Enlisted Wages/Cost of Living in the U.S., 1940's

MadMike · 04-26-07, 10:07 PM

Thought this would be an interesting comparison regarding wages of yesteryear and today-

What Things Cost in 1940:

Car: $800

Gasoline: 18 cents/gal
House: $6,550
Bread: 8 cents/loaf

Milk: 34 cents/gal

Postage Stamp: 3 cents
Stock Market: 131
Average Annual Salary: $1,900
Minimum Wage: 30 cents per hour

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1940%20QF.htm

(you can access other years from the above link)

Enlisted Mens' Pay Grades

Pay grades shown below were the basic pay per month for each indicated grade, as established in 1942.

GradePay per MonthClass or Rating
1 $138 Chief petty officers, permanent appointment.
1A $126 Chief petty officers, acting appointment.
2 $114 Petty officers, first class.
3 $96 Petty officers, second class.
4 $78Petty officers, third class.
5 $66Nonrated men, first class.
6 $54 Nonrated men, second class.
7 $50Apprentice seamen.

Men could receive additional pay in some circumstances:

Men on duty where quarters or rations were not furnished were granted a daily allowance of $2.75 to $5.00 a day, depending on their station.
For awards of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross or Navy Cross, $2.00 per month was added to the man's pay.
For each three years of service, base pay increased 3%, to a maximum of a 50% increase.
After one year's service, a $35.00 clothing allowance was granted, paid in quarterly installments of $8.75.

Now, what's it all mean in today's terms?

Cost of Living Calculator- http://www.lamartin.com/ASP/cost_of_living/cost.asp

Yours, Mike

04-26-07, 10:07 PM	#1
MadMike Watch Officer Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 342 Downloads: 241 Uploads: 0	Enlisted Wages/Cost of Living in the U.S., 1940's Thought this would be an interesting comparison regarding wages of yesteryear and today- What Things Cost in 1940: Car: $800 Gasoline: 18 cents/gal House: $6,550 Bread: 8 cents/loaf Milk: 34 cents/gal Postage Stamp: 3 cents Stock Market: 131 Average Annual Salary: $1,900 Minimum Wage: 30 cents per hour http://www.tvhistory.tv/1940%20QF.htm (you can access other years from the above link) Enlisted Mens' Pay Grades Pay grades shown below were the basic pay per month for each indicated grade, as established in 1942. GradePay per MonthClass or Rating 1 $138 Chief petty officers, permanent appointment. 1A $126 Chief petty officers, acting appointment. 2 $114 Petty officers, first class. 3 $96 Petty officers, second class. 4 $78Petty officers, third class. 5 $66Nonrated men, first class. 6 $54 Nonrated men, second class. 7 $50Apprentice seamen. Men could receive additional pay in some circumstances: Men on duty where quarters or rations were not furnished were granted a daily allowance of $2.75 to $5.00 a day, depending on their station. For awards of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross or Navy Cross, $2.00 per month was added to the man's pay. For each three years of service, base pay increased 3%, to a maximum of a 50% increase. After one year's service, a $35.00 clothing allowance was granted, paid in quarterly installments of $8.75. Now, what's it all mean in today's terms? Cost of Living Calculator- http://www.lamartin.com/ASP/cost_of_living/cost.asp Yours, Mike