I was on a similar salary as a Rockape PO in 1965 MPN11. I remember one of our number in the mess who was a flight lieutenant casually mentioning he was now on £1,000 pa. We were so impressed
With the BIG pay rise in 1956, when an AC2 was given a 100% increase, I was in the Astra Cinema at Lindholme to hear the Station Master inform us that now, a W.O, in a technical trade, married and living out, was a £1,000/year man.
In the February I finished my Fitters Course having been an SAC on 11/- a day, became a J/T on 14/6, the April pay rise put me on 21/6 and by the August I was a Cpl on 24/6 a day. I forget what the stoppages for tax et al were, but I picked up £7 plus change every week.
As a single 19 year old, life was good.