Old Military Pay Charts

[Dan In Indiana]

Holy Mackeral Andy, I knew I was broke all the time when I went in back in '66, but now I think I was really poor compared to today's pay. Look for yourself.

Historical Military Pay Rates - Military Benefits - Military.com

OFC [really getting old]

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[John Sukey (Deceased)]

I do remember the $78.
Stepping up to the pay table, saluting, Pvt. so and so, reporting for pay SIR!
And that was once a month.

[Jim K]

And the pay was in $20 bills when possible. And the payroll officer was escorted by an armed guard when he picked up the pay and while he paid it out. Officers got paid by check, mailed to them.

I thought at that time that if I were going to counterfeit money, I would pass fake $20's in an army camp town on payday.

Jim

[JohnMOhio]

And to think $190 a month was a lot of money to spend at that time for personal items and or entertainment. If you were not a drinker or a card player, it went pretty far in 1963. I see the same pay grade and time in grade would be $1,900 a month. Consider room, board, medical already taken care of, $1,900 used wisely could also go far. Sending home a couple of Garands a month for instance and still have money left over.

[comm pogue]

well since most of us went to Viet Nam as PFCs, back then they could send a whole rifle company for what a PFC now makes: eek: Semper Fi al

[Former Cav]

I lived like a king in So. Korea in 65/6 on my 93 to 140 a month (PFC E-3 to Sp/4 E-4).
We got "overseas pay" which was something like 11 a month.
We also got NO clothing allowance as everything was DX (Direct Exchange).
I remember standing for an inspection and the "old man" would say "where is your class A hat soldier?"
my answer "it's in DX sir"
Kind of like "yosarian" in "catch 22". "it's in the laundry sir"
Bob

[Carl R]

Wow! I was making $392.40 a month as an E-5 while in Vietnam. I forget what "combat" pay was. That's the equivalent of $2,061 a month today. Carl

[smle-man]

And the pay was in $20 bills when possible. And the payroll officer was escorted by an armed guard when he picked up the pay and while he paid it out. Officers got paid by check, mailed to them.

I thought at that time that if I were going to counterfeit money, I would pass fake $20's in an army camp town on payday.

Jim

I had to pay in the field once at Graf in Germany late 70s. Had a field desk, stool, my .45 and PFC Snuffy with his M16A1. Drew the money from the finance section, counted it, and then set up for business. Each soldier stepped forward, saluted, stated his name and presented his ID card. I doled out the money, he counted it (no women soldiers in this group back then!) and then the next guy in line. I was worried that I would give someone too much but in the end it all came out correctly. Usually the troops got a check or direct deposit, only in the field were they paid in cash at that time.

I got $773/month plus extras (married) as a 2LT in 1978 and I thought we were rich!

[Bill F]

I believe combat pay was $55 a month in 69 or was that jump pay? Feeling older every day.

[Bolo Badge]

I remember pay call and what came after. Upon leaving you had to run the gaunlet (so to say) of every military association, charity, do-gooder activity, or debt collector known to man. My First Sergeant was old school and a strong supporter of AUS, NCOA, and especially the NCO Club. If you were an NCO and did not wish to "participate" in his pet projects you soon discovered the many ways a good First Sergeant could stimulate you to change your mind. I saved quite a bit of money when the Army began to pay enlisted soldiers by check.