cc licensed flickr photo shared by The U.S. Army
Having experience in the armed forces can be great boon for those who are looking for jobs in the technical sector. Military contractors are looking for technical-minded veterans who have security clearances or who just have experience in the way the military operates. The federal government also offers many opportunities for technical work, and veterans of the military receive a hiring preference for federal government positions. This makes it easy for veterans to rejoin the workforce in a career that they desire after finishing their tour of duty. Listed below are four great-paying stable careers for returning veterans who have some technical aptitude.
Adventures In Military Contracting
If you received a security clearance as part of your service, getting a job with a military contractor who works with classified information is a great way to make a lot of money. The procedure for vetting civilian hires and obtaining security clearances for them costs companies quite a large amount of money, so if you already have a security clearance then your job application is much more appealing to military contractors.
Software Developer
With the increasing modernization of the military, many military contractors work developing software for the armed forces. Contractors who develop weapon systems for the military such as Lockheed Martin also require software developers to write programs that manage and drive these systems, so there are many positions available working as a software developer in the defense industry. Although the work can be challenging, it’s often very lucrative as well. Typical education requirements for software development positions are a four year degree in Computer Science or something roughly equivalent in teaching quantitative reasoning, like Mathematics.
Network Security Engineer
The rise of cyber warfare has led to the increased necessity of hiring network security engineers to secure networks containing classified information. Jobs in this field are both exciting and fulfilling, as you are well-compensated for your time and you know that you are protecting vital classified data from foreign agents. Most network security positions will require a four year degree in Information Technology or Information Security.
For Those Who Don’t Want To Sit Behind A Desk
After having just finished a tour in the military, you may not be too excited to resign yourself to a career spent sitting in a cubicle — no matter how important your work may be to national defense. Thankfully, there are jobs out there for technical-minded veterans that will keep you traveling the world, often placing you in the field in remote locations.
Field Geologist
Although most people groan when they think of a career as a geologist, working as a field geologist is definitely not about just cataloging rocks. This job will see you going out to different parts of the world taking soil samples and repairing equipment. The best-paying and probably most exciting jobs for field geologists are in the energy sector working for oil companies; you’ll be traveling to prospective drill sites examining soil conditions and estimating oil reserves. Education requirements for a position like this include a four year degree in Geology; for a more sure fit, some universities offer courses in the field of Petroleum Geology which will help to land a job at an energy company.
Oceanographer
For those of you who don’t want to leave the sea behind, becoming an oceanographer is a great way to put technical and quantitative skills to use while spending a lot of time on the oceans. Oceanographers often spend a lot of time in the field taking measurements with high-tech equipment, tracking patterns in current, water temperature and marine life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hires oceanographers; being part of the federal government, it gives preference to veterans in its hiring process. A four year degree in Oceanography fulfills educations requirements for this position.
Kelsey Prichard is a career coach and test author at Online Military Education, a site with information and guides to top-rated colleges for GI Bill and military education.