Military Band salaries...

[danB]

Can anyone tell me what the DC bands pay for entering new members? I know of the benefits but am curious about the actual annual salary. Thanks.

D

[BVD Press]

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/2007payc ... sepay1.htm

[Mark N.]

Here's information more specific to DC bands. It includes allowances for housing and such so it is more true to what you see your first year in the band. There is little difference between the different DC service bands in regards to salary.

http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/career_i ... re/pay.htm

Mark

[Brassdad]

dan,

recommend sending a pm to Mark Thiele or Tom Holtz.
They can tell you about "other monies" that military band members get in the DC area.

[WoodSheddin]

about $3400 or so after taxes each month once you get your E-6. A bit more if you have a dependent. Goes up every few years on the pay chart and each year the entire chart generally goes up due to cost of living adjustments.

The taxable monies is different for service members so only your base pay, bonuses if any, and things like student loan repayments are taxable.

Also you get other perks like commissary privileges which saves a ton of money on groceries. Milk is $2.20 on post and $3.50 or so at a civilian grocery store. Gasoline is also generally cheaper on post.

Discounts on tickets to events. Autoshop, discounted childcare, free dental and medical and ridiculously cheap dental and medical for family members.

Adding up all the savings vs a civilian job and the salary, while already generous, stretches very far.

The only thing really holding back keeping all that extra money is all the extra cost of housing in DC. A single family house where I live starts at about $400,000. That is the cheapest. Figure out THAT mortgage.

[BVD Press]

there are also different rates if you are single or have dependents.

[WoodSheddin]

There is little difference between the different DC service bands in regards to salary.

Mark

There is zero difference.

[Scott C]

I believe you are correct that there are no SALARY differences
However, BAH rates are different. For example, the BAH rates for Ft Meade are significantly lower than for Ft Meyer. I guess that traffic costs more!!! : )


sc

[LoyalTubist]

Also take into understanding that some of the bands require basic training. The pay during that time is E-1.

[Chuck Jackson]

Also take into understanding that some of the bands require basic training. The pay during that time is E-1.

Nope. If you have 70+ hours of college you start at E-3. I don't think it has changed in the 22 years since I went to Basic.

Chuck

[LoyalTubist]

We aren't talking rank and file. I went in at E-3, too. But the Special Bandsmen go in at E-1. Ask them, don't go by your own experience. It's different!

When I was with the 298th Army Band, we had a clarinet player transfer from Pershing's Own. He started at E-1 and he was E-6 when he finished basic. He didn't have to go to the School of Music.

I got my E-3 by virtue of the fact that I played tuba, not because I was a college dropout with more than enough credits to graduate.

By the way. The MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) numbers changed a few years ago. Tuba Player is no longer 02F. It's now 42R, for Regular Bandsman. Special Bandsmen are 42S.

[WoodSheddin]

We aren't talking rank and file. I went in at E-3, too. But the Special Bandsmen go in at E-1. Ask them, don't go by your own experience. It's different!

When I was with the 298th Army Band, we had a clarinet player transfer from Pershing's Own. He started at E-1 and he was E-6 when he finished basic. He didn't have to go to the School of Music.

I got my E-3 by virtue of the fact that I played tuba, not because I was a college dropout with more than enough credits to graduate.

By the way. The MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) numbers changed a few years ago. Tuba Player is no longer 02F. It's now 42R, for Regular Bandsman. Special Bandsmen are 42S.

Most of us in The US Army Band at least went through basic as Specialists, E-4. That is the highest rank that I know of given to newly enlisted. This was not because of our jobs, but because most of us have college degrees.

After Basic Training we report directly to the band and do not have to attend the School of Music.

In the Army Band you get your E-6 after a few weeks in the band. In the Navy Band, my wife got her E-6 directly out of boot camp. I can't remember exactly what her rank was in boot camp. I think it was Seaman Recruit, E-1.

I think the MOS title might have changed yet again to Musician for the 42S.

[Mark N.]

There is little difference between the different DC service bands in regards to salary.

Mark

There is zero difference.

Yeah, I miswrote this...the salary is exactly the same. Some allowances may be a bit different depending if you are in DC or Fort Meade, etc...affecting your monthly paycheck. (At least back in the day) It was a minimal difference. I just wanted to point to the Marine website where it is laid out pretty well for those interested.

What I remember as a big difference was the student loan payback the Army offers. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can address this benefit.

Mark

[Cameron Gates]

Warning, this is long:

If your question is if an entry-level DC military band paycheck (E-6) is enough to live on, the answer is yes. Many people come to town and live only on this money. Buy a house? NO Rent a house or condo with others in the same band while making a car payment? Yes. Support your family (if you have one)? Yes.

Along with yearly cost of living increases military folks get increases in pay every two years. I also believe, although I could be wrong, that you get an increase directly upon hitting your 1 year mark. Also, when one gets promoted to E-7 and beyond their pay increases.

Taxes have a lot to do with your pay. As said above you do not get taxed on your housing money (this is over and above the regular pay). You only pay taxes on your regular pay (from the chart listed in the link). ALSO, since you have the option of remaining a resident of another state (or a state of your choosing) you may not pay state tax at all. For example, I am an Oregon resident living in Virginia working in DC and part time in Maryland. Oregon does not tax anything I make. Virginia only taxes me on money I make in my part time job in Maryland. Maryland is out of luck (ha ha liberals). Another huge plus for being a resident of a state like Oregon is that there is no sales tax there. I just love going into a local Virginia car dealer, making a deal, then when the paperwork is about finished bringing to their attention that the massive sales tax in the figures should be taken out due to the fact I am going to title it in my home state (again, with no sales tax). This really torques them off since they "bent over backwards" to get me that "low monthly payment". I guess that monthly payment will just be a little lower.

Sorry for the ramble, back on task:

Many DC area military musicians have money-making interests on the side. Several people in the band I'm in have very impressive studios, while others have regular part-time jobs in places stretching from music stores to bike shops as well as full time jobs teaching at local colleges. Granted, this makes you busy, but I would rather be busy than bored.

I know of no one that has gotten out of a DC band because they do not make enough. The money increases are predictable and generous, and the opportunities to make more on the outside are plentiful.

[Leland]

And, before anybody asks --

No, none of the travel counts towards your frequent flier mileage.

[Albertibass]

A single family house where I live starts at about $400,000. That is the cheapest. Figure out THAT mortgage.

up in the northwest anne arundel county area where i live (just south of baltimore) everything has gone up over the past few years. My parents bought there house here 8 years ago at $200,000 and now houses in our nieghborhood are going for $450,000-$500,000 starting out.