You spent years learning a job the military way. You earned a code for it. Army calls it an MOS. Navy calls it a rating. Air Force uses AFSCs. Marines have their own MOS system too.

That code tells the military everything about what you can do. But when you separate, it tells a civilian hiring manager nothing. Not because your skills are worthless. Because the language is different.

I went through this myself. When I left the Navy as a Diver, my rating covered underwater welding, demolitions, salvage operations, and hyperbaric chamber operations. None of those words appeared in civilian job postings. I spent 1.5 years applying with zero callbacks before I figured out the translation problem.

This article breaks down how MOS codes, ratings, and AFSCs map to real civilian careers. I cover every branch with specific job titles, salary ranges from BLS data, and growth outlook. And I will show you BMR's free career crosswalk tool that does the translation for you in seconds.

What Does "Jobs by MOS" Actually Mean?

Every service member gets a code that describes their job. The Army and Marines use Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes. The Navy uses ratings and NECs. The Air Force uses Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs).

These codes are specific. Army 25B means Information Technology Specialist. Navy HM means Hospital Corpsman. Air Force 1N0 means Operations Intelligence Analyst. Each code maps to a set of duties, training, and qualifications.

The problem is that civilian employers do not use these codes. A recruiter at a tech company has never heard of 25B. A hospital HR department does not know what HM means. So when you put your raw MOS on a resume, the hiring manager skips right past it.

"Jobs by MOS" means finding civilian careers that use the same skills your military code trained you for. The trick is knowing what those careers are called on the outside. Once you know the civilian job titles, you can search for them, tailor your resume, and actually get interviews.

If you want a quick visual of how every MOS maps to civilian roles, check out our MOS to civilian job chart for all branches.

How Do Army MOS Codes Translate to Civilian Jobs?

The Army has hundreds of MOS codes. Some translate to civilian careers in obvious ways. Others take more creative thinking. Here are four common ones with real salary data.

25B: Information Technology Specialist

Army 25Bs handle network administration, troubleshooting, and system security. On the civilian side, this maps directly to IT Support Specialist, Network Administrator, or Systems Administrator roles.

The BLS reports a median salary of $59,660 per year for computer support specialists. Growth outlook is 6% through 2032. With a Security+ or CCNA certification, many 25Bs land jobs in the $65,000 to $85,000 range within their first year out.

68W: Combat Medic

68Ws are the backbone of Army medical care. Civilian equivalents include EMT, Paramedic, Medical Assistant, and Patient Care Technician. Some 68Ws use their GI Bill to bridge into nursing or physician assistant programs.

EMTs earn a median of $38,930 per year according to BLS data. But paramedics earn $49,000+, and those who complete RN programs jump to $86,070 median. The healthcare field is growing at 5% overall.

11B: Infantryman

This is the one everyone thinks has no civilian equivalent. That is wrong. 11Bs build leadership, risk assessment, team management, and crisis response skills. These translate to Security Manager, Law Enforcement Officer, Emergency Management Specialist, and Operations Supervisor roles.

Security managers earn a median of $62,110 per year. Police officers earn $74,910 median. Federal protective service officers with veterans preference can start at GS-7 or GS-9 levels.

88M: Motor Transport Operator

88Ms drive and maintain military vehicles, manage convoys, and handle logistics. Civilian matches include Commercial Truck Driver (CDL required), Fleet Manager, Logistics Coordinator, and Transportation Supervisor.

CDL truck drivers earn a median of $54,320 per year. Fleet managers and logistics coordinators earn $65,000 to $90,000 depending on the company. The trucking industry is short on drivers, so 88Ms with a clean record get hired fast.

For more Army-specific resume examples that show these translations in action, see our Army resume examples by MOS.

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What Civilian Jobs Match Navy Ratings?

The Navy uses ratings instead of MOS codes. Same concept, different name. Here are four ratings with strong civilian demand.

HM: Hospital Corpsman

HMs are the Navy equivalent of 68Ws. They work in clinics, hospitals, and with Marine units in the field. Civilian paths include EMT, Paramedic, Medical Assistant, Surgical Technologist, and Healthcare Administrator.

With additional certifications, HMs move into specialized roles. Surgical techs earn a median of $60,610. Healthcare administrators earn $110,680 median. The path depends on which certifications you pursue after separation.

IT: Information Systems Technician

Navy ITs manage shipboard networks, satellite communications, and cybersecurity systems. Civilian equivalents include Cybersecurity Analyst, Network Engineer, Cloud Administrator, and IT Project Manager.

Cybersecurity analysts earn a median of $120,360 per year according to BLS. This field is growing at 32% through 2032. That makes it one of the fastest-growing career paths for any veteran. See our guide on VA-approved coding bootcamps if you want to add to your IT credentials.

ND: Navy Diver

This is my rating, so I know this one well. Navy Divers do underwater welding, salvage, ship husbandry, and explosive ordnance disposal support. Civilian paths include Commercial Diver, Underwater Welder, Marine Construction Supervisor, and Offshore Safety Inspector.

Commercial divers earn a median of $61,530 per year. But specialized underwater welders and saturation divers can earn $100,000 to $200,000+ depending on the job. The work is dangerous but the pay reflects it.

OS: Operations Specialist

OSs track ships, aircraft, and contacts on radar. They manage tactical information and coordinate operations. Civilian matches include Air Traffic Controller, Intelligence Analyst, Operations Center Manager, and Logistics Analyst.

Air traffic controllers earn a median of $137,380 per year. The FAA actively recruits veterans for these roles. Intelligence analysts in the private sector earn $70,000 to $110,000 depending on clearance level and location.

Where Do Air Force and Marine Corps Jobs Lead?

The Air Force and Marine Corps round out the picture. Both branches have codes that map well to high-demand civilian fields.

Air Force 3D Series: Cyber and IT

The 3D career field covers everything from network operations (3D1X2) to cybersecurity (3D0X3). These AFSCs translate directly to Cybersecurity Engineer, Network Architect, Systems Administrator, and Cloud Security Specialist roles.

The salary range mirrors Navy IT roles. Cybersecurity engineers earn $100,000 to $140,000 in major metro areas. Many Air Force cyber professionals land federal GS-12 or GS-13 positions in the 2210 IT Management series right after separation. A CompTIA certification with the veteran discount can strengthen your application even further.

Air Force 2A Series: Aircraft Maintenance

2A maintainers keep fighter jets and transport aircraft flying. Civilian equivalents include Aviation Maintenance Technician, A&P Mechanic, Quality Assurance Inspector, and Maintenance Program Manager.

Aircraft mechanics earn a median of $75,400 per year. Airlines like Delta, United, and American actively recruit military maintainers. Defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman hire heavily from this group too.

Marine 0311: Rifleman

Like Army 11B, the 0311 MOS carries strong transferable skills. Marines with 0311 backgrounds move into Security Consulting, Federal Law Enforcement, Corporate Security Management, and Emergency Response Leadership.

Federal law enforcement positions (GS-1811 Criminal Investigator series) start at $50,000 to $65,000 but rise quickly with locality pay and overtime. Many agencies give veterans preference points that move you to the front of the hiring list. For a deeper look at 0311 career paths, read our Marine 0311 civilian careers guide.

Marine 0621: Radio Operator

0621s manage tactical communications networks, encryption devices, and satellite links. Civilian careers include Telecommunications Specialist, Network Technician, Radio Frequency Engineer, and Communications Manager.

Telecom specialists earn a median of $61,000 per year. RF engineers with additional training can earn $90,000+. The 5G infrastructure buildout is driving demand for people who understand radio and network systems.

Can One MOS Lead to Multiple Career Paths?

Yes. And this is the part that trips people up. They think their MOS means one civilian job. It does not.

Take Army 25B again. An IT Specialist could go into help desk support ($45,000), network administration ($80,000), cybersecurity ($120,000), or IT project management ($95,000). Four different paths from the same MOS. The direction depends on which certifications you get and how you position your resume.

Navy HMs have even more options. Clinical care, healthcare admin, pharmaceutical sales, medical device rep, public health, or nursing. Same rating, six different career tracks.

The key is to stop thinking of your MOS as a box. Think of it as a starting point with branches going in different directions. Some branches pay more. Some offer better work-life balance. Some lead to federal jobs with pensions. You get to pick.

After helping 17,500+ veterans through BMR, I see this pattern every week. The veterans who land the best jobs are the ones who explore multiple paths from their MOS. They do not just take the first obvious match. They research the salary ranges, growth outlook, and lifestyle trade-offs for each option.

Check out our guide on civilian careers paying over $100K if you want to see which paths from your MOS lead to the highest salaries. And our military to civilian salary guide shows what your experience is actually worth on the open market.

How Do You Use BMR's Career Crosswalk Tool?

Reading MOS translation charts is useful. But manually researching every civilian job title takes hours. That is why we built the BMR career crosswalk tool.

Here is how it works. You enter your MOS, rating, or AFSC. The tool pulls matching civilian job titles, salary ranges, federal GS series, and growth data. It covers all branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force.

The crosswalk tool is free. No account required. You can search as many codes as you want. It pulls real BLS salary data and maps to actual federal job series so you can search USAJOBS with the right keywords.

Think of it as your first step. You figure out where your MOS leads, then you build a resume targeted at that specific career. That is how you go from "I was a 25B" to "I am an IT Specialist with 4 years of network security experience."

How Do You Build a Resume Around Your MOS?

Knowing your civilian job matches is step one. Step two is writing a resume that connects your military experience to the job posting. This is where many veterans get stuck.

The hiring manager does not know what a "25B" or "HM" means. You need to translate every bullet point into language they understand. Use civilian job titles. Replace military jargon with industry terms. Quantify your results with numbers.

Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Skip the acronyms: Write "Information Technology Specialist" not "25B IT Specialist, U.S. Army"
• Add numbers: "Managed network security for 500+ users across 3 facilities" beats "Responsible for network operations"
• Match the posting: If the job says "project management," use those exact words in your resume. First, figure out what civilian title your rank maps to. Then tailor your resume. ATS ranks resumes based on keyword match. Better matches surface to the top of the pile.
• Show results: "Reduced system downtime by 40% through proactive maintenance" tells a hiring manager exactly what you delivered

You do not have to do this translation manually. BMR's resume builder handles the military-to-civilian translation automatically. Paste a job posting, and it tailors your resume to match. Built by veterans who have sat on both sides of the hiring desk.

For real before-and-after examples of this process, check our military to civilian resume samples with real rewrites.

What Should You Do Next?

You have a code that represents years of training and experience. Now turn it into a career plan.

Start with the BMR career crosswalk tool. Enter your MOS, rating, or AFSC. Look at the civilian job titles, salary ranges, and federal positions that match your background. Pick two or three paths that interest you.

Then build a resume for each path. Not the same resume sent to every job. A tailored resume that matches the keywords and requirements of that specific role. That is what separates veterans who get interviews from veterans who get silence.

If you are within 12 months of separating, build your ETS transition timeline now. The veterans who start early have the best outcomes. And if the culture shift worries you, read about military to civilian culture shock so you know what to expect on day one.

Your MOS gave you skills. Now go find the job that pays you what those skills are worth.