Veteran Careers Without a Degree: 25 Civilian Jobs, What They Pay and How to Get In

IT Support Specialist

• $40,980Lowest 10% earned less
• $61,860Median pay
• $100,540Top 10% earned more

BLS, computer user support specialists, May 2025. Network support specialists earned a median of $76,220, with the top 10% above $127,780.

How to get in

1. CompTIA A+ first. It covers hardware, operating systems, troubleshooting and basic security, which is most of what a help desk ticket queue looks like.
2. CompTIA Network+ next. It moves you from desktop support toward network support, where BLS shows the higher median.
3. Set up a small lab at home. Reimage a laptop, join it to a domain, reset a password through Active Directory and write down what you did. Interviewers ask for stories like that.
4. Add CompTIA Security+ once you are working. It is the step from support into security or systems roles.

Timeline. Many people are interview ready after 2 to 4 months of steady study for A+.

What the work is

You fix what stops people from working. Account lockouts, broken printers, slow laptops, software installs and VPN problems. Network support specialists do the same for the network itself, testing connections and fixing outages.

Not for you if

You dislike repetition or talking people through problems on the phone. BLS also expects fewer user support jobs as chatbots take simple tickets, so treat this as a launch point, not a destination.

Degree reality. BLS says candidates may qualify with a high school diploma plus IT certifications. This is the most open door on the list.

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Cybersecurity Analyst

• $75,090Lowest 10% earned less
• $129,180Median pay
• $199,850Top 10% earned more

BLS, information security analysts, May 2025. Projected growth 21% from 2025 to 2035, one of the 20 fastest growing occupations BLS tracks.

How to get in

1. Get the networking base. If you did comms, signal or IT in uniform you may already have it. If not, start with CompTIA Network+.
2. Earn CompTIA Security+. Under DoD Manual 8140.03, each cyber work role has a foundational qualification, and Security+ is one of the most common ways contractors meet it. Many defense postings name it outright.
3. Practice on real tools. Build a home lab with a SIEM, capture traffic and write up an incident from start to finish. You should be able to explain one investigation you did yourself.
4. Pick a lane. CompTIA CySA+ for monitoring and incident response roles, CompTIA PenTest+ if you want to test systems for weaknesses.
5. Plan CISSP for later. ISC2 requires 5 years of cumulative paid work in 2 or more of its 8 domains. A related degree or an approved credential such as Security+ or CySA+ can cover 1 of those years. Pass before you qualify and you become an Associate of ISC2 with 6 years to earn the experience. CISM fits if you move into security management.

Timeline. Plan on 4 to 6 months to Security+ with lab work behind it if you are starting from networking basics.

What the work is

You watch for attacks, investigate alerts and close gaps before someone uses them. Depending on the role that means working in a security operations center, running vulnerability scans or proving the organization meets security requirements.

Not for you if

You want a job you can leave at the door every day. Incident response comes with on call shifts and pressure when something goes wrong.

Degree reality. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical and says employers may prefer certified candidates. Cleared veterans with Security+ and hands on experience get interviews without one, especially with defense contractors.

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Network and Systems Administrator

• $62,640Lowest 10% earned less
• $99,130Median pay
• $155,050Top 10% earned more

BLS, network and computer systems administrators, May 2025. BLS projects a 4% decline in jobs from 2025 to 2035, with about 13,400 openings a year from people leaving the field.

How to get in

1. CompTIA Network+ is the usual entry point if you have no IT credential yet.
2. Choose your environment. Cisco CCNA for network administration, CompTIA Server+ or CompTIA Linux+ for servers.
3. Add CompTIA Security+ if you want defense or government work, where many admin roles map to DoD 8140 work roles.
4. Build a lab with virtual machines, a domain controller, a firewall you configured and a backup you restored. Bring screenshots and notes to interviews.

Timeline. 4 to 6 months for the first certification and lab. Let real job postings in your area decide the second one.

What the work is

You keep servers, networks and user accounts running. Patching, access control, switch and firewall changes, backups and fixing outages. Cloud and security roles sit on top of these skills, which is why this job opens doors.

Not for you if

You want to work alone all day. Admins field requests from everyone, often when they are already frustrated.

Degree reality. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical, but many employers accept certifications plus experience. Military network and systems work counts.

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Cloud and DevOps Engineer

• $79,900Lowest 10% earned less
• $134,050Median pay
• $202,680Top 10% earned more

BLS has no separate cloud engineer category. We use computer network architects, the BLS group that designs networks and cloud infrastructure, May 2025. Projected growth 8% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Get comfortable with Linux and networking first. CompTIA Linux+ and CompTIA Network+ cover the base.
2. Pick one cloud and go deep. On AWS, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner then AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate. On Azure, Microsoft AZ-900 then the Azure Administrator path. CompTIA Cloud+ is a vendor neutral option.
3. Learn infrastructure as code and automation. Write the scripts that build your environment instead of clicking through a console.
4. Add containers. Certified Kubernetes Administrator once you can run a cluster on your own.
5. Ship a real project. Deploy an app, automate the deployment, break it on purpose and fix it. That project is your interview.

Timeline. 6 to 12 months is realistic, longer than cybersecurity because there is more to build.

What the work is

You build and run the infrastructure applications live on, then automate it so nobody does it by hand. Servers, networks, pipelines and monitoring.

Not for you if

You never want to be on call. When production breaks at night, someone answers, and early on that is often the newest engineer.

Degree reality. BLS lists a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of related experience as typical for network architects. Most people reach cloud engineering after a few years in systems or network roles.

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Data Analyst to Data Engineer

• $60,230Lowest 10% earned less
• $104,620Median pay
• $204,000Top 10% earned more

BLS has no separate data analyst figure. We use database administrators (lowest 10% under $60,230, median $104,620) and database architects (median $139,500, top 10% above $204,000), May 2025.

How to get in

1. Get very good at SQL. Almost every data interview tests it live.
2. Learn one reporting tool well. Microsoft PL-300 Power BI Data Analyst is the Power BI credential employers recognize. CompTIA Data+ is a vendor neutral option.
3. Add Python for cleaning and automating data work once your SQL is solid.
4. Build 3 or 4 projects with public data, start to finish, with a short write up. In this field your portfolio does a lot of the talking.
5. Move toward engineering with AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate. Engineers build the pipelines analysts use, and they are paid more.

Timeline. 4 to 8 months to an entry level analyst portfolio.

What the work is

You turn messy data into answers people can act on. Analysts write queries and build dashboards. Engineers build and maintain the systems that move and store the data.

Not for you if

You need to see something physical at the end of the day. A lot of this job is one hard problem on a screen for hours.

Degree reality. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for database roles. Portfolio and certification routes do work for analyst jobs, and military intelligence or logistics data work is relevant experience.

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IT Project Manager

• $61,580Lowest 10% earned less
• $102,320Median pay
• $167,970Top 10% earned more

BLS, project management specialists, May 2025. Projected growth 7% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Start with CompTIA Project+ or CAPM. Neither needs project experience. CAPM needs a high school diploma and 23 hours of project management education.
2. Document your military project work now. Write down dates, scope, budget, people and results for every operation, exercise or rollout you led. PMI asks for it later.
3. Earn PMP once you qualify. PMI asks for 60 months of experience leading projects with a high school diploma, 48 with an associate's degree or 36 with a bachelor's, all within the last 10 years, plus 35 hours of project management training. An active CAPM covers the training hours.
4. Add CompTIA Security+ if you want to run projects inside DoD cyber programs.

Timeline. 2 to 3 months for Project+ or CAPM. PMP follows once your documented hours add up.

What the work is

You own the plan. Scope, schedule, budget, risks and status for an IT rollout, migration or upgrade. If you planned and ran missions, the skill transfers.

Not for you if

You want to stay hands on with technology. Most of your week is meetings, plans and status reports.

Degree reality. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical, but PMI's own rules give a PMP path with a high school diploma. Military leadership often counts toward the experience.

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GRC and Cyber Compliance Analyst

• $48,220Lowest 10% earned less
• $80,730Median pay
• $133,720Top 10% earned more

BLS OEWS, compliance officers (SOC 13-1041), May 2025, from the BLS data API and O*NET. Security focused GRC roles often post under information security analyst titles, which carry a $129,180 median.

How to get in

1. Start with CompTIA Security+. It gives you the vocabulary and meets DoD 8140 needs for many roles.
2. Learn the frameworks defense work runs on. The Risk Management Framework in NIST SP 800-37, the controls in NIST SP 800-53 and NIST SP 800-171 for contractor networks.
3. Know CMMC. The program rule took effect December 16, 2024, and the DFARS rule that puts it into contracts began Phase 1 on November 10, 2025. Contractors need people who can prepare for assessments, and CMMC Certified Professional (CCP) is the entry credential for that work.
4. Add CISA or CRISC once you have the years. ISACA asks for 5 years of audit, control or security experience for CISA, with up to 3 years of waivers, and 3 years of risk and control experience for CRISC, with no waivers.

Timeline. 3 to 6 months to Security+ and a working knowledge of RMF.

What the work is

You prove the organization does what its security policies and contracts say. Writing and testing controls, collecting evidence, tracking findings and preparing for audits and assessments.

Not for you if

You want to spend your day on technical work. This job is mostly documents, interviews and evidence.

Degree reality. Many compliance postings ask for a bachelor's degree. Veterans who worked security, inspections or RMF packages in uniform often get hired on that experience.

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Industrial Security Specialist (FSO)

• $47,880Lowest 10% earned less
• $83,050Median pay
• $150,010Top 10% earned more

BLS OEWS, business operations specialists, all other (SOC 13-1199), May 2025. O*NET places security management specialists in this group. It is broad, so treat these figures as a rough guide.

How to get in

1. Know your clearance status. Check whether it is active or only eligible, because some employers will not sponsor a new investigation.
2. Take the free CDSE courses. The Center for Development of Security Excellence offers its Facility Security Officer curriculum online at no cost.
3. Plan for the Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) through the DoD SPeD program, usually within your first year on the job.
4. Learn the rulebook. The National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual is published as 32 CFR Part 117.

Timeline. You can start applying within weeks. The CDSE courses are the fastest credible line on your resume.

What the work is

You run the security program on the contractor side. Clearances, visit requests, insider threat training, classified storage and DCSA reviews.

Not for you if

You want hands on technical work. This job is records, process and inspections.

Degree reality. Clearance, experience and CDSE coursework usually matter more than a degree for entry roles.

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Satellite Operator

• $59,050Lowest 10% earned less
• $82,890Median pay
• $125,160Top 10% earned more

BLS has no satellite operator category. We use aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians, May 2025. Projected growth 12% from 2025 to 2035, partly from cheaper satellite launches.

How to get in

1. A clearance, usually Secret at minimum and often TS/SCI.
2. CompTIA Security+. Ground systems sit on DoD networks, so many postings ask for it.
3. CompTIA Network+ helps if you did not work space or SATCOM systems in uniform.
4. Expect months of paid crew training and certification on the employer's systems once you are hired.

Timeline. A few months to Security+ and applications, then employer crew certification.

What the work is

You monitor telemetry, send commands, run scheduled contacts and troubleshoot spacecraft and ground systems. Shifts rotate because satellites never stop.

Not for you if

You need regular hours or need to live in a specific place. These jobs cluster near a handful of bases and operations centers.

Degree reality. BLS lists an associate's degree as typical and notes some employers hire with a certificate or high school diploma. Space, SATCOM and cryptologic experience map directly.

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Technical Program Manager

• $107,550Lowest 10% earned less
• $175,140Median pay
• $297,510Top 10% earned more

BLS, computer and information systems managers, May 2025. Projected growth 16% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Get a technical job first. This is rarely an entry role. Most people start in systems, security or engineering and take on bigger projects.
2. Build project credentials along the way, CAPM early and PMP once you qualify.
3. Learn how programs are funded and reported in your sector, including contracts, earned value and executive briefings.
4. Keep CompTIA Security+ current if your programs touch DoD cyber roles.

Timeline. Years, not months. This is where an IT or project path leads.

What the work is

You run a program of several projects end to end. Scope, schedule, engineers, budget and reporting to executives. Leading people at scale in uniform is the closest preparation there is.

Not for you if

You want to stay technical. Most of your week is meetings and decisions, not keyboards.

Degree reality. BLS lists a bachelor's degree and 5 or more years of related experience as typical. Treat this as a destination after the roles above, not a first civilian job.

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Elevator Mechanic

• $59,270Lowest 10% earned less
• $109,910Median pay
• $158,890Top 10% earned more

BLS, elevator and escalator installers and repairers, May 2025. Projected growth 6% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Watch for your local to open applications. Many open only every year or two, so call and ask.
2. Prepare for the aptitude test and interview. Mechanical reasoning and math come up.
3. Complete the apprenticeship. BLS says nearly all elevator mechanics learn through one, and the industry program takes about four years.
4. Pass your state license where required. BLS says most states license this work.
5. Use Helmets to Hardhats to connect with locals as a veteran applicant.

Timeline. About four years to mechanic, paid the whole way.

What the work is

You install, repair and modernize elevators and escalators. Mechanical, electrical and control work in commercial buildings, with call outs and overtime.

Not for you if

Your back, knees or shoulders are already worn. The work is physical and in tight spaces.

Degree reality. High school diploma plus apprenticeship. No degree needed.

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Electrician

• $42,640Lowest 10% earned less
• $63,190Median pay
• $108,510Top 10% earned more

BLS, electricians, May 2025. Union scale varies a lot by local and region, so check your local's posted rates. Projected growth 9% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Find a registered apprenticeship on Apprenticeship.gov or contact your local joint apprenticeship committee.
2. Study for the aptitude test. Algebra and reading comprehension filter out unprepared applicants.
3. Complete the apprenticeship, typically four or five years of paid work plus classroom hours.
4. Pass your state or local journeyman license exam.
5. Ask whether the program is GI Bill approved. If it is, you can draw a housing payment on top of apprentice wages.

Timeline. Four to five years to journeyman, earning the whole time.

What the work is

Commercial, industrial and residential electrical work. Conduit, panels, controls and troubleshooting.

Not for you if

Physical wear is already a concern. The work involves ladders, crawl spaces and heavy lifting.

Degree reality. High school diploma plus apprenticeship. No degree needed.

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Longshore Worker

• $39Top base rate per hour, Oct 2024
• 62%Raise over the contract
• $63Top base rate per hour by 2030

The ILA master contract for East and Gulf Coast ports raises the top hourly base rate from $39 to $63 over six years, a 62% increase, running October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2030. Hours, seniority and local rules decide what any one worker earns.

International Longshoremen's Association and Reuters, February 2025. BLS does not publish a longshore figure. Its closest group, crane and tower operators, had a $68,080 median in May 2025.

How to get in

1. Get a TWIC card from TSA first. You need it for unescorted access to secure port areas.
2. Find out how your port hires. Many start new workers as casuals and move them up by hours and seniority.
3. Be ready to show up. Early on you work the shifts that are available, including nights and weekends.
4. Earn equipment qualifications once you are in. Crane and machine operators sit higher on the scale.

Timeline. Getting in depends on when your port opens hiring. Moving up takes years of hours.

What the work is

You load and unload ships, run cargo equipment and move containers through the terminal.

Not for you if

You need predictable hours or do not live near a major port.

Degree reality. No degree needed. Access, availability and seniority matter most.

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Building Automation Technician

• $40,050Lowest 10% earned less
• $61,010Median pay
• $95,210Top 10% earned more

BLS has no building automation category. We use heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers, the trade many controls technicians come from, May 2025. Projected growth 11% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Learn HVAC or electronics fundamentals through a community college certificate. EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants.
2. Get trained on a controls platform. Tridium Niagara is widely used, and manufacturers train you on their own systems after hire.
3. Add CompTIA Network+. Building systems now run over IP networks, and many technicians stall because they skip this.

Timeline. 6 to 12 months to be hireable.

What the work is

You program and troubleshoot the systems that run large buildings. Heating, cooling, lighting and access control, part laptop and part mechanical room.

Not for you if

You want to stay at a desk or stay in the field. This job switches between both all day.

Degree reality. BLS lists a postsecondary certificate as typical for HVACR. No degree needed.

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Field Service Technician

• $44,940Lowest 10% earned less
• $74,490Median pay
• $114,240Top 10% earned more

BLS, electrical and electronics installers and repairers, May 2025. Within the group, powerhouse, substation and relay repairers had a $103,020 median and commercial and industrial equipment repairers $74,090.

How to get in

1. Lead with your maintenance record. Aviation, electronics, nuclear, biomed and ground equipment maintainers get hired into these roles.
2. Add an electronics certification if your military paperwork does not clearly show the work.
3. Expect paid factory training on the employer's equipment once you are hired.

Timeline. You may be able to apply now if you have a maintenance background.

What the work is

You travel to customer sites and repair expensive equipment. Medical imaging, semiconductor tools, power systems and industrial controls.

Not for you if

You need to be home every night. Some roles are on the road half the time.

Degree reality. Training and experience matter more than a degree. Requirements vary by the equipment.

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Power Plant Operator

• $64,160Lowest 10% earned less
• $105,080Median pay
• $136,550Top 10% earned more

BLS, power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers, May 2025. Power plant operators had a $102,040 median and nuclear power reactor operators $122,890. BLS projects a 4% decline in jobs from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Study for the utility aptitude test. Many utilities screen with a standard test, and people fail it by walking in cold.
2. Apply directly to plant owners. Many of these jobs never reach the big job boards.
3. Start as an auxiliary operator and qualify up through each position with written exams and boards.
4. Nuclear plants require an NRC reactor operator license, earned after hire.

Timeline. Hired in weeks if you pass the test. One to two years to be fully qualified.

What the work is

You monitor and control generating equipment, do rounds, line up systems and respond to alarms. Navy nuclear and engineering ratings will find it familiar.

Not for you if

Rotating shifts and nights do not work for your life.

Degree reality. BLS lists a high school diploma as typical, with extensive on the job training.

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Refinery and Gas Plant Operator

• $57,110Lowest 10% earned less
• $96,710Median pay
• $115,880Top 10% earned more

BLS OEWS, petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators and gaugers (SOC 51-8093), May 2025. Gas plant operators (SOC 51-8092) had an $87,820 median.

How to get in

1. A process technology certificate or associate's degree from a community college is the standard route.
2. Get OSHA 30 and HAZWOPER training. They are short and show up in many postings.
3. Apply where the plants are. The Gulf Coast and the industrial Midwest have the most jobs.
4. Qualify up through operator grades after hire, with pay steps attached.

Timeline. About two years for a process technology degree, less if you have Navy engineering or industrial experience.

What the work is

You start up, run and shut down a processing unit, monitor the board and field equipment, and keep work safe during maintenance.

Not for you if

You want a desk and regular hours. This is shift work in a plant.

Degree reality. An associate's degree in process technology is common but not always required for veterans with engineering ratings.

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Wind Turbine Technician

• $49,230Lowest 10% earned less
• $64,120Median pay
• $92,460Top 10% earned more

BLS, wind turbine technicians, May 2025. Projected growth 30% from 2025 to 2035, fourth on the BLS list of fastest growing occupations.

How to get in

1. Complete a wind energy certificate at a technical school or community college. BLS lists a postsecondary certificate as typical.
2. Get Global Wind Organisation (GWO) Basic Safety Training. It covers working at heights, first aid, manual handling and fire awareness, and many employers ask for it.
3. Expect on the job training from your employer once hired.

Timeline. A certificate program usually runs under a year.

What the work is

You climb towers and keep turbines running. Inspections, electrical and mechanical repairs, and troubleshooting at height.

Not for you if

You dislike heights, cold or long drives. Wind farms are often remote, and you may travel for weeks.

Degree reality. Postsecondary certificate. No degree needed.

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Police Officer

• $48,160Lowest 10% earned less
• $77,310Median pay
• $121,600Top 10% earned more

BLS, police and detectives, May 2025. Patrol officers had a $76,210 median and detectives $93,790. Overtime and department pay scales move these numbers a lot.

How to get in

1. Compare departments before you apply. Pay, overtime and benefits differ widely between neighboring agencies.
2. Prepare for the written exam and fitness test. Both have published standards.
3. Expect a long background check, often with a polygraph and psychological evaluation.
4. Complete the academy, then field training with a training officer. BLS says most candidates must be at least 21.
5. Ask about GI Bill on the job training. VA lists law enforcement as an eligible field.

Timeline. Six months to a year from application to working, depending on the background check.

What the work is

Patrol, response, investigations and community work. The department you pick shapes your pay and your quality of life.

Not for you if

You want to leave shift work, call outs and high stress behind.

Degree reality. BLS says requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree, depending on the agency.

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Air Traffic Controller

• $78,420Lowest 10% earned less
• $148,080Median pay
• $215,610Top 10% earned more

BLS, air traffic controllers, May 2025. The FAA requires controllers to retire at 56.

How to get in

1. Check the age rule first. The FAA requires trainee applicants to be under 31. Former military controllers with 52 consecutive weeks of certified traffic separation within the last 5 years can apply up to age 35 under the experienced path.
2. Watch for announcements. They open on a schedule and can close fast.
3. Pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, a medical exam and a security investigation.
4. Complete the FAA Academy, then on the job training at your facility, which BLS says lasts more than 12 months.

Timeline. Several years from academy to fully certified.

What the work is

You keep aircraft safely separated. Intense, high stakes work that ends when your shift ends.

Not for you if

You are 31 or older and never controlled traffic in uniform. That age limit is the hardest gate on this list.

Degree reality. The FAA asks for a bachelor's degree, one year of progressively responsible work experience, or a mix of the two. Most veterans meet it with service time.

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Medical Device Sales

• $52,600Lowest 10% earned less
• $104,920Median pay
• $200,440Top 10% earned more

BLS, sales representatives of technical and scientific products, May 2025. Commission plans make the top end swing widely.

How to get in

1. Build clinical credibility first. Surgical technologist or radiologic technologist training and a few years in the OR or imaging get you known to the reps who hire.
2. Look for associate sales rep or clinical specialist openings, the entry rungs on the sales side.
3. Expect vendor credentialing with hospitals once you are a rep, including immunization records.

Timeline. Often 2 to 4 years when you come in through a clinical role.

What the work is

You support surgeons and hospital staff on the devices you sell, often in the room during procedures, and you carry a quota.

Not for you if

You need a fixed salary and a fixed schedule. Pay rides on commission and cases start early.

Degree reality. BLS says reps for scientific and technical products usually have a bachelor's degree. The clinical route is how many veterans get past that.

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Technical and Industrial Sales

• $73,870Lowest 10% earned less
• $124,900Median pay
• $195,270Top 10% earned more

BLS, sales engineers, May 2025.

How to get in

1. Start from what you maintained or operated. Selling equipment you know is the fastest route.
2. Take an inside sales, applications or customer support role at a manufacturer to learn the products and the buyers.
3. Add the product and industry certifications the employer values.

Timeline. One to three years from a support or inside role.

What the work is

You explain technical products to buyers, design solutions with engineers and close deals.

Not for you if

Rejection wears on you. Most deals are lost, and pay usually includes commission.

Degree reality. BLS says sales engineers typically have a bachelor's degree, but candidates without one sometimes qualify with sales and technical experience.

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Commercial and Airline Pilot

• $58,850Lowest 10% earned less
• $123,220Median pay
• $266,620Top 10% earned more

BLS, commercial pilots, May 2025. Airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers had a $232,140 median, with the lowest 10% under $106,710.

How to get in

1. If you flew in the military, your hours count. Former military pilots can qualify for a restricted airline transport pilot certificate with 750 hours instead of the standard 1,500.
2. Without military flying, earn private, instrument and commercial certificates at a flight school, then build hours as an instructor or charter pilot.
3. Check GI Bill rules before you enroll. Flight training is paid differently from classroom training.

Timeline. Two years or more from zero to airline hiring minimums.

What the work is

You fly people or cargo. Commercial pilots do charter, agricultural, tour and corporate flying. Airline pilots fly scheduled routes.

Not for you if

Time away from home is a dealbreaker. Seniority decides schedules early on.

Degree reality. BLS says airlines may prefer a bachelor's degree. Certificates and hours are the hard requirement.

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Logistician

• $50,890Lowest 10% earned less
• $82,320Median pay
• $133,160Top 10% earned more

BLS, logisticians, May 2025. Projected growth 18% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Translate your military logistics work into civilian terms. Supply chain, inventory, transportation and planning.
2. Look at defense contractors and federal logistics jobs on USAJOBS, where your military experience is easy to show.
3. Add a supply chain or project credential once you are working.

Timeline. You may qualify now if you did logistics in uniform.

What the work is

You plan how goods, equipment and people move, track inventory and fix bottlenecks.

Not for you if

You dislike spreadsheets, systems and constant change.

Degree reality. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical. Military logistics experience is often accepted in its place, especially by defense contractors.

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Distribution and Operations Manager

• $65,120Lowest 10% earned less
• $107,230Median pay
• $194,900Top 10% earned more

BLS, transportation, storage and distribution managers, May 2025. Projected growth 6% from 2025 to 2035.

How to get in

1. Apply to large distribution and fulfillment employers that run veteran hiring programs.
2. Lead with people leadership and metrics. Show the size of teams you led and the results you tracked.
3. Learn lean and safety basics. Short courses help you speak the language.

Timeline. Many veterans with leadership experience are hired straight into area manager roles.

What the work is

You run a shift or a building. Staffing, safety, throughput and hitting daily targets.

Not for you if

You do not want to be measured constantly. Everything in this job has a number on it.

Degree reality. BLS lists a high school diploma plus related work experience as typical. Some employers prefer a bachelor's degree.

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