Imagery Analysis Specialist

The Marine Corps 0241 Imagery Analysis Specialist exploits full-motion video, multi-spectral imagery, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, and electro-optical imagery to produce intelligence products supporting the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) and the broader U.S. intelligence community. 0241s spend their days inside cleared spaces working IMINT and GEOINT systems — the Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS), Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) production tools, and the imagery exploitation workflow that drives target development, change detection, battle damage assessment, and pattern-of-life analysis.

The pipeline runs through Marine recruit training, then approximately 14 to 22 weeks of MOS-specific training at the Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) at Dam Neck, Virginia. The course covers imagery interpretation fundamentals, sensor characteristics across multi-INT collection platforms, geospatial analysis, full-motion video exploitation, target development, and the production standards used across the broader Defense Intelligence Enterprise. 0241s commonly serve at Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA) Quantico, II MEF Headquarters Group, I MEF Intelligence, III MEF Intelligence, and forward-deployed MAGTF positions, with regular detachments to NGA, NRO, and DIA assignments.

What makes 0241s uniquely valuable in the civilian cleared workforce is the combination of an active TS/SCI clearance, hands-on exploitation experience on the same systems used at NGA and the NRO, and the technical depth that comes from sustained imagery work — not classroom theory. A senior 0241 has produced finished IMINT products consumed by combatant commanders, executed time-sensitive targeting support for forward forces, and lived the production-standards-and-tradecraft side of GEOINT work that civilian-only candidates simply do not have. Compare your background to the closely adjacent 0231 Intelligence Specialist path, the 0211 Counterintelligence/HUMINT path, or explore the broader career translation hub for cross-branch options.

BMR has built more than 55,000 resumes across every MOS, and 0241s land at NGA, NRO, and DoD imagery programs faster than almost any other Marine intel MOS. The work — full-motion video exploitation, multi-spectral imagery, geospatial analysis — is exactly what cleared imagery analyst positions need, and the active TS/SCI clearance keeps you in a hiring lane with very little competition. The challenge is reframing the IMINT workflow into civilian language without losing the technical depth that wins offers. — Brad Tachi, Navy Diver veteran & BMR founder

The civilian market for 0241s splits cleanly into three lanes: the Intelligence Community (IC) directly (NGA, NRO, DIA, NSA, CIA), defense contractors holding cleared GEOINT contracts, and commercial GEOINT companies building the next generation of small-satellite imagery products. The honest read is that imagery analysis is one of the better-paying cleared analyst markets, and 0241s with a current TS/SCI walk into roles paying $70K to $130K with very little competition.

Direct Civilian Career Paths

• Intelligence Analyst (Cleared Imagery) — BLS median $89,170 for the broader Business Operations Specialists category (13-1199.00). Cleared imagery analyst roles at defense contractors typically start higher because the talent pool is small. Direct fit for 0241s with active TS/SCI.
• Geospatial Information Scientist / Technologist — BLS median $85,220 (19-2099.01). Federal civilian and contractor roles building geospatial products from imagery, sensor data, and open-source feeds. Strong match because the GEOINT workflow translates 1:1.
• Cartographer / Photogrammetrist — BLS median $76,210 (17-1021.00). NGA and federal mapping agencies hire here directly. Photogrammetric processing skills from MOS school are exactly what these jobs need.
• GIS Analyst — BLS median $76,210 (17-1021.00). State and federal agencies plus commercial firms doing spatial analysis. Pairs well with a GISP credential post-separation.
• Geographer — BLS median $90,880 (19-3092.00). Smaller pool but federal-heavy hiring concentrated at NGA, USGS, and DoD.
• Imagery Analyst (Defense Contractor) — Specialized cleared role outside the standard BLS categories. Defense contractors recruit aggressively for active TS/SCI imagery analysts; offers in the $80K-$120K range are common, higher for senior analysts and specialty exploitation lanes (full-motion video, SAR, MASINT).
• Targeting Officer / Targeting Analyst — Cleared role at major IC contractors and federal agencies. 0241 target development experience is a direct match. Typically $85K-$130K with clearance.
• Geospatial Analyst (Commercial) — Maxar Technologies, Planet Labs, BlackSky, and other commercial GEOINT companies hire 0241s into commercial smallsat imagery exploitation roles, typically $75K-$110K.

Geography matters: the National Capital Region (Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland) is the densest hiring market for IC and contractor work because that is where NGA East, the Pentagon, and most major contractor IC offices sit. NGA West (St. Louis) is the second-largest concentration. Colorado Springs, Tampa, Honolulu, and Hampton Roads also have significant cleared imagery hiring. Outside those regions, the cleared imagery market thins out fast.

For the broader cleared analyst playbook, read Military Intelligence 35-Series: Civilian Careers Resume Guide — it is written for Army 35-series but the IC lane is the same for 0241s. Cross-branch overlap with the Army 35G Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst path and the Air Force 1N1X1 Geospatial Intelligence path is high — same civilian roles. Build a tailored 0241 resume free in under 5 minutes.

Federal hiring is a strong lane for 0241s because the entire GEOINT enterprise sits inside the federal government — NGA, NRO, DIA, CIA, and NSA all hire imagery analysts and geospatial specialists directly. Veterans Preference plus a current TS/SCI plus operational IMINT experience is a combination that civilian-only candidates cannot match.

GS Series Matches

0241s map to several federal series across intelligence, geography, science, and IT. Match strength depends on time in service and additional duties:

• GS-0132 Intelligence — The primary series for cleared analysts at NGA, DIA, NRO, NSA, CIA, and DoD intelligence components. Direct 1:1 fit. Typical entry: GS-9 to GS-12 for senior 0241s with operational production experience.
• GS-1370 Cartography — NGA, USGS, and federal mapping offices. Photogrammetric processing and GEOINT production background lines up. Typical: GS-7 to GS-11.
• GS-0150 Geography — Smaller series but a strong fit for 0241s with geospatial coursework. Used at NGA, DoD, and federal research agencies. Typical: GS-9 to GS-12.
• GS-1301 General Physical Science — Used for technical intelligence roles involving sensor science, physics-based exploitation, and MASINT-adjacent work. Typical: GS-9 to GS-12.
• GS-0855 Electronics Engineering — For 0241s who pivot toward sensor-systems engineering or work on the technical side of GEOINT collection. Requires engineering coursework or a solid technical portfolio. Typical: GS-7 to GS-12.
• GS-1550 Computer Science — Strong for 0241s who built scripting or automation skills around DCGS or geospatial data pipelines. Higher technical bar but pays well. Typical: GS-9 to GS-13.
• GS-2210 Information Technology Management — System administration, cybersecurity, and IT roles inside cleared intelligence environments. Pairs well with Security+ or CISSP. Typical: GS-9 to GS-12.
• GS-0301 Miscellaneous Administration and Program — Catch-all for senior 0241s with program coordination, training, and administrative responsibilities that do not fit a specialty series. Typical: GS-9 to GS-12.
• GS-1102 Contracting — For 0241s who pivot to acquisition work, especially on cleared GEOINT or intelligence contracts. Strong long-term federal track. Typical: GS-9 to GS-12.

Veterans Preference for 0241s

Most honorably discharged veterans qualify for 5-point preference, and disabled veterans qualify for 10-point preference, which moves applicants to the top of GS-9 and below registers. The preference matters but it does not write the resume for you. Federal applications use a different format and keyword vocabulary than the private sector — every duty needs hours per week, supervisor contact, GS-equivalent grade, and detailed responsibilities mapping to the qualification standard.

For the federal resume side, the intelligence series in particular is unforgiving with vague descriptions. Read the cleared intelligence civilian careers guide, or use the BMR federal resume builder to walk through it directly. The federal resume builder handles GS series formatting, qualification matching, and the supervisor-and-hours block that USAJobs rejects most veterans on.

If you are staying inside the IC or the cleared GEOINT contractor world, your terminology translates directly. Recruiters at Booz Allen, Leidos, BAE, Maxar, and the federal GEOINT agencies know DCGS, IMINT, GEOINT, and full-motion video exploitation. This section is for 0241s targeting careers OUTSIDE cleared intelligence — commercial GIS, software engineering, data analytics, project management, or operations roles in the private sector where IMINT means nothing.

Military-to-Civilian Language Translation

The 0241 vocabulary is dense and specialized to a small community. Civilian recruiters at a tech company, a commercial GIS firm, or a data analytics shop will not pattern-match on these terms unless they are translated. Key swaps:

• Imagery Analyst (0241) → Senior Geospatial / Imagery Data Analyst
• Imagery Analysis Cell / IAC → Geospatial Analysis Team
• IMINT (Imagery Intelligence) → Imagery-Derived Geospatial Intelligence Products
• GEOINT (Geospatial Intelligence) → Geospatial Analysis & Product Development
• Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) → Enterprise Geospatial Production Platform
• Full-Motion Video (FMV) Exploitation → Real-Time Video & Sensor Data Analysis
• Multi-Spectral Imagery (MSI) Analysis → Multi-Band Sensor Data Analysis
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) → Specialized Radar-Derived Imaging Data
• Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) → Post-Event Analytical Assessment & Reporting
• Target Development → Subject-Focused Research & Analysis Production
• Pattern-of-Life Analysis → Behavioral Pattern Analytics & Trend Identification
• Change Detection → Time-Series Comparative Analysis

Resume Bullet Examples

Before (Military): Served as imagery analyst within the MAGTF Imagery Analysis Cell, conducting IMINT exploitation in support of operational and tactical commanders.

After (Civilian Geospatial Analyst): Produced 400+ geospatial intelligence products supporting senior decision-makers across a 10,000-personnel operational organization. Translated raw sensor data into actionable analytical reports under daily production deadlines.

Before (Military): Performed full-motion video exploitation supporting time-sensitive targeting and pattern-of-life analysis.

After (Civilian Data Analyst): Conducted real-time analysis of streaming sensor data feeds to identify behavioral patterns and trend anomalies. Delivered findings to senior leadership within 60-minute decision cycles across 24/7 operational tempo.

Before (Military): Operated DCGS for production of finished GEOINT products consumed across the Defense Intelligence Enterprise.

After (Civilian GIS Analyst): Built and published geospatial analytical products on enterprise data platform serving 5,000+ stakeholders across a federated organizational network. Maintained 99%+ on-time delivery against established quality and accuracy standards.

For the broader translation playbook, read 50 Military Terms Translated to Civilian Language. Or skip ahead and let the BMR military resume builder handle the translation work.