Home / Military to civilian jobs / Navy / STS
That is Navy Rating STS. Civilian jobs, federal paths, and how the work reads on a resume.
What is in this guide
What the translation looks like
How it reads in service
Operated AN/BQQ-10 broadband and narrowband stacks during ASW operations.
How a hiring manager reads it
Operated $40M multi-sensor acoustic detection system in real-time, classifying signals across passive and active modes.
Roles this background maps to
Median pay, BLS OEWS May 2024
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Brad TachiNavy Diver · BMR founder
After the Navy he was hired into six federal career fields and tech sales, and sat on federal hiring panels along the way. The last two years went into rebuilding all of it into BMR, tuned for how resumes get screened today. 71,892 resumes built so far.
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Sonar Technician (Submarine), or STS, is the Navy rating responsible for the entire submarine acoustic picture. STSs operate the AN/BQQ-10 sonar suite on Virginia, Los Angeles, and Seawolf class submarines, the AN/BSY-1 combat system, towed arrays like the TB-29 and TB-33, and the high-frequency hull arrays used for under-ice and bottom navigation. The job is part operator, part analyst, and part maintainer, often standing six-hour watches in sonar shack while the boat is at depth running silent.
Training pipeline runs through Naval Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. Recruit training is followed by Basic Enlisted Submarine School and the STS A school, with platform-specific C schools layered on for towed array operation, target motion analysis, and acoustic intelligence. Most STSs hold a Top Secret clearance with SCI access for the work they do supporting submarine intelligence collection. The rating sees sea duty on every fast-attack and ballistic missile submarine in the fleet, with shore tours at SUBLANT, SUBPAC, the Navy Information Operations Commands, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.
The skill stack is rare on the civilian side. Passive and active acoustic analysis, signal classification, target motion analysis, contact reporting to the OOD, and maintaining sonar electronics down to the circuit card are not skills you pick up at a tech bootcamp. Defense contractors building undersea systems, federal acoustic intelligence shops, and commercial undersea robotics companies all need people who can read a waterfall display and tell the difference between a biological, a merchant, and a contact of interest. The challenge is that "Sonar Technician (Submarine)" on a resume reads as undefined to civilian recruiters who never served. If you want to see how that translates into civilian career paths, salary ranges, and federal positions, the BMR career crosswalk tool is the place to start. STSs share a lot of the same translation problem with the surface-side STG Sonar Technician (Surface) rating and with the ET Electronics Technician community.
When I separated from the Navy I spent 18 months applying with no callbacks, and STSs face a similar problem. Submarine sonar work, passive and active acoustics, target motion analysis, and OOD support, translates to civilian acoustics, defense contractor undersea systems, and federal cleared signal analysis at NSA and ONI. But "Sonar Technician (Submarine)" on a resume reads as undefined to civilian recruiters who never served. The translation is what wins callbacks. — Brad Tachi, Navy Diver veteran & BMR founder
The number that decides most of this: how does civilian pay compare to what the paycheck looks like now?
Navy mid-career
$58K to $82K
E-5 to E-7 total comp: base plus BAH, BAS and the tax advantage.
Civilian Sonar Technician (Submarine)
$64K to $130K
BLS median across the direct-match civilian roles on this page.
Federal, GS-9 to GS-13
$58K to $120K
8 matching GS series, plus locality pay and step increases.
About 43% higher on average
Civilian roles for Sonar Technician (Submarine)s pay about $30K more than mid-career enlisted total comp.
Military comp is approximate and moves with location and dependents. Civilian is the BLS median. Federal includes locality pay. The real number depends on duty station, family status, GS step and overtime.
Civilian destinations for STSs cluster around three industries: defense contractor undersea systems, federal cleared signal and acoustic intelligence, and commercial undersea robotics. Each has different geography, salary ranges, and pace.
This is the largest hiring channel. Lockheed Martin builds the AN/BQQ-10 sonar suite. General Dynamics Mission Systems and General Dynamics Electric Boat build the boats and the combat systems on them. Raytheon (RTX), L3Harris, and BAE Systems all have undersea portfolios. Roles range from sonar systems engineering technicians to field service representatives who deploy to fleet concentration areas to support installs and upgrades. BLS lists Electronics Engineering Technicians (17-3023.00) at a median of $76,200 (BLS OEWS May 2024). Field Service Technician roles often pay higher because of travel premiums and clearance requirements, frequently $90k–$120k for cleared work.
The TS/SCI clearance most STSs already hold opens doors at the National Security Agency, the Office of Naval Intelligence, and the federal contractor ecosystem around Fort Meade and Suitland. Information Security Analysts (15-1212.00) report a BLS median of $124,910, and Intelligence Analyst (13-1199 family) cleared roles typically start in the $90k–$130k range with clearance premiums on top. The acoustic and signals work STS Submarine veterans do already aligns with what NSA and ONI do at scale. Navy CTN and Army 35N veterans compete for the same federal slots, so resume specificity matters.
Hydroid (a Kongsberg company), Teledyne Marine, Saab Seaeye, and Sercel build autonomous underwater vehicles, multibeam sonars, and seismic acoustic systems for oil and gas, marine science, and offshore wind. The skills overlap is direct: passive acoustic analysis, sonar tuning, signal-to-noise optimization, and operating in a small, technical team underwater. Salaries vary by role but Acoustic Engineer adjacent positions (mapping to the BLS 17-2199 Engineers, All Other category, ~$108,170 median) and Computer Network Architect (15-1241.00, $130,390 median) appear on the higher end when Linux and networked sensor experience is part of the package. Geography clusters in New England, San Diego, and Houston for offshore.
For a broader view of how Navy technical experience translates into salary, the military-to-civilian salary guide is worth a read. When you are ready to translate that experience into a resume that gets callbacks, you can build your resume now.
| Civilian job title | Industry | BLS median salary | Outlook | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security AnalystO*NET 15-1212.00 | Cybersecurity / Federal IT | $124,910 | 33% (Much faster than average) | strong |
| Electronics Engineering TechnicianO*NET 17-3023.00 | Defense / Undersea Systems | $76,200 | 1% (Little or no change) | strong |
| Field Service TechnicianO*NET 49-9099.00 | Defense / Cleared Field Engineering | $64,200 | 5% (Faster than average) | strong |
| Intelligence AnalystO*NET 13-1199.00 | Federal Intelligence / Cleared Contractor | $95,630 | 4% (As fast as average) | strong |
| Acoustic / Engineering Technician (Engineers, All Other)O*NET 17-2199.00 | Acoustic Engineering / R&D | $108,170 | 4% (As fast as average) | moderate |
| Computer Network ArchitectO*NET 15-1241.00 | Cleared IT / Networked Sensor Systems | $130,390 | 13% (Much faster than average) | moderate |
| Avionics / Electronics Repair TechnicianO*NET 49-2091.00 | Defense / Industrial | $75,550 | 4% (As fast as average) | moderate |
| Operations Watch / SOC AnalystO*NET 15-1212.00 | Cleared SOC / Federal | $124,910 | 33% (Much faster than average) | moderate |
Builds the AN/BQQ-10 sonar suite. Hires sonar systems engineering technicians and field service representatives.
Builds submarine combat systems including AN/BSY family. Cleared technician and engineering roles in Pittsfield, Fairfax, and San Diego.
Submarine OEM in Groton, CT and Quonset Point, RI. Heavy hiring of sonar techs, electricians, and combat systems specialists for Virginia and Columbia class.
Sensors and undersea portfolio. Cleared field engineering and systems integration roles.
Naval and undersea electronic systems work. Strong veteran hiring footprint in CA, NH, and VA.
Undersea communications, towed array, and ISR portfolio. Cleared technician and integrator roles.
Undersea autonomy and combat systems. Cleared engineering and integration positions.
REMUS AUV manufacturer in Pocasset, MA. Direct skill match for STSs who want to stay in undersea acoustics.
Multibeam sonar, AUVs, and acoustic instrumentation. R&D, field engineering, and product roles.
TS/SCI cleared analyst and engineering roles supporting NSA, ONI, and DoD components.
Heavy presence in undersea systems, federal cyber, and Navy program support contracts.
Federal civilian and DoD IT integration. Cleared analyst, engineer, and program management roles.
TS/SCI cleared SIGINT, all-source, and acoustic intelligence support roles.
Cleared cyber, IT, and intelligence work, including ONI and NSA-affiliated programs.
Sustainment and engineering services to NAVSEA and Navy fleet. Strong field engineering footprint at submarine bases.
Acoustic and signals intelligence civilian positions. Apply via USAJobs with Veterans Preference.
BMR rewrites your STS experience for any of the roles above, in the language the people reading actually scan for.
Free to start. 2 tailored resumes included.
Upload it and get a number in about a minute, plus the STS lines a civilian hiring manager will not follow and what to write instead. No account.
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“I am wrapping up a 21 year Naval career, all of which was working on fighters. I had picked up a job as a contractor for a company on the same base I’ve been at for the last ten years. I submitted that resume while on deployment and it worked great. Thanks again Brad. Dave ”
David · Chief Petty Officer (E-7) · Navy · Aviation
Federal hiring is one of the strongest paths for STSs because the clearance, technical depth, and acoustic specialty are exactly what several agencies are short on. Submarine sonar veterans land across DoD, the intelligence community, NAVSEA labs, and Coast Guard technical billets. The relevant GS series spread further than most people realize.
Veterans' Preference (5-point or 10-point depending on disability rating and service) gives priority over equally qualified non-veteran candidates. Federal resumes are written very differently from civilian resumes — long-form, with hours per week, supervisor info, and detailed duties — but the target length is still 2 pages. The BMR federal resume builder handles the formatting. STG veterans compete for some of the same GS-0856 and GS-0132 slots, so make your submarine acoustic specialty obvious in your federal resume.
| Series | Federal job title | Typical grades | Match | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-0856 | Electronics Technician | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | 5 of 5 | View details |
| GS-0132 | Intelligence | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, GS-13 | 5 of 5 | View details |
| GS-2210 | Information Technology Management | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | 4 of 5 | View details |
| GS-0855 | Electronics Engineering | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, GS-13 | 4 of 5 | View details |
| WG-5334 | Marine Machinery Mechanic | WG-8, WG-10, WG-11 | 3 of 5 | View details |
| GS-0391 | Telecommunications | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | 3 of 5 | View details |
| GS-1550 | Computer Science | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | 3 of 5 | View details |
| GS-0080 | Security Administration | GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 | 3 of 5 | View details |
Federal raters match your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement. BMR writes the federal format for any GS series above, with the hours per week and supervisor detail a rater looks for.
Free to start. Federal and private sector formats included.
Not everyone stays in a related field. These paths run on the transferable half of the job: leadership, risk, logistics, planning.
STSs have run 24/7 watches over networked sensor systems with classified data their entire careers. The transition to cleared SOC analyst is largely a vocabulary change. The TS/SCI is already there.
Transfers: signal analysis, 24/7 watch operations, classified data handling, networked system maintenance.
How to get there: CompTIA Security+ first, then Splunk Core Certified User. Apply to cleared SOC roles at Booz Allen, Leidos, CACI, or directly to NSA/ONI via USAJobs.
BLS OEWS May 2024 · 33% (Much faster than average)
Submarine sonar work blends technical depth with operations leadership. Defense PMs and federal program managers run on the same blend.
Transfers: operational planning, technical coordination, leadership under pressure, watch team management.
How to get there: PMP certification first. Target program management roles at defense contractors (GD, Lockheed, Northrop) or federal program offices via USAJobs (GS-0301 / GS-0343).
BLS OEWS May 2024 · 7% (Faster than average)
Modern submarine combat systems run on Linux and networked sensor architectures. The maintenance background plus a cleared TS/SCI is a strong entry into cleared sysadmin work.
Transfers: Linux administration, networked sensor systems, SAN / recording infrastructure, classified network handling.
How to get there: CompTIA Network+, then Security+. Target cleared sysadmin roles at federal contractors or GS-2210 positions on USAJobs.
BLS OEWS May 2024 · 3% (As fast as average)
STS Sonar Supervisors already manage technical teams under operational pressure. The skill set translates directly into industrial operations management.
Transfers: watch team leadership, process discipline, equipment uptime accountability, training coordination.
How to get there: Six Sigma Green Belt or PMP accelerates promotion. Apply through veteran hiring programs at industrial employers or to federal GS-0301 program management roles.
BLS OEWS May 2024 · 6% (Faster than average)
STSs who held SCI billets understand compartmented program operations from the inside. Industrial security teams hire that background to manage facility clearances and program access.
Transfers: SCI program experience, classified material handling, security policy compliance, briefing senior leaders.
How to get there: ISP certification through NCMS. Apply to FSO, ISSO, or industrial security specialist roles at defense contractors and federal agencies (GS-0080).
BLS OEWS May 2024 · 4% (As fast as average)
STSs combine operator-level depth with hands-on maintenance. That combination is what undersea sensor companies and defense OEMs need in field engineers and technical sales engineers.
Transfers: hands-on system operation, customer-facing technical communication, troubleshooting, installations and integration.
How to get there: Apply directly to companies like Teledyne, Hydroid, Sercel, and Sonardyne. PMP and a strong technical resume are the differentiators.
BLS OEWS May 2024 · 1% (Little or no change)
TMA and acoustic classification are quantitative inference under uncertainty. With Python and SQL on top, that skill set transfers to data analyst and signal analyst roles.
Transfers: signal classification, pattern recognition, large-volume data review, statistical inference.
How to get there: Self-study Python and SQL or use GI Bill on a data science boot camp. Pair with an entry-level analyst role at a defense contractor to bridge the gap.
BLS OEWS May 2024 · 35% (Much faster than average)
The skills behind the specialty carry further than the specialty. BMR rewrites your bullets for any of the paths above without making it sound like you have never done the work.
Free to start. Try as many angles as you want.
If you are staying in submarine sonar, undersea systems, or defense contractor acoustic engineering, your terminology translates directly. Industry recruiters at Lockheed, GD Mission Systems, and Hydroid speak the same language. This section is for STSs targeting careers OUTSIDE undersea systems — federal IT, civilian network engineering, intelligence outside acoustics, project management, or operations.
The translation problem is real. "Operated AN/BQQ-10 in passive narrowband mode for ASW prosecution" lands flat outside the submarine community. The 50 military terms translated to civilian language guide is a good baseline; the specific STS terms below get you the rest of the way.
Before (military): Stood sonar supervisor watch on Virginia-class fast attack, maintained AN/BQQ-10 BB and NB stacks, contributed to ASW exercise success.
After (civilian project management role): Led 4-person technical watch team operating $40M signal acquisition and analysis system on a 24/7 schedule. Maintained 99%+ system availability and produced classified analytic product on a same-day deadline supporting senior leadership decisions.
Before (military): Performed corrective maintenance on AN/BSY-1 combat system and TB-29 towed array.
After (civilian field engineering role): Performed component-level troubleshooting and repair on networked acoustic sensor and combat system electronics, restoring full operational capability across deployments. Authored maintenance reports used by engineering teams to schedule depot-level work.
When you are ready to put this kind of language into a resume that hiring managers actually read, the BMR military resume builder handles the templating and ATS formatting, or you can get started right now.
Before, in service
Operated AN/BQQ-10 broadband and narrowband stacks during ASW operations.
After, on the resume
Operated $40M multi-sensor acoustic detection system in real-time, classifying signals across passive and active modes.
Before, in service
Performed TMA on contact of interest to provide firing solution to OOD.
After, on the resume
Conducted multi-variable trajectory estimation from sparse sensor data, producing analytic products under tight deadlines.
Before, in service
Stood Sonar Supervisor watch on Virginia-class fast attack.
After, on the resume
Led 4-person technical watch team operating networked sensor system on a 24/7 schedule.
Before, in service
Maintained TB-29 towed array during 6-month deployment.
After, on the resume
Maintained distributed sensor array with networked data acquisition across deployed operating environment.
Before, in service
Identified contact through passive narrowband analysis of TB-29 data.
After, on the resume
Identified low signal-to-noise frequency-domain signatures from large-volume sensor data streams.
Before, in service
Provided contact reports to OOD during contested transit.
After, on the resume
Served as real-time technical advisor to operations leadership during high-tempo decision cycles.
Before, in service
Resolved Casualty during underway training, restoring AN/BQQ-10 stack within 30 minutes.
After, on the resume
Performed component-level troubleshooting on networked acoustic sensor electronics, restoring full operational capability within 30 minutes during live operations.
Before, in service
Collected acoustic intelligence under SCI program reporting requirements.
After, on the resume
Captured, classified, and reported on classified signal sources under formal compartmented program standards.
Before, in service
Earned Submarine Warfare Specialist (Enlisted) qualification in 12 months.
After, on the resume
Completed comprehensive 12-month platform qualification program covering electrical, mechanical, and operational systems.
BMR turns your STS duties and accomplishments into civilian bullets aimed at the job you are applying for. No manual translation.
Free to start. Tailored to each posting.
Which ones you need depends on where you are headed.
Highly RecommendedCost $370 examTime 2-3 monthsGI Bill eligibleDoD 8570/8140 baseline. Required for many cleared cyber and SOC roles.
RecommendedCost $749 examTime 3-6 months prepGI Bill eligibleSenior cleared cyber roles. Generally requires 5 years experience or appropriate substitution.
RecommendedCost Free examTime 1-2 monthsCommon requirement for cleared SOC analyst roles.
RecommendedCost $8,000+ with courseTime 3-6 monthsGI Bill eligiblePremium cleared cyber credentials. Often funded by employer post-hire.
RecommendedCost $300Time 2-4 monthsFor STSs with SCI program experience moving into industrial security or special programs.
RecommendedCost $200-$400 per examTime 3-6 monthsGI Bill eligibleIndustry-recognized journeyman electronics certification. Direct fit for STSs moving into civilian electronics tech roles.
RecommendedCost Free for federal employeesTime 6-12 monthsFor STSs entering federal program management roles.
RecommendedCost $150-$300Time 30 hoursRequired at many shipyard and industrial facilities. Low cost, high signal for industrial roles.
RecommendedCost VariesTime Self-pacedValidates baseline intelligence analysis competencies for cleared analyst roles.
RecommendedCost $358 examTime 1-2 monthsGI Bill eligibleNetwork fundamentals cert for STSs pivoting into networked sensor or IT roles.
Highly RecommendedCost $405-$555Time 3-6 monthsGI Bill eligibleCareer-defining cert for STSs moving into program management at defense contractors or federal agencies.
OptionalCost $300-$2,000Time 3-6 monthsUseful for STSs targeting operations management and process improvement roles.
RecommendedCost $300-$600Time 2-4 monthsUseful for STSs targeting RF/acoustic crossover work in defense and commercial undersea systems.
Placement decides whether a screener ever sees it. BMR knows where each one ranks, what to call it, and how to frame it.
Free to start. Built around your real certs and clearance.
Most people do this backwards: wait for terminal leave, then panic. This is the sequence that works. Already out? Same plan, day one is today.
Days 0 to 30
Days 30 to 60
Days 60 to 90
Three categories carry the most volume. Defense contractor undersea systems (Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics Mission Systems, GD Electric Boat, Raytheon, BAE, L3Harris) for sonar systems engineering technicians and field service roles. Federal cleared signal and acoustic intelligence (NSA, ONI, NAVSEA Warfare Centers) for intelligence analyst and electronics technician positions. Commercial undersea robotics and acoustic research (Hydroid/Kongsberg, Teledyne, Sercel) for AUV operations, sonar tuning, and field engineering. The clearance, the acoustic specialty, and the maintenance background combine in a way that's uncommon outside the submarine community.
It depends on the role. BLS OEWS May 2024 lists Electronics Engineering Technicians at a $76,200 median, Information Security Analysts at $124,910, Computer Network Architects at $130,390, and the broader Engineers, All Other category (acoustic engineering subset) at $108,170. Cleared field service technician roles for defense contractors frequently land in the $90k-$120k range due to clearance and travel premiums. Cleared intelligence analyst roles at federal contractors typically start at $90k-$130k.
Very. Most STSs hold a TS/SCI, and the cleared cyber and intelligence market pays a 10-25% clearance premium over equivalent uncleared work. The clearance is the single most portable thing you carry off the boat. Use it intentionally on USAJobs and on cleared contractor boards like ClearanceJobs and Intelligence Careers. The <a href='/blog/career-transition/defense-contractor-jobs-senior-veterans-clearance-advantage' class='text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 font-medium no-underline hover:underline'>defense contractor guide for cleared veterans</a> covers how to position it on the resume.
Plenty of STSs do. The Career Change Paths section maps the most common pivots: federal IT (GS-2210), program management, operations management, cybersecurity (CompTIA Security+, then CISSP), and corporate project management (PMP). The pivot is real but the resume language has to change with it. Acoustic and sonar terminology will not land in a non-technical hiring manager's hands. The <a href='/blog/career-transition/50-military-terms-civilian-equivalents-glossary' class='text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 font-medium no-underline hover:underline'>military terms translation guide</a> is a starting point.
For GS-0856 Electronics Technician roles, no — STS A school plus fleet experience usually qualifies through OPM's experience equivalency. For GS-0855 Electronics Engineering or GS-1550 Computer Science you generally need an associate or bachelor's degree, depending on the specific position. The GI Bill covers a four-year STEM degree if you have not used it. Many STSs finish a degree in the last year of service and step directly into a GS-7 or GS-9.
Veterans' Preference adds 5 points (any veteran with honorable service) or 10 points (service-connected disability or wartime service) to your competitive rating, and it gives you priority over equally qualified non-veteran candidates. It does not skip you to the front of the line, but it is worth using on every USAJobs application. STSs with Top Secret/SCI plus Veterans' Preference are competitive for GS-9, GS-11, and GS-12 roles right out of service.
Within the field, journeyman electronics certifications (ETA International CET, Industrial Electronics) and acoustic-leaning credentials matter. Outside the field, the highest-leverage three are CompTIA Security+ (entry to federal cyber), PMP (project management), and Splunk Core Certified User (for cleared SOC roles). For DoD 8570/8140 cleared cyber roles, Security+ is often required. The certifications section on this page is organized by target career to make this easier.
For most STSs, a four-year STEM degree (electrical engineering, computer science, or cybersecurity) is the higher-ceiling option. It opens GS-0855 and GS-1550 series and corporate engineering roles that experience-only candidates cannot reach. Certifications can be paid for separately or through some VA/state programs. If you are already mid-career and just want a faster pivot, target a focused certification stack instead. The <a href='/' class='text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 font-medium no-underline hover:underline'>BMR home page</a> has resources for both routes.
Two rules. First, lead with what the system did and what you produced, not what the system was called. 'Operated $40M acoustic detection system for 24/7 watch operations' lands harder than 'Operated AN/BQQ-10.' Second, quantify everything: number of personnel supervised, system availability rate, hours of watch supported, dollars of equipment maintained. The <a href='/military-resume-builder' class='text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 font-medium no-underline hover:underline'>BMR military resume builder</a> handles the formatting. You can also <a href='/' class='text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 font-medium no-underline hover:underline'>start your resume now</a>.
Three clusters. New England and the Mid-Atlantic (Groton CT, Newport RI, Norfolk VA) for submarine builders, NUWC, and shipyard work. The Washington DC corridor (Fort Meade, Suitland, Crystal City) for federal intelligence, NSA, ONI, and defense contractor HQs. San Diego and the Pacific Northwest (Bangor WA, Bremerton, Kitsap, Keyport) for Pacific submarine operations and NUWC Keyport. Houston and the Gulf Coast for offshore oil and gas acoustic work.
Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Career data from O*NET OnLine.
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