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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Good question, SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. When I joined up in June 1975, my gross basic pay as a PV2 was $383.40. I remember struggling when I got married in 1976. My pay wasn't much higher then.
http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/charts/historical-military-pay-rates.html
http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/charts/historical-military-pay-rates.html
The Defense Finance Accounting and Service (DFAS) maintains an archive of historical pay charts dating back to 1949. You may find it interesting to see how the current military pay compares to what servicemembers made in the past.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CW5 (Join to see) much respect to you and your era. Its hard to realize how it was then and now look at it now. I say I was blessed to make my Private Pay compared to your era. Thanks for sharing your introspective memories.---SWEET!
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I don't remember the exact ammount, but I do remember that I finally broke $200/month when I went to Viet Nam and received combat pay, no taxes and overseas pay.
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In 1971 I made $138.00 a month. I was rich. Gas was 29.9¢ a gallon and I drove a VW.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
MSgt Paul DAdamo Sweet- This is real detailed response, thanks for letting me know what gas was in 1971. I was only 1, then. To hear that makes me realize how much America has come as a strong economy.
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Oh my Gosh! I don't have a clue.
I went in 10 months delayed enlistment so I can have the job I wanted....a two yr degree...didn't have to go to text school because of the last two things and started out with more pay than most who just got out of basic....but I still don't have a clue how much I made back then.
I went in 10 months delayed enlistment so I can have the job I wanted....a two yr degree...didn't have to go to text school because of the last two things and started out with more pay than most who just got out of basic....but I still don't have a clue how much I made back then.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Sgt Kelli Mays Roger that, I figure that song was during your era, when you made all that BIG PAY! (LOL). Just kidding. Thanks for sharing! (ole school)
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SSG Keven Lahde
Sgt Kelli Mays SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I had to post this for the 2 of you. This works well for me.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SSG Keven Lahde Sgt Kelli Mays SWEET! HAVE A WONDERFUL LABOR DAY HOLIDAY!!
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I'm with SFC Everett Oliver bringing home the whopping $111 or thereabouts in the summer of '71. Funny thing is when I was E-2 aboard ship, there wasn't anything to spend money on so we would leave it on the books and get a "big" check when we got back to home port.
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ha ha ha. This is awesome. I took home 610.00 my first month, but I was an E2. I still have all my LES's from the day I joined. It amazes me how many Soldiers do not these days.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CSM Carl Cunningham roger that, back then my SGT made it a point to save your JUMP statements. I was going through the shed and found it and wanted to share. Your absolutely right about saving your pay-stubs. I remember the Soldiers of yester-years with that(James Bond) suit case and spit-shined Jump/Corcoran boots going to the cash cage. I cherish those days.
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CSM Carl Cunningham
Hey, how do you tag people in posts? I forgot how to do it, I have been away awhile.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CSM Carl Cunningham I am not sure, but this should get you going.
http://support.rallypoint.com/customer/portal/articles/search?q=tagging&b_id=4766
http://support.rallypoint.com/customer/portal/articles/search?q=tagging&b_id=4766
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Seems to me that it was about $93. At any rate it was less than $100. As as E5 I got about $300.
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It does not matter. Non of it does or make sense. Now that I am retired my wife takes all my money and dignity. I am relegated to being a domestic hussy.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
MAJ Ken Landgren I concur, I am in the same boat, thanks for keeping me honest.
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