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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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I don't remember how much I made, but I remember standing in the pay lines to get cash lol. In one notable instance, we were being paid in a compartment a couple of decks above a missile magazine, where an inspection found material dripping from some missiles (it was assumed to be nitro, iirc), and that pay line cleared as fast as I've ever seen it!
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I don't recall how much it was for a Private E-1 in January of 1982, but it seemed like a lot to me. If I learned one thing in the Army, it was to manage my money well. It was not enough to get into much trouble, just enough to keep me happy. They fed me, housed me, employed me, and took the time to teach my rock of a brain a thing or two. I learned that You Can Be All You Can Be. It was fun, challenging, adventurous and I got paid to do it. I loved it and will miss it my entir life. Yes it is a Young Mans Army. As a grown up now, I save most of my earnings for my retirement years. The Army taught me well :)
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In Jul 69 I made about 450/mo after taxes. That included 386 base pay, 100 flight pay, and housing allowance. It was a big step up from $1.25/hr or about $120/mo after taxes I made working part time while in college. And we had 2 kids!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
RADM Jay Yakeley thanks for sharing from a Officer side. Appreciate your service.
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I still have almost all of my LES's from when I was in. I know, I know, why do I keep such things. Well, this thread is the reason. Someone asked and I can answer it exactly.
I received my first LES as a private in the Marine Corps in October 1981 (I went active on Sept 25 1981). My base pay was $551.40 for the month. Since I was still in boot camp at the time they were still deducting for uniforms and basic issue and the like. I still owed the Corps $138.26. Yes, we started out in the hole owing them money. After uniforms, taxes and SGLI I pocketed $327.47.
Of course I didn't see any money until graduating from Parris Island. That is when they explained all of the deductions for uniforms and initial issue etc. I must have looked confused.
I received my first LES as a private in the Marine Corps in October 1981 (I went active on Sept 25 1981). My base pay was $551.40 for the month. Since I was still in boot camp at the time they were still deducting for uniforms and basic issue and the like. I still owed the Corps $138.26. Yes, we started out in the hole owing them money. After uniforms, taxes and SGLI I pocketed $327.47.
Of course I didn't see any money until graduating from Parris Island. That is when they explained all of the deductions for uniforms and initial issue etc. I must have looked confused.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Cpl Jeff N. FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, I appreciate hearing stories from the 1980s and earlier, I looked up to all the VETS during that era. It makes me stay humble knowing I MADE MORE MONEY IN 1989 than in 1990 looking at my Social Security statement. The memories and times are priceless brother!
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After reading the posts here I must have been paid les than I remembered. Maybe my $85 was after basic and promotion to E-2?
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Capt (Join to see)
Sep 1960 to May 1975. Reserve 1978 to 1986.
My claim to fame was holding 10 ranks. 11 if you count the retired Army rank separate from the Air Force.
My claim to fame was holding 10 ranks. 11 if you count the retired Army rank separate from the Air Force.
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as an E1 in basic training, I brought home just over 400 bucks a month, but they wouldn't let us keep very much cash on us. It was either send it home or travelers checks.. that was in 1992.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC (Join to see) thanks for telling it like it was back in the early 1990s.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL - No problem, just glad I didn't have a family to support back then.. Would have been rough but I made enough for beer and smokes.. what else does a private need?
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC (Join to see) Roger that, GET PAID ON FRIDAY AND BROKE ON MONDAY! How does that happen???
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I do not have my LES any longer, but after taxes etc., my take home was $417.14 as an E-1 in 1987.
For those of you who maybe do not remember what the gross pay was during your time, you can see the history of the pay rates here:
http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/charts/historical-military-pay-rates.html
For those of you who maybe do not remember what the gross pay was during your time, you can see the history of the pay rates here:
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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In 1985 as an E1 in the Army my Gross pay was $573.60 a month so I probably took home about $350 a month I would guess.
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