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
Edited 5 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 282
As a PFC I had $6.25 taken out every month to buy a savings bond. It took 3 months to get a $25 bond. After taxes my take home pay was $21 the 1st & 15th if the month, $42 per month take home.
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I think it was around $575 before tax. Got a pay raise for hazardous duty of $86 additional dollars per month.
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For those still in the service. If you have a SM whose family is below the poverty line, Finance can increase the pay to shrink the delta.
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When I joined the Air Force in 1959, the first pay that I received was what was known as the flying forty because when you entered the "Green Monster", got a haircut and bought what you needed, it was all nearly gone when you came out the other door. My regular pay as an Airman Basic was $73.00 a month. The most that I ever made as an A1C, serving overseas (62-63) was $172.00 a month. A1C in the AF then is now considered Sgt.
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As an E-1 in 1968 the pay was $95.70/month or about $42 take home every two weeks.
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