And figured out what he gets hourly. At about 50 hours a week at e3 pay rate (not going in early, staying late or pulling duty either) He makes $6.90. I knew it was bad but damn. They don't even make minimum wage. This is so ridiculous! 

Does that include BAH and BAS, just because it is tax free doesn't mean it isn't in his pay. 

Nope we didn't include the extras just off his pay. 

Yeah it does suck, but it is a lot more then when my husband was an E3, that was a total joke. 

How long ago was that? It's just crazy. People wonder why its so hard for military families and all the giveaways and stuff. We need it! 

It was about 10 years ago, lol. 

Geez I can't imagine what it was then. But then again 10 years ago I think minimum wage was $6.25 or so. At least I remember getting paid around that. 

His base pay was right at 1300 a month before taxes. 

I can't imagine raising a family on that. 

Its sad that our men get paid pennies and do SO much, and then dumb celebrities get paid ridiculous amounts... 

I don't think military pay is all that bad.

Add at least $12,000 per year to his salary for housing... which equals to about $4.16 per hour for a 60/hour work week

Now you're up to $10.90 an hour. And honestly BAH is probably much higher than $1000/month.

Now add all the other benefits, to include the Post 9-11 GI-BILL with that he can easily make over $40,000+ for housing, and have his education paid for which is about another $40,000+ for four years of schooling after he gets out.

There is $80,000 worth of benefits right there, just in schooling. 

Don't forget how much money you save having Tricare. 

It low yes and especially for California , but figure in BAH and How much you would usually pay monthly for medical with a civillian Job and you may feel a little better about it :) 

It low yes and especially for California , but figure in BAH and How much you would usually pay monthly for medical with a civillian Job and you may feel a little better about it :) 

Also factor in how much you save at tax time because BAH isnt taxed. An extra $21,000 a year would put us in a different tax bracket. 

What other type of job provides security and the means for so many spouses to be able to stay home? With BAH, BAS and SDP my husband brings home over 5K a month. How many men can provide for a family in the way our men can, most without a lick of college under their belt, before they hit 30? With a combination of take home pay, and all the other opportunities out there for utilize, our men are paid fair. You can never put a price on sacrificing your life, so no matter what their wage is, it will never be enough.

ETA: Keep in mind too that what we pay yearly for family medical care, is what civiliian insurance companies charge monthly. Not to add in the astronomical cost shares and deductibles. We save more than people would ever realize in medical care alone. 

We save more than people would ever realize in medical care alone. 

I couldnt agree more, my daughter ended up having surgery at walter reed that was 100% covered but if we went else where it would have put us out of pocket 100k or more. So grateful for our coverage. 

My mom raised 2 kids in a high cost of living area on less then my husband made as an e-4, I don't think its hard living on what my husband makes. Do we have to budget hard? Yes. But its possible. I understand all families may have certain financial stressors but with as steady of paychecks that our husbands get it really isn't that hard to live and even save for the unforseen circumstances. 

Well anyone who joins the military thinking they'll get rich is a few fries short of a happy meal anyhow...

When you add in the extras (BAH, COMRATS, DENTAL, MEDICAL...etc). and the most important JOB SECURITY...it pays the bills and puts food on the table. 

$22.50/hourly for this end when I did the math on my pay. Hubby's is a $25/hourly. Not bad.. 

I have to agree on the whole medical thing. One of my twins has had a lot of problems. With his surgeries and the week long stays in the niCU for the both of them...we guess that the "bill" would be EASY $500k or more. 

Hubby's is a $25/hourly. Not bad.. 

Nope, not bad. Hubs & I didn't do the math exactly, but figured it up roughly once -- & we're pretty happy with what he makes. *shrugs* I don't know of many jobs that will allow a family to live COMFORTABLY off one income like the military does.

I make about $45/hr & I have 8 years of education. Plus, LOTSA student debt. 

Nope, not bad. Hubs & I didn't do the math exactly, but figured it up roughly once -- & we're pretty happy with what he makes. *shrugs* I don't know of many jobs that will allow a family to live COMFORTABLY off one income like the military does. 
We're dual active duty, so yeah it has its perks. I'm done with this gun club next year, but I already have a job lined up that thankfully, has enough time and benefits to let me finish my second degree.

I went over my dads medical bills from when be had a bad bad incident happen at work ( he had to get plastic surgery to correct his lip from when it tore and never healed right, broken ribs, broken arm, shattered knuckle, and an ambulance ride) which WAS if he wasn't covered from his retirement in total of $50k+. Total he paid? $00.00. Whew.. 

I agree that the money my husband brings home isn't half bad. After 10 years of college I do well financially, but I am able to only work part time because I can sponge off my husband's benefits instead of needing my own. I do know, however, as a civil servant my dad made much more than my husband, even with bas and bah. I can kind of understand why that happens but I still think it's sad. 

in total of $50k+. Total he paid? $00.00. Whew.. 

Hubs & I stopped in OK City on the cross-country trip from NC a couple months back. I got sick (shock, I always get sick on "vacations") & ended up @ an Urgent Care & then CVS picking up prescriptions. There was a family of 4 in front of us, picking up meds. It was $120 for their daughter's asthma inhaler. & we paid $7 for a z-pack & steroids. Very humbling. 

Just my pregnancy alone (I saw specialists, had some surgeries) it was over $150k!

We paid I think $50 (I delivered @ a civilian hospital) was there for days, my husband & I got 3-4 amazing meals a day.

Just one of my medications was $700. $700! for ONE bottle!

Once they get to E-6 and up though, it gets better. 

Health care costs are insane! I am amazed at how much we charge people for a box of tissues or bathing supplies. Everything is more because it has to be ordered to specification through medical companies. Medication is an even bigger shock. Many of my patients are on Lovenox injections to prevent blood clots...and those twice a day shots can be $1200 each. I call it liquid gold. Whenever one of the needles malfunctions I am like omg what a waste. Thank goodness for Tricare. No matter how aggravating it can be, it will always be better than being self pay. 

THE pay is great however Marines are on call and Marines 24/7 so hourly rate would be calculated that way lol even cheaper than 6.90 an hour. But as the others stated we are compensated in so many other ways. 

My ex makes 22.24$ an hour as an e4 (that's based on the amount deposited into his account twice a month, so with BAH and after taxes)based on the average number of hours he works during the week. 

That's 5.27$ an hour if you consider him working 24 hours a day. It's really good pay.