High-Earning Jobs for Military Veterans
Military service comes with great benefits and allowances and makes it difficult for some members who transition from active duty to civilian life. This is especially true for one-term enlistees but doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for them to make good money as civilians.
Often, skills and responsibilities that come with military service are readily transferable to civilian jobs. Folks in the military attain valuable skills in information technology and leadership, and jobs that require them typically pay well. Below are some of the most high-earning jobs for military veterans.
Information Technology Professional
The military is one the largest proponents of high-tech development, which means that most transitioning members leave services with a healthy amount of IT experience. The IT career field is growing exponentially, meaning there will be plenty of job opportunities for interested veterans. Yearly earnings for such opportunities can extend into a six-figure range with most starters’ salaries at about $70,000.
Engineer
Military vets are skilled at navigating the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields). The vast world of engineering offers more than 30 different degrees to address the world’s myriad issues. Some of the most popular types of engineering veterans are skilled with include:
- Aerospace
- Electrical
- Software
- Mechanical
- Automotive
- Chemical
- Biomedical
- Civil
An experienced engineer will earn closer to six figures yearly, and a starting salary for an engineer is $80,000.
Human Services Representative
Commercial corporations must function as a cohesive unit, and it is the job of the human services department to ensure employees understand their role in the team. Human resource representatives develop and enforce policies, hire and fire workers, and work hard to keep the corporation healthy. A starting salary for such positions is $60,000, with six figures for experienced individuals.
Skilled Tradesman
Adept tradesmen are becoming rare as younger generations flock to college to earn experiences and skills for white-collar jobs. This is an ultimate advantage as tradesmen will charge more for their services which most of the American public can’t complete themselves. There is a varied range of trades that needs committed laborers, creating opportunities for military vets such as:
- Auto and Truck Mechanics
- Construction Workers
- Heavy Equipment Operators
- Plumber
- Painter
- Steelworkers
- Electrician
- Carpenter
- Metal Fabricator
The salary of a tradesman depends on the location, trade, and season. They can earn $50,000 yearly, but a highly specialized tradesman can sometimes earn six figures or more.