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From military to civilian: Career options with projected fast growth that pay well

Ryan Farrell and Dustin Riles | November 2024

Members of the U.S. military sometimes face uncertainty as they prepare to transition to the civilian workforce. They may have questions such as:

• Which civilian occupation corresponds to my military job?

• Is employment in my potential occupation increasing?

• How much might I expect to earn?

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, around 200,000 servicemembers leave the military each year. Those who transition to employment in the civilian sector may want to find work that uses the experience and skills they gained during their military service.

Fortunately for these jobseekers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides employment projections, wage data, and other information to help ease the military-to-civilian adjustment. In fact, BLS has been creating resources to assist veterans entering the civilian workforce for 75 years: that’s when, and why, the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) got its start.

Each branch of the U.S. military has its own classification system for personnel assignments; these occupation codes include letters, numbers, or both, depending on the branch. For example, the Air Force uses Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) consisting of alternating numbers and letters. The Military Occupational Classification (MOC) system gathers the various codes into a single source, which maps to occupations from the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system through the O*NET MOC crosswalk.

This article highlights selected occupations in which employment is projected to grow faster than the 4-percent average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033 and the median annual wage was higher than the $48,060 median wage for all occupations in 2023. The 28 occupations shown in the tables are civilian counterparts to Air Force and Space Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy occupations. For purposes of this article, the occupations are grouped into business and mathematics, computer and information technology, healthcare, and “other” fields.

Keep in mind that the featured occupations are selected. Typically, there are multiple MOC code matches within and across military branches for civilian occupations. For example, every military branch has electricians who acquire skills during their service while installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting equipment. However, the MOC code provided in the table is for Army electricians only; the crosswalk matches to others.

Business and mathematics

For those who enjoy working with numbers, there are many business and financial and math occupations in the military that are comparable to civilian ones. For example, the U.S. Marine Corps occupation of statistics officer corresponds to the civilian occupation statisticians. (See table 1.)

Data scientists is expected to be the fastest growing math occupation, with projected employment growth of 36 percent from 2023 to 2033. In 2023, it also had the highest median annual wage ($108,020) of occupations in table 1. Serving as a data scientist software development officer in the Air Force or Space Force may prepare commissioned officers for working in the civilian counterpart occupation.

In table 1, management analysts is the occupation projected to have the most openings annually, on average (95,700), over the 2023–33 decade. Commissioned or warrant officers who served in the Navy as a management analysis and control officer may be able to transfer their skills.

Computer and information technology (IT)

Those who worked on computers or in information technology (IT) during their military service may discover plenty of civilian occupations to which their skills transfer. For example, the U.S. Navy occupation of data base management officer corresponds to the civilian occupation of database administrators. (See table 2.)

The fastest growing computer occupation is expected to be information security analysts, with employment projected to grow 33 percent from 2023 to 2033. Coast Guard commissioned officers may have gained the skills they need for this occupation while serving as a cyber.

Among the occupations in table 2, software developers is expected to have the most openings annually, on average (125,100), over the projections decade. Commissioned officers in the Air Force or Space Force who served as a software engineer software development officer have related experience.

The highest paid occupation in table 2 was database architects, with a median annual wage of $134,700 in 2023. Enlisted Marines who served as an intelligence data engineer may be able to transfer their skills to this civilian occupation.

Healthcare

Members of the military serve in a variety of healthcare roles, many of which have a civilian equivalent. For example, in the U.S. Navy, ultrasound technologist may correspond with the civilian occupation of diagnostic medical sonographers. (See table 3.)

Nurse practitioners is expected to be the third fastest growing of all occupations and the fastest growing healthcare occupation from 2023 to 2033, with employment projected to increase 46 percent over the decade. In the Army, commissioned officers may have acquired similar skills serving as a family nurse practitioner.

In table 3, registered nurses is the occupation projected to have the most openings annually, on average (194,500), over the 2023–33 decade. Nurses in the military are commissioned officers who complete a degree in their field and may have civilian work experience prior to joining. They gain military experience equivalent to that of a registered nurse by serving in a variety of nursing positions, such as public health nurse in the Army.

Physician assistants was the highest paid of the selected healthcare occupations, with a median annual wage of $130,020 in 2023. Like registered nurses, physician assistants in the military are commissioned officers who have education and, sometimes, civilian experience before joining. The direct-match title for Coast Guard officers is physician assistant.

Other fields

A variety of occupations in other fields—including engineering, management, and production—may be related to military service. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard’s information systems management may correspond with the civilian occupation of computer and information systems managers. (See table 4.)

Of the occupations in table 4, medical and health services managers is projected to be the fastest growing, with employment expected to increase 29 percent from 2023 to 2033. Commissioned officers in the Air Force or Space Force may have comparable experience from serving as a health services administrator.

In table 4, electricians is expected to have the most annual openings, on average, over the projections decade, with 80,200. Army enlisted personnel may have acquired a variety of electrician skills serving as an interior electrician.

Aerospace engineers, with a median annual wage of $130,720, was the highest paid occupation in table 4. Aeronautical engineers are commissioned officers in the Marine Corps who may be able to transition into the civilian occupation.

More information

Learn about the occupations highlighted in this article, as well as hundreds of others, in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). The OOH has information about what workers do, along with the occupation's employment, wages, job outlook, and more.

Visit the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) Transition Assistance Program for more information and resources about transitioning from military service to a civilian career. The U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge program also offers servicemembers the opportunity to gain civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during their last 180 days of service.