How much would WW2 troops earn?
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/11/2014 (3954 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
In early November 1939, the Brandon Daily Sun printed pay scales for active soldiers about to head to the Second World War — noting that it was higher than it had been in the Great War.
Here is what soldiers earned per day, in that early winter of 1939, along with what the equivalent amounts would be in 2014, based on the Bank of Canada’s online Inflation Calculator.
Rank 1939 rate equivalent today
• Lieutenant-Colonel $10.00 $165.50
• Major $7.75 $128.25
• Captain $6.50 $107.50
• Lieutenant $5.00 $82.75
• Regimental sergeant-major $4.20 $69.50
• All other warrant officers,
Class 1 $3.90 $64.50
• Regimental quarter-master-sergeant,
staff quartermaster-sergeant,
quartermaster-sergeant $3.10 $51.50
• Squadron, battery or
company sergeant-major $3.00 $50
• Squadron, battery or company
quartermaster sergeant $2.50 $41.50
• Staff sergeant, sergeant $2.20 $36.50
• Lance-sergeant $1.90 $31.50
• Corporal or bombardier $1.70 $28
• Lance-corporal or
lance-bombardier $1.50 $25
• Trooper, sapper, gunner, driver, private,
trumpeter, bugler or drummer $1.30 $21.50
Special services, including medical and dental officers of some ranks, earned more:
Rank 1939 rate equivalent today
• Lieutenant-Colonel $11.00 $180
• Major $9.25 $155
• Captain $7.50 $125
• Lieutenant $5.00 $83
These rates didn’t include monthly allowances for dependents, nor any payments for the soldier’s food or clothing. A soldier with dependents had to issue at least 15 days’ salary a month to them.
Rank 1939 rate equivalent today
• Above major $60 $995
• Major $55 $910
• Captain $50 $830
• Lieutenant $45 $745
• Warrant officer, Class 1 $40 $660
• All other ranks $35 $580
Having children also brought an additional payment of $12 a month (the equivalent of about $200 today).
Officers were given $150 for clothing upon their appointment to active service, a one-time payment worth about $2,500 today. Enlisted men were issued uniforms.
Anyone not receiving rations was entitled to 50 cents a day (worth $8.25 today) and officers who weren’t living in camp could earn $1.70 (a little more than $28) to afford room and board. Non-officers were entitled to 85 cents (a little more than $14).
Pay was issued in cash on the 15th and last day of the month.
» Brandon Sun
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