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
Posted in these groups: 
Money
Military Pay
Money Military Pay
Edited 5 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 282
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My base pay was $288 as an E1 in 1972. I had a wife and 2 kids when drafted so I also received allowances of $105 and $245
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CW4 Craig Urban sounds like some outstanding pay right there.
Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack CardwellCOL Mikel J. Burroughs CPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Lt Col Charlie Brown PO1 H Gene Lawrence Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SCPO Morris Ramsey TSgt Joe C. PVT Mark Zehner LTC (Join to see) Capt Dwayne Conyers PO1 Tony Holland PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Sgt (Join to see)
Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack CardwellCOL Mikel J. Burroughs CPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Lt Col Charlie Brown PO1 H Gene Lawrence Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SCPO Morris Ramsey TSgt Joe C. PVT Mark Zehner LTC (Join to see) Capt Dwayne Conyers PO1 Tony Holland PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Sgt (Join to see)
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In 1967 as an E-2 right out of boot camp, my pay was $64 a month......Whether I needed it or NOT!!!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CWO3 Dennis M. my goodness taking it back to 1967 military pay, wow humble beginnings for sure my friend. Thank you for sharing. Wow....
Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack CardwellCOL Mikel J. Burroughs CPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Lt Col Charlie Brown PO1 H Gene Lawrence Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SCPO Morris Ramsey TSgt Joe C. PVT Mark Zehner LTC (Join to see) Capt Dwayne Conyers PO1 Tony Holland PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Sgt (Join to see)
Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack CardwellCOL Mikel J. Burroughs CPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Lt Col Charlie Brown PO1 H Gene Lawrence Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SCPO Morris Ramsey TSgt Joe C. PVT Mark Zehner LTC (Join to see) Capt Dwayne Conyers PO1 Tony Holland PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Sgt (Join to see)
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If I remember correctly...When I was drafted and entered the Army in Aug 1971 as a E-1 I was making $99.00 a month
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I have a copy of my W-2 in a box somewhere and my last full year in the Navy I was an E-4 in 1970 and my pay that year was $3000. I’m pretty sure I’m remembering that correctly.
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Still have my first pay voucher for Jan 1970. The base pay for E-1 was $124.00. That was plenty for a single 17 year old. 3 hots, a cot, and new clothes were a bonus.
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I started out in ‘75 at USMA with half pay of a 2LT which netted about $258 a month as I recall. Out of that we had to pay for our uniforms, books, and other academic supplies. Given that there were over a dozen different uniforms (much more expensive than active duty equivalents) plus items like overcoats in two lengths, four distinct covers, etc, it took forever to pay it all off. They did split it up into two accounts, one of which you actually had access to and that was enough for you to afford about a couple of servings of ice cream from Boodlers on the weekends (or so it seemed.)
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Interesting... $669 Gross for mine back in 1990. Spoke with my father. His was $79 back in 1967. He volunteered for Vietnam just for the combat $150 pay to bring it up to the $229! What an incentive - combat pay being higher than base pay...
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