How Much Were U.S. Troops Paid During Every American War?

Have you ever wondered how much a soldier made during World War II? Or the Persian Gulf War? Business Insider has a list of how much troops made in each conflict involving the U.S., both in their own currency and adjusted for inflation. The pay structure did change over time.

Revolutionary War: Privates earned $6 a month plus a bounty at the end of their service. That would be about $157.58 today. Congress couldn’t always make ends meet, so troops often went without pay.

War of 1812: At first, troops were making $5 a month, but that was raised to $8 at the end of 1812. This was in addition to bounties ranging from $31 and 160 acres of land to $124 and 320 acres of land.

Mexican-American War: Troops made $7 per month, which is $210.10 in 2016 dollars.

Civil War: Union privates in 1863 brought home $13 a month, so $237.51 in modern dollars. But Confederate privates had it a little worse at $11 a month.

Spanish-American War: Though Army private pay in the Spanish-American War was still $13 like it had been in the Civil War, thanks to a period of deflation, the purchasing power of that monthly salary was strengthened.

World War I: A private was entitled to $30 a month. This was the first war where, in addition to pay, soldiers could receive discounted life insurance as a benefit.

World War II: In 1944, privates serving in World War II made $50 a month, or $676.51 in 2016 dollars.

Korean War: The minimum pay in 1952 was $78 a month which would be $700.92 in 2016.

Vietnam War: Korean War and Vietnam War troops made the same amount of money at the lower ranks — except inflation over the years drove the real value of the wages down. New soldiers made $78 would have a salary that equates to $642.71 now, and those with over four months of service who pocketed $83.20 were receiving the equivalent of $685.56 in today’s dollars.

Persian Gulf War: Privates made $753.90 a month in basic pay unless they went to Iraq with less than four months of service. In that case, they got $697.20.

Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: Troops with less than four months of service received $1,064.70 a month, while seasoned vets made $1,150.80.