<prompt> Human: Im leaving the army here in the next half year, as an E-5 was making just over 29.5K a year. I was figuring on 30 - 35K a year being enough, but as I browse rpersonalfinance Im seeing a lot of posts where people are struggling with 50K a year. I know it depends on the job I can get obviously, but Im trying to ballpark what a decent yearly wage would be to live on. Any and all advice is welcome.Edit: Thanks to everyone who commented. The websites are awesome and you guys brought up a fair number of things I didnt think about. I appreciate it.  <response>: 30-35K is low.I separated in August as an E-5 too. We made about 30K per year on the papers you submitted to the IRS. Your BAH and BAS are NOT taxable, and therefore dont show up as incomeI made 30K before joining the Air Force, and I remember it being about an 850 pay check after taxes. So youre essentially cutting your income in half by accepting a 35k job. Theres also insurance and life insurance you are now picking up the bill for, and its much more expensive out here.Check out this calculator: It tells you what you need to make as a civilian in order to break even. As an E5, its going to be closer to 60k. 