Just to throw something into the mix here.
Many, MANY Nukes in the Navy have this overwhelming idea that as soon as they get hired on at a utility, their paycheck will skyrocket. To use an expression from many a infomercial, “Individual results may vary.”.
For comparison, I retired as an E-6 at 20 years. My “take home” pay was around $2700 every 2 weeks, so ~ $5400 per month. Included in that sum was $325 for BAS (my ship was in yards, galley not available) and $1752 for BAH. I point that out because those items are untaxed income.
ALL of my income is now taxed.
Plus, many sailors are shielded from paying state taxes by not being stationed in their home states or by being from states that don’t have a state income tax. Since I moved to SC, which DOES have a state income tax, that is an extra deduction I did not have before.
Everything settled out and I am comfortable now, after 3 months, with what I make. No deployments, seeing my family ever day, choosing what I wear to work (laugh if you want to, many people know what I’m talking about), not sleeping in a rack, etc. All of these things contribute to “the decision”.
Describe what you do in plain English. Focus on what you do, operating equipment, oversight of maintenance, day-to-day leadership, etc. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel.
Hopefully this isn’t just rambling and that something helps. Thanks for your service and best of luck
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