Careers and Benefits
While military jobs vary in terms of responsibility, each is essential to accomplish the overall mission of defending our country. It’s also important to note that about 85 percent of these roles do not involve direct combat.
We invite you to explore these careers, learn about compensation and pay, and discover how the skills you learn in the Military can help prepare you for civilian employment afterward.
Explore this section
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Explore Careers
Get a complete picture of the skills, requirements and expectations of the many career options you’ll find in today’s Military.
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Career Stories
Learn about a military career from those who serve. These profiles offer a personal look at day-to-day life in a number of career fields
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Salary and Compensation
A full or part-time military career provides a comfortable lifestyle with pay that competes with most civilian careers.
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Employment Benefits
Generous health care, paid vacation, retirement savings plans and more — these are just some of the benefits of life in today’s Military.
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Employment After the Military
Not only can military service provide the foundation for a successful civilian career, but all service members also have access to resources that help with that transition.
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Common Questions About Careers and Benefits
Much like the wide range of jobs found in the civilian working world, the Military offers hundreds of rewarding opportunities across many different career fields. Visit Explore Careers to discover opportunities that match your interests and skill sets.
To hear from service members about their own career experiences in the Military, visit Career Stories.
First, candidates need to confirm the career field or Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) they want are available by working with the service enlistment counselor at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). Thousands of different jobs are available, but not in each Service. Jobs are assigned based on several factors:
- Current and anticipated military needs
- Individual career aspirations
- Individual skills and qualifications
- Results from the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB)
Potential recruits and parents should review the job categories in the careers section of this site and then discuss possible career paths with a recruiter.
The short answer is “yes.” However, many military jobs come with time commitments, so a service member might be obligated to remain in a specific career for the length of his or her contract. It is best to ask a recruiter for specifics, or, if already serving, to speak with the command career counselor.
Base Pay at each rank is the same across all Services, but many factors, including Special Pays, affect what a service member will actually earn.
For many service members, the Military serves as a foundation of skills and experience that translate into civilian careers. In addition to government programs that provide transition assistance, many organizations also provide employment resources and opportunities for those who are returning to civilian life.
