how much do people in armed forces make on average?

[Zebo]

I used to work with some former Officers from U.S. Public Health Service, the branch no one seems to know about....They'd do 30 in there, and stay in county, retire as O6+ then come on board DOD/DOE @ gs13 or better and that time in service counted as federal retirement too. After about 60ish they were making 300K a year and not working and obviously a little more while working. Good gig wish I had thought of it sometime earlier but I didnt meet these gentlemen till I was about 31. If you have a bachelors, masters or PhD in sciences I'd seriously look into it since Jobs in hard sciences with only a BS are quite slim ATM.

 

[StageLeft]

Not much. Retirement sounds nice, though. IMO, the greatest drawback of being in the military is not safety or pay but the fact that you will miss vast swathes of your kids as they grow up. Having the luxury of being around mine as they grow, I would not trade it for multiples of what I make now. I cannot imagine going on a tour somewhere for 15 months and my two year old doesn't have the faintest clue who I am when I return. That is the biggest cost of military, it generally is an injurious influence on relationships.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
There's also the military PX, not having to pay taxes especially on tobacco and liquor makes them a lot cheaper.

I only considered the PX/BX a benefit before I actually went to one. Poor selection, poor prices, and the only way they can possibly compete is by touting the tax free aspect. Even then, the prices are merely mediocre and often still poor. AAFES (who runs the PX/BX system) is one of the most poorly managed organizations in existence. Seriously.

This. Heaven help you if you go to the PX/BX at a large base during the holidays. The Luke BX never opens more than 2 or 3 check out lanes and the cashiers make the Walmart cashiers look like speed demons. The Commissary has the worst produce anyway. I swear, they let the fruits and veggies sit in crates in the sun for a few days before putting them on the shelves.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Bateluer

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
There's also the military PX, not having to pay taxes especially on tobacco and liquor makes them a lot cheaper.

I only considered the PX/BX a benefit before I actually went to one. Poor selection, poor prices, and the only way they can possibly compete is by touting the tax free aspect. Even then, the prices are merely mediocre and often still poor. AAFES (who runs the PX/BX system) is one of the most poorly managed organizations in existence. Seriously.

This. Heaven help you if you go to the PX/BX at a large base during the holidays. The Luke BX never opens more than 2 or 3 check out lanes and the cashiers make the Walmart cashiers look like speed demons. The Commissary has the worst produce anyway. I swear, they let the fruits and veggies sit in crates in the sun for a few days before putting them on the shelves.

The problem with the Commissary and vegetables/fruit is that they get the last pick from the suppliers. At least that was the case overseas (had a talk with the manager), and I suspect it's the case in the States as well. Basically, the Commissary is not making a profit and has a captive audience (the blue hairs won't shop anywhere else) so they don't have much leverage with the suppliers.

Shop the Commissary for dry goods, frozen items, and meat. Go to the local grocery store (or farmers' market) for your veggies and fruit.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: looker001

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: looker001
Not as much as you will make in corp world.

But after a career in the military you can draw retirement pay and be able to work at a job you really enjoy.

Carrer in the military is consier about 20 years? Comparing the pay of corp world vs pay that you will earn in military don't even compare. Basically if you work your ass off same in the military as you would in corp world, you will likely be very rich in corp world while not making much in military. The retirement pay will not be able to balance it out. Basically if people are looking to join military for money, they are looking at the wrong job.

Enjoy working till you're 60 to maintain your fancy cars while I'll be done and retired at 45. Any work past that will be out of boredom.

My father in law is 70 and retired as a Major about 25 years ago. He is a frugal man and lives a very nice life on the water with his girlfriend, bulldog and boats.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Not too badly. My coworker is a capt. in the army w/ 3 years and was bringing in 73k per year. He took a pay cut to work at USPTO as a civilian.

3 years and a Capt?I wouldn't think that is possible.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Not too badly. My coworker is a capt. in the army w/ 3 years and was bringing in 73k per year. He took a pay cut to work at USPTO as a civilian.

3 years and a Capt?I wouldn't think that is possible.

I had a friend who entered as a Captain. He is a doctor, and the Army paid for his last 2 years of residency and he put in a couple of years in return.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Not too badly. My coworker is a capt. in the army w/ 3 years and was bringing in 73k per year. He took a pay cut to work at USPTO as a civilian.

3 years and a Capt?I wouldn't think that is possible.

It's pretty much the standard now. You have to REALLY fuck up to not make O3 in under 4 years.