What will you, or did you, earn in a year when leaving military service??

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:45:10 -0400

I ask as we sometimes see write-ups about how we earn more in the military with benefits, yet many people leave the service and make much more - and don't regret it at all! So I wonder, what does the mil-community believe about itself.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 4:53 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:53:31 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Sir, I was fortunate when I left the service. I was an operator at a chemical plant making 10 thousand a year in 1968. After I obtained my degree, I took a pay cut to start work on the Space Shuttle program.

Response by 1LT A. Uribe made Mar 31 at 2016 6:32 PM

1LT A. Uribe — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 18:32:48 -0400

I'm making close to 6 digit salary in the federal government. I actually have to pay taxes at the end of the year now.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 7:02 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 19:02:18 -0400

I actually earned less. It took me three years to find a decent paying job. And yes, I'm still looking for that second career.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 31 at 2016 8:03 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 20:03:07 -0400

When I was O-5/6 in the reserves, I noted that GS-14/15 was similar on the pay scale but then if you would roll BAH, not buying health care, etc., the MIL side would be better. But since I did reserves and civil service at the same time, my monthly overall income was better than a MIL standalone. Retirement results vary too but I've just leg wrestled a brake job on my son's car and don't feel inclined to do a net present value on the alternate future streams. Too many ways you can do it.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 10:06 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 22:06:39 -0400

I made significantly less when I left Active Duty. It was almost a year and half before I was equal again. Now if I was to take active orders with my guard unit I would take a significant pay cut. Now if I was to do a deployment to a place where someone was shooting at me I would break even.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Mar 31 at 2016 11:47 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 23:47:48 -0400

First job after retiring i was making around the same as Active Duty, because i was now paying more taxes, after having had WA State (no state tax) as my HOR during my career. Got laid off, then i contracted overseas almost 8 yrs for six figures.
Now after finishing contracting overseas i'm making less than on Active Duty. Now it's the wife's turn to be the main breadwinner. :)

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2016 1:41 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 01:41:29 -0400

I'm sure I'll earn less when I leave. I won't be able to walk into a captain's position in an airline on day one, so I'll have to take a first officer's gig, wait a couple years, take a pay cut to upgrade to captain, then wait a couple more years before the civilian pay starts looking better than military pay.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Apr 1 at 2016 11:31 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:31:43 -0400

This varies widely and really depends on a great many factors that include a person's education/experience/qualifications; location and willingness to move for the right job, promotions, etc; ability to land the "right" job; and a great many more.