay.com/MilitaryPayCharts.php
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Edited 5 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 282
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I believe I do have my boot camp LES'. 1984 for me. Will have to remember to look at what I was making. I was a contract E2 through boot-camp though so will be different than a typical E1. All USMC.
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$658.20 a month before taxes and deductions. So, probably about $400 a month. Joined the Army in 1987 as an E-1 and 24 years later had earned $0.00 in bonuses at retirement.
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In 1999, as an E-3, I was getting $1117 a month. After taxes and biweekly split, I think it was roughly $734 a pay period. Of course, I was getting BAH on top of that as my then-wife was still living back home while I went through BMT. And yet my paycheck was still only 2nd highest in my dorm.
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As I recall, my takehome pay as an Airman First Class, living in the dorms, and eating at the Chow Hall, was just over $300 a month in 1983. FYI: In my civilian job the year prior to entering into service, I was pulling in $350 a month, with a free two bedroom apartment, and free cable TV.
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What a difference a few years make. I enlisted in '84. My first check pay day was $430...BEFORE TAXES.
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