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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I joined the US Army in June, 1959 as a 17 year old out of high school, as a recruit E - 1 the pay was $77.00 per month before taxex
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RADM Jay Yakeley
I was paid $200.00/month as an O-1 in 1970. Best times ever were in the Cubi O'club during our Vietnam deployments
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$132.00 and I still managed to buy drinks for everyone at the bar......that was a long time ago though.
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through boot camp I was making about 350 a month, sent it all home and dont think I ever saw it again
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I think my first JUMPS statement was about $30 more in 91'. It's hard to remember that far back.
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My pay as an E1 was $1105.50. That is crazy i make 100 dollars more then that a month as an apprentice now ahahah so sad.
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I was a PFC in the Army in 1982 and apparently made $642.60 a month until I graduated jump school and got an extra $90.00 a month for jump pay. I was richer than I could imagine.
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