Yeoman
The civilian and federal jobs that hire Navy Yeomans — with real salaries and the resume that gets callbacks.
Every YN has more options than a Google search will tell you. Below: career paths, BLS salary data, federal GS series, certifications by target career, and how to translate your experience without losing what made you valuable to the Navy in the first place.
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After the Navy I got hired into 6 federal career fields and tech sales, and sat on federal hiring panels along the way. I spent the last 2 years rebuilding everything I learned into BMR, tuned for how AI actually screens resumes today. This is the system I wish I'd had on day one.
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Military Role Overview
Navy Yeomen (YN) are the administrative backbone of every Navy command. From aircraft carriers to shore-based headquarters, YNs keep the entire administrative machine running - preparing correspondence per SECNAV M-5216.5, maintaining service records, processing travel claims through DTS (Defense Travel System), drafting enlisted evaluations and officer fitness reports, managing awards packages, and handling the constant flow of official Navy paperwork that keeps a command operational.
YNs attend A School at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, where they learn the fundamentals of Navy correspondence, records management, and office administration. From there, assignments range from ship's offices and squadron admin departments to flag-level staffs and major command headquarters. The systems YNs use daily - NSIPS (Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System), BUPERS Online (BOL), NROWS (Navy Reserve Order Writing System), PRIMS, and TOPS - are the personnel infrastructure of the entire Navy.
What makes YN experience valuable beyond the military is the sheer volume and complexity of work. A YN on a deployed destroyer might process hundreds of personnel actions monthly - Page 2 dependency updates, Page 13 administrative remarks, transfer orders, reenlistment packages, separation paperwork, security clearance documentation, and leave requests. Senior YNs (E-6 and above) often serve as departmental leading petty officers or command administrative officers, managing entire admin teams and serving as the CO's right hand on personnel matters. That combination of high-volume document management, personnel administration, regulatory compliance, and direct executive support translates to a wide range of civilian careers.
Yeomen translate to federal administrative roles at strong rates — GS-0301 Miscellaneous Administration and Program, GS-0343 Management and Program Analyst, and GS-0303 Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant series all hire Navy YNs. From the federal hiring side, the records management, policy administration, and naval correspondence work is exactly what federal admin offices need. — Brad Tachi, Navy Diver veteran & BMR founder
Pay Reality Check
The number that matters when you're deciding what's next: how does civilian pay compare to what you make now?
Military comp is approximate (varies by location/dependents). Civilian is BLS median. Federal includes locality pay. Your real number depends on duty station, family status, GS step, and overtime.
Private Sector Career Paths
YN experience maps directly to the civilian administrative and office management sector. The day-to-day work - correspondence drafting, records management, executive support, personnel processing, and travel coordination - is functionally identical to what administrative professionals do in corporate, legal, healthcare, and government environments. The difference is volume: a YN at a busy command handles more personnel actions in a month than some civilian admin assistants process in a quarter.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), administrative services managers earn a median salary of $107,560 (O*NET 11-3012.00), while executive assistants to C-suite executives earn $72,360 (43-6011.00). HR specialists - a natural fit for YNs with evaluation and personnel processing experience - earn a median of $79,730 (13-1071.00). Entry-level positions like office clerks ($39,180) and general secretaries ($44,600) exist, but YNs with supervisory experience or specialized skills typically enter at higher levels.
The administrative field is broad, and starting salary depends heavily on which niche you target. A YN who leveraged their evaluation-writing experience into HR can expect significantly different compensation than one who takes a general receptionist role. The civilian titles below reflect the range of options, from entry-level positions to management roles that match senior YN experience.
Civilian Job Title Translations
| Civilian Job Title | Industry | BLS Median Salary | Outlook | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Administrative Services Manager O*NET: 11-3012.00 | Business / Government / Healthcare | $107,560 | Faster than average (5%) | strong |
Executive Assistant O*NET: 43-6011.00 | Multiple Industries | $72,360 | About as fast as average | strong |
Human Resources Specialist O*NET: 13-1071.00 | Multiple Industries | $79,730 | Faster than average (6%) | strong |
Secretary (except Legal, Medical, Executive) O*NET: 43-6014.00 | Multiple Industries | $44,600 | Slower than average (-3%) | strong |
Office Clerk (General) O*NET: 43-9061.00 | Multiple Industries | $39,180 | Slower than average (-4%) | moderate |
Paralegal / Legal Assistant O*NET: 23-2011.00 | Legal Services | $62,640 | Faster than average (4%) | moderate |
Records Manager O*NET: 11-3012.00 | Government / Healthcare / Finance | $107,560 | Faster than average (5%) | strong |
Court Reporter / Simultaneous Captioner O*NET: 23-2091.00 | Legal / Government | $63,940 | About as fast as average | moderate |
Companies That Hire This Background
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BMR rewrites your YN experience for any of the civilian roles above — keywords, achievements, and language hiring managers actually scan for.
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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 ”
Federal Career Paths
Federal employment is a strong match for YNs because the work is nearly identical. The correspondence formats, records management protocols, and personnel processing systems used in federal civilian agencies follow the same regulatory frameworks that YNs already know. Veterans' Preference gives former YNs 5 or 10 additional points on federal hiring assessments, and many agencies use Direct Hire Authority for administrative positions.
The GS-0301 (Miscellaneous Administration and Program) series is the broadest match - it covers administrative roles across every federal agency. GS-0318 (Secretary) positions at agencies like the Department of Defense, VA, or Department of Justice closely mirror senior YN duties: correspondence, calendar management, travel coordination, and executive support. GS-0341 (Administrative Officer) roles are ideal for senior YNs who managed entire admin departments, handling budgets, manpower, facilities, and policy compliance.
YNs with evaluation and personnel processing experience should look at the HR series: GS-0201 (Human Resources Management) and GS-0203 (Human Resources Assistance). Processing enlisted evaluations, officer fitness reports, awards, and separation paperwork is personnel management - civilian HR departments perform the same functions with different form numbers. The GS-0343 (Management and Program Analyst) series is another strong path for YNs who tracked metrics, analyzed administrative processes, or implemented procedural improvements at their commands.
Start building your USAJobs profile 6 months before separation. Federal resumes follow different formatting rules than private-sector resumes - 2 pages max, not the 4-6 page myth you will see elsewhere online. Use the Veterans filter on USAJobs and target agencies you are already familiar with: BUPERS, NAVPERSCOM, DFAS, and the VA are natural starting points, but every federal agency needs admin professionals.
GS Series & Position Matches
| GS Series | Federal Job Title | Typical Grades | Match | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-0309 | Correspondence Clerk | GS-5, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-0326 | Office Automation Clerical and Assistance | GS-6, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-0305 | Mail and File | GS-5, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-0308 | Records and Information Management | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-0312 | Clerk-Stenographer and Reporter | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-0313 | Work Unit Supervising | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-0318 | Secretary | GS-5, GS-6, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-0322 | Clerk-Typist | GS-5, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-0341 | Administrative Officer | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-0356 | Data Transcriber | GS-5, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-1895 | Customs and Border Protection Technician | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-0304 | Information Receptionist | GS-5, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-0303 | Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant | GS-4, GS-5, GS-6 | View Details → | |
| GS-0962 | Contact Representative | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-0996 | Veterans Claims Examiner | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-1411 | Library Technician | GS-5, GS-7 | View Details → | |
| GS-1420 | Archivist | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-1421 | Archives Technician | GS-7, GS-9 | View Details → | |
| GS-0357 | Coding | GS-5, GS-7 | View Details → |
Federal resumes follow different rules. We know them.
Federal hiring uses keyword-matching and structured experience. BMR builds federal-format resumes (USAJobs-ready) with the right keywords, hours/week, and supervisor info — for any GS series above.
Free to start · Federal + civilian resume formats included
Want to Change Careers Entirely?
Not everyone wants to stay in a related field. These career paths leverage your transferable skills — leadership, risk management, logistics, project planning — in completely different industries.
Project Management Specialist
YNs coordinate eval cycles, awards processing timelines, transfer schedules, and multi-department administrative projects — all with hard deadlines and zero tolerance for missed submissions. Managing a command's admin calendar with 200+ personnel actions per quarter is project management, even if it was never called that.
Real Estate Agent / Broker
Real estate runs on paperwork, deadlines, and client management — three things YNs do at scale. Processing contracts, managing multiple transactions simultaneously, tracking regulatory timelines, and communicating clearly with multiple parties mirrors the admin workflow YNs already know. The self-directed schedule appeals to veterans who want autonomy.
Insurance Underwriter
Underwriting requires evaluating information against established criteria and making decisions within regulatory guidelines — YNs do this daily when processing personnel actions, evaluating awards packages against SECNAVINST requirements, and ensuring correspondence meets SECNAV M-5216.5 standards. The analytical attention to detail and compliance mindset transfer directly.
Financial Advisor / Personal Financial Planner
YNs handle sensitive personnel and financial information daily — pay records, travel reimbursements, dependent information. The confidentiality, attention to detail, and client-facing communication skills transfer to financial advisory roles. Military financial literacy programs and NMCRS counseling exposure add context.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner
YNs who coordinated change-of-command ceremonies, retirement ceremonies, awards banquets, or official command events already have event planning experience. These events involve venues, catering, guest lists with protocol considerations, printed programs, rehearsals, and flawless execution — civilian event planning uses the same skill set with different terminology.
Marketing Coordinator
YNs draft polished correspondence, command newsletters, Plan of the Day/Week publications, and official messaging daily. Translating complex information into clear, audience-appropriate language is marketing at its core. YNs who managed command social media, produced newsletters, or wrote talking points for leadership have even more direct experience.
Compliance Officer
Navy YNs operate within a web of regulations — SECNAV instructions, MILPERSMAN articles, BUPERSINST directives, travel regulations, and classification guides. Ensuring every personnel action, correspondence, and record meets regulatory requirements is compliance work. The ability to interpret policy, enforce procedures, and document everything translates to compliance roles in healthcare, finance, and government contracting.
Pivoting industries? You don't need to start from scratch.
The skills that made you a good Marine, Sailor, Airman, or Soldier transfer further than you think. BMR rewrites your bullets for any of the pivot careers above — without making you sound like you've never done the work.
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Skills Translation Guide
If you are applying to administrative roles at companies that work with the military or government, your terminology already makes sense to the hiring manager. They know what NSIPS is. They know what an eval cycle means.
This section is for YNs targeting careers outside of administration - project management, real estate, insurance, financial services, or any corporate role where the hiring manager has never heard of SECNAV M-5216.5 or BUPERS Online. The translations below reframe your YN experience into language that resonates with non-administrative industries. These are not just word swaps - they show how to quantify and contextualize your work for an audience that does not speak Navy.
Resume Bullet Examples
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BMR turns your YN duties and accomplishments into civilian bullets that match the job you're applying for — no manual translation, no rewriting.
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Certifications by Career Path
Which certifications you need depends on where you're headed. Find your target career path below.
Administrative & Office Management
Compliance & Regulatory
Federal Employment
Hospitality Management
Human Resources
Legal & Paralegal
Project Management
Real Estate & Property Management
Records & Information Management
Got a cert? Don't bury it. List it the right way.
The wrong placement can sink an otherwise strong application. BMR knows where each cert ranks, what to call it, and how to frame it for ATS keyword matching and hiring manager attention.
Free to start · Built around your real certs and clearance
Transition Resources
For Staying in Administration
SkillBridge Programs: Several federal agencies and defense contractors participate in DOD SkillBridge for administrative roles. Check the SkillBridge database for current openings. NAVFAC, NAVSEA, and large defense contractors like Leidos and Booz Allen Hamilton have historically offered admin-track SkillBridge positions.
IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals): The IAAP is the professional association for administrative professionals. The CAP (Certified Administrative Professional) certification is the industry standard credential and signals competence to civilian employers unfamiliar with military admin experience.
SHRM for HR Track: If targeting human resources, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the industry body. SHRM-CP certification is the entry-level HR credential and is GI Bill eligible at many prep programs.
For Careers Outside of Administration
Project Management: The PMP certification (PMI) opens doors in every industry. YNs who coordinated multi-department admin projects, managed eval cycles across a command, or ran awards processing timelines already have project management experience - PMP formalizes it. Cost: ~$555 (PMI member) for the exam. GI Bill covers many prep courses.
Real Estate Licensing: State-specific licensing requirements apply, but the organizational skills, document management, and deadline tracking that YNs master translate directly. Most states require 60-180 hours of pre-licensing education. Check your state's real estate commission website for requirements.
Federal Employment (USAJobs): Create your USAJobs profile immediately - don't wait until you separate. Use the "Veterans" filter. Key agencies for YNs: BUPERS/NAVPERSCOM, DFAS, VA, OPM, and every other agency with admin staff needs. Federal resumes are 2 pages max - not the 4-6 page myth you will see online. Build yours here.
Veteran Networking: American Corporate Partners (ACP) provides free mentorship from corporate executives - you will get paired with someone in your target industry. ACP is legitimate and completely free for veterans.
Education Benefits: Don't sleep on your GI Bill for professional certifications. CAP, PMP, SHRM-CP, and many other certification exam fees and prep courses are covered. Check with your local VA education office or use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to verify program approval.
Clearance Leverage: If you hold an active Secret or higher clearance, that has real market value - especially with defense contractors and federal agencies. ClearanceJobs.com lists positions that require active clearances. Administrative roles with clearance requirements often pay 15-25% more than non-cleared equivalents. Don't let yours lapse during transition.
BMR Career Resources
Navy Resume Guide: Rating Translation | Complete Military Resume Guide | Top Companies Hiring Veterans | Build Your Resume Free
Your 30 / 60 / 90-Day Transition Plan
Most people do this backwards. They wait until terminal leave to start, then panic. Here's the sequence that works. Already out? Same plan, start at day one today.
Set the foundation
- Pull your DD-214 (request from Milconnect if separated)
- List your top 3 civilian roles AND top 3 GS series
- Build your tailored YN resume — BMR does it free
- Write 1 strong LinkedIn headline (not "veteran seeking opportunities")
- Pull together your evals/performance reports for accomplishments
Apply with intent
- Apply to 5–10 jobs/week — quality over quantity
- Tailor every resume to the job description (BMR auto-tailors)
- Connect with 5 people/week on LinkedIn (not a spray)
- Set up a USAJobs profile and a saved-search alert for your GS series
- Practice translating your military bullets out loud — explain to a civilian friend
Close the offer
- Track every application — date, status, contact, notes
- Follow up 7–10 days after each application
- Prep for behavioral interviews using the STAR method
- Negotiate salary — don't take the first offer (BLS median is your floor)
- Stay applying even after one offer — leverage = options
Print this. Tape it to your monitor. Veterans who treat the job search like a 90-day op get hired faster than the ones who treat it like an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What civilian jobs can a Navy Yeoman get?
How much do former Navy Yeomen make as civilians?
What if I want to leave administration entirely?
Is my security clearance valuable outside the military?
How does Veterans Preference work for federal admin jobs?
Should I get the CAP certification?
How do I explain Navy admin experience in a non-admin job interview?
Should I use my GI Bill for a degree or certifications?
Where are the best job markets for former Navy Yeomen?
Can I start job searching while still on active duty?
Translate your YN Yeoman experience into a resume that gets callbacks
Stop rewriting from scratch every time you apply. BMR turns your military experience into civilian and federal resumes — tailored to each job.