It depends a LOT on your spending habits. When I was a private, I would spend about 10% of my take-home pay, and save the rest. Of course, others called me "Squeak" for the noise my wallet made when it opened! Still, as a Corporal, I bought a house on a move that a Colonel sold, which isn't too bad. Other people were always broke.
When I was on my QL3 course (trade school), I met two girls who were friends, and both of whom at a Warrant Officer for a dad. On family had a very nice house, with good furniture, and all. The other had basically nothing, with a couch made of plywood on milk crate, and a TV on a box. However, they were building a huge sailboat, and that's where their money went. How much you save (if at all) depends a lot on how you spend - or, don't.
I was in for about 10 years and I saved (and invested) over $200,000. That included $20,000 Enlistment Bonus (before tax) and $60,000 Re-enlistment Bonus.(half was tax free and the other half got taxed).
Besides the Base Pay, BAH, & BAS, I (as an EOD Tech.) also received the Incentive Pays (SDAP, Jump Pay, Dive Pay, Demo Pay, and FLPP), and I saved all of them each month as well as the Sea Pay and IDP/HDP during the deployments.
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It depends a LOT on your spending habits. When I was a private, I would spend about 10% of my take-home pay, and save the rest. Of course, others called me "Squeak" for the noise my wallet made when it opened! Still, as a Corporal, I bought a house on a move that a Colonel sold, which isn't too bad. Other people were always broke.
When I was on my QL3 course (trade school), I met two girls who were friends, and both of whom at a Warrant Officer for a dad. On family had a very nice house, with good furniture, and all. The other had basically nothing, with a couch made of plywood on milk crate, and a TV on a box. However, they were building a huge sailboat, and that's where their money went. How much you save (if at all) depends a lot on how you spend - or, don't.
During the 3 yrs, 8 mos aboard the same ship,
I saved equal to 27-28k in today's $.
I was in for about 10 years and I saved (and invested) over $200,000. That included $20,000 Enlistment Bonus (before tax) and $60,000 Re-enlistment Bonus.(half was tax free and the other half got taxed).
Besides the Base Pay, BAH, & BAS, I (as an EOD Tech.) also received the Incentive Pays (SDAP, Jump Pay, Dive Pay, Demo Pay, and FLPP), and I saved all of them each month as well as the Sea Pay and IDP/HDP during the deployments.
That is up to you. If you live on base, eat in the chow hall, don't own a car and don't go clubbing you can save a lot.
Military Pay is not that much for first year enlistments.