Best Military Jobs: 9 great MOS options for wealth and happiness (that transfer to civilian jobs)

What Is the Best Job in The Military? The best military Jobs will help you build wealth and maintain happiness. They will also transfer to civilian jobs after you exit the military.
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The first thing you should look at when choosing your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in the military is what your dream career is. If you want to be a Doctor, then a medical MOS is probably the most logical. If you want to be a pilot, then an aviation MOS probably makes the most sense.
If you aren’t sure what your dream job is (I wasn’t), ask yourself what jobs look exciting? You can always exit the military and pursue another career if you end up disliking it.
You can also do what we call a lateral move, which means that after 3-4 years in your MOS, you can submit to go through a different MOS school and change your job.
As a recruiter it seemed that every male applicant, I talked to said “I think the infantry sounds pretty exciting!” I always made sure to let them know that the infantry is a rough job to have for a career.

That is totally fine, and the leadership skills will definitely set you up for success, but if you’re not 100% set on the infantry let’s look into some more technical MOS’s too.

In my opinion, the perfect MOS is one that you’ll enjoy, is exciting, and provides you with a transferable skill set.
Military Occupational Specialties

Logistics - Jobs in the logistics community will teach you very transferable skills, and still allow you plenty of opportunities for travel and adventure! There will always be a need for logistics in both the military and civilian workforce.

Aviation - When you hear the word ‘aviation’ you undoubtedly thought about the F-35 II Joint Strike Fighter, or a screaming into a compound to complete a raid. What you most likely didn’t think about is the MOS’s in support of these pilots.

Mechanic - Often viewed as a subset of the logistics and aviation fields, mechanics are responsible for maintaining all of our vehicles and aircraft. Without these service members, our ability to self-support would be diminished. How could we ever hope to carry out logistics or aviation missions if our transportation systems are broken?

Data and Communications- Data occupations have been around for years though and they cover everything from setting up our internet on deployments and monitoring our connectivity, to inputting cryptologic data into our communication systems.

Cyber - Cyber commands are one of the newest MOS options in the military. The cyber community is expanding at the cyclic rate (fast) and quickly proving themselves to be an important and technologically advanced MOS field. Not only are these occupations gaining speed in the military, but there is an extremely high demand for cyber-security employees in the civilian sector at the moment too.

Intel - The intelligence community has a lot of different jobs. They range from gathering and evaluating intelligence information (intel analysts) to counter-intelligence jobs that do all sorts of secret squirrel tasks.

Exchange/Storekeeper - These are smaller occupational fields, but a great way to gain experience working with retail shops, and sales. The exchange field is a little different depending on your branch of service, but they manage all of the base stores.

Military Police - this is a great occupation if you’re interested in a law enforcement career after you exit the military.

Medical - The medical field has a wealth of opportunities for you. Everything from working as a dental assistant to a full-blown dentist, or from a nurse to a physician, or even a highly specialized surgeon, is a possibility in the military. The Marine Corps doesn’t offer any medical jobs.
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Do your research on the best military jobs, and be as prepared as possible before choosing your MOS!
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My name is David Pere, I am an active-duty Marine, and have realized that service members and the working class use the phrase "I don't get paid enough" entirely too often. The reality is that most often our financial situation is self-inflicted. After having success with real estate investing, I started From Military to Millionaire to teach personal finance and real estate investing to service members and the working class. As a result, I have helped many of my readers increase their savings gap, and increase their chances of achieving financial freedom!
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[erickmclark]

I was a 35F (Intelligence Analyst) in the Army. Got out in 2015 and became a business analyst for 2.5 years, then became an IT PMO manager, then became a VP at a bank in 2019. Choosing my MOS was very important as I wanted to get a great job afterwards. I set myself up for success by going to school while in the military and studying while others went out and partied. I went in with a goal and executed.

[kanegrey]

My friend was a 68C and transitioned to RN in the civilian side then went to grad school became a nurse practitioner working in research making 186-223k annually. It’s insane, considering he was a high school dropout prior to going to nursing school.

[optimusprimum]

Big respect to anyone in logistics. I’d never want to do anything in that field but from my historical knowledge, logistics is what wins wars.

[bahijarhafiri]

What can i do? I am 58 years old and on the cusp of retirement. I have been incapacitated since 2009. My wife is retiring at the age of 53 in three months and my $750k portfolio is down to $492k. While we were both still in good health and could enjoy spending time outdoors doing the things we loved to do, we wanted to retire. Since our marriage of 29 years ago, we have been investing and saving money in anticipation of this. It's a good idea to get married to someone who shares your views on this. To retire earlier than your colleagues, you and your partner will need to work together. To your first point, I can definitely relate.

[boribori]

Logistics here, did almost 7 years in the Army, 2 years as a contractor and now I work for a well known aerospace company.

[culby]

Yes! When my daughter told me she wanted to join the military, I told her to research what MOS will give her the leg up for civilian life. She is in intel and went to DLI school along with TSI clearance. She now knows a highly sought after language but has the intel with it.

[apettit]

I have been a software engineer for 20+ years. While my MOS choice Army 11B infantryman didnt have any direct connection to my career, the leadership skills, management skills, time management, dealing with stress and challenges skills that I gained as an airborne infantryman really helped a lot in my civilian career....and had a lot of fun doing really cool things!

[derekrippee]

Don’t tell everyone that being in the infantry is all about sleeping in the cold and rain. We also slept in the rain when it was super hot and humid. It sucked all year round.

[Brent]

Navy nuke if you can score high enough. your life may suck because your stuck watching the reactor but after you go transfer to a civilian power plant and end up making 200k a year as a senior reactor operator.

[SLGreen]

This video is a freaking goldmine 💯💎💯 as a former 88N the opportunities are endless. To the newbies entering the military think 2-3 moves ahead when picking your mos

[msfkmsfk]

Yeah I used to be super committed and super sure that I wanted to be a special forces or infantry type MOS but after training so much these past couple months I am starting to change my mind.

Thank you for this video there is a lot of good information in here.

[howardg]

The first two were somewhat intertwined for me. I was a jet engine mechanic during my eight years in the Navy, and I was an Air Transportation Specialist (Logistician) in the Air Force. I retired from military service in 2012, but I gained a great civilian career with FedEx in 2005, while finishing my Bachelor's degree, studying Aviation Science. I live in Richfield, Minnesota, which is a suburb of Minneapolis. The Minneapolis/St. Paul area is a big logistical hub in the midwestern U.S. I feel I did great, but I am always up for more challenges, even at age 51. Life is meant to be lived, because that is how it is best enjoyed.

[NutzActual]

If you’re are looking into joining the military I do not recommend choosing a job based off of transition into the civilian sector (personal experience). I have spent 5 years in the Marine Corps doing a job that will transition into the civilian sector (avionics) which was a massive mistake because I found no enjoyment. Do something that you are genuinely INTERESTED in and have fun. Enjoy your enlistment. I have now lat moved into a career feel that I love and will do for the rest of my life.

[jackiechan]

I am a 15T, which is a Blackhawk Helicopter Repairer (mechanic). I highly recommend it for people that want to turn wrenches, and also if you want to fly as a crew chief. Our branch is way more chill than the others, we get the best officers and warrant officers and if you're lucky, you'll get a good trainer to teach you all the little things you need to know to fast track you into a senior maintainer role

[zacharyzero]

0612 field wireman/tactical switchboard operator. 2009-2017. My MOS was phased out while I was in skillbridge doing the Microsoft server and cloud academy. I cross trained with the 0651 data marines my whole second enlistment. Since I wasn’t getting the bonuses and promotions they were getting, I learned their job so I could make the pay they were getting in the civilian world. Before I got out they changed my job to a 0671. Now I design computer networks for navy ships.

[rossbabcock]

I was an avionics tech for 4 years in the Marines. I joined specifically for electronics. I got out and spent 35 years as a tech and loved it! FYI A 'lat move' in the Marines is ONCE in a CAREER. Expect the same job for 4 years.

[tookiezzz]

In 1979 I started with MOS 4063 -Marine Corps COBOL Programmer. Took that instruction in Quantico. Spent most of my time at MCAS El Toro. It Got me a good job in civilian life (now retired, civilian pension). It could not have worked out any better.

[hypoluxa]

I always tell HS kids that if they join make SURE to pick a job that translates to the civ sector. Mine did not (14J) but I never intended to do that. Did my 3 yrs & ETSd, got my GI Bill went to college and became a graphic designer. You make very valid MOS selections, definitely top MOS fields for the civ sector!

[Xavier-zdjq]

Cracking wee vid there. I'm looking to join to do Cyber Security within the army 🇬🇧 I did a year of college and I feel this is something I can learn whilst travelling about (apparently the signals go everywhere the army goes) and have a hoot doing it. Follow your passion guys!

[jackcarraway]

Honestly, companies value soft skills like time management, people skills, analytical skills, problem solving, etc. Hard skills can be taught.