Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What did you make when you started your first job out of college or high school?

Had to look it up, as I really didn't remember.

In July of 1976 I earned $374 monthly as a Private E1, U.S. Army.

By the time I got to my permanent party base at Ft Bragg I was an E3, and remember living comfortably.

Consider that at my time at Ft McClellan in November 1976 I bought my first Remington 788 on sale for $89 at a hardware store just off post.. Regular price $99...

Not much, I ran away from college to join the army in1966. I spent 27 of 36 months in RVN which was a good savings program. When I got out I bought a new Roadrunner for cash. My next job paid $4.00/hour as a Lifeguard on Huntington Beach, Ca. best job ever.



mike r

In 1961 started a job at minimum wage - $1.25 per hr. - that was $40.00 per week.

I spent every dime on Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Maryann Brown.

Got up Monday and did it all over again, couldn't wait until Friday.

It's kind of a blur, but I think it was about $600/month as a 2nd Louie in flight school, 1969. That was high living back then. Like Pugs, I was young, had free room, my own car, and flew jets. (Also put in 16 tough hours a day with academics, PT, flying, and studying, all in Laredo Texas July heat.)

Correction: I misrememberized. Pay scale shows I got $386/mo plus flight pay, so about $430 a month.

$1.65 per hour in high school

I went in through the PLC program so we accrued longevity from the date we signed up, not the date of commissioning. First year I got paid as an O-1 over 4, it ticked off the academy guys that we were making more than them.

even at 60 hours, that has to be pretty good jack for '73 starting out.

IIRC, it was 78 bucks a month when I enlisted in the Air Force in 1958. Took a long time to get much better than that.

$1.85 an hour (union wage) as a bus boy in '67. But, made out quite well with tips (in my pocket).

1974, $12,000/yr. And that was with a masters degree and working six days a week every other week. Fun, but a lot of money in 1974.

First job in 1968 washing dishes in a restaurant $1.15 an hour. First job out of H.S. was as a construction laborer at $2.00 an hour.

I worked for a neighbor who was a plumber while in high school during the summers and on weekends. He offered to get me in the Union once I graduated and enrolled me in the apprenticeship through my Union. I started plumbing full time the day after I graduated high school. It was the 1st of June in 1995. Been doing it ever since! I think my starting wage was around $11 an hour plus my benefits. Apprenticeship through the Union was a 5yr program with raises every 6 months until I topped out @ Journeyman scale. In the 24yrs I’ve been doing it I’ve only worked for 3 contractors. 1st one eventually retired then I had a short 2 or 3yr period I worked for one and then went to my current employer where I’ve been for the past 10yrs. It’s been a good trade. Plenty of work! Never have missed any time over those years. It’s put a roof over my head and provided me with great benefits and hopefully a decent retirement that I can enjoy life a little after I’m done.

First job out of college i was an entry level accountant/analyst. 8.50 an hour if i recall correctly

More kids need to take this route! Well done

First college degree, 1967, $3.50/hr working for an Architect, Second college degree, 1970, $8.200 starting salary for a teacher.
Things over the past 50 years have gotten a whole lot better. :>)
That pay back in 67 allowed me to buy a brand new 67 Mustang Covert, 289 HP , 4 speed with 8 track stereo., $3,200 out the door

$2.65 an hour and one BIG noon meal on a farm. 1982 . I usually worked until November cleaning seed beans for the next year and worked for a carpenter in the winter. Started cleaning out the grain bins in march.

Did a bunch of odd carpentry jobs right out of HS to make a buck.83

$3.90/hr for my first plumbing/heating job in 84,knew the money sucked ,but also knew I needed to work.

You were lucky!

I hope the local you are in, is better than Local 68

I think I made about $1.80 per hour working on a road crew in 1966. That was my first full time job.