Navigating the wide range of choices in a rapidly changing education marketplace can be a challenging and confusing task for anyone. Unlike your civilian counterparts, whose chief issue choosing a school may be affordability, transitioning military often carry a substantive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit. Schools across the country have taken note and often invest heavily in attracting new post-military, as well as active-duty military, and Reserves students.
Being able to obtain a degree at little or no cost from top schools is a tremendous benefit, but it is an opportunity that should not be taken lightly. Your education should result in better job prospects when you graduate. An important point to keep in mind is that jobs often require prior experience, along with a degree.
Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Labor produces regular projections of occupations with the greatest demand and highest earning potential, along with prior experience requirements. Here are 12 degrees for post-military prosperity that require additional education, including a few that require no prior experience due to a shortage of qualified applicants.
Vocational Diploma/Certificate Required
First-line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 87,900
Median Wage: $53,090
Experience: 1 to 5 years leadership experience
Telecom Technicians
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers set up and maintain devices or equipment that carry communications signals, connect to telephone lines, or access the Internet.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 59,300
Median Wage: $54,710
Experience: None
Licensed Vocational Nurses
Care for ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled persons in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 369,200
Median Wage: $40,380
Experience: None required
Associate Degree Required
Operations Managers
Plan, direct or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 410,000
Median Wage: $94,400
Experience: 1-5 years in a technical field
Construction Managers
Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget and supervise construction projects from early development to completion.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 120,400
Median Wage: $83,860
Experience: 5+ years
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
Take X-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient’s blood stream for diagnostic purposes. Includes technologists who specialize in other modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance. Includes workers whose primary duties are to demonstrate portions of the human body on X-ray film or fluoroscopic screen.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 95,100
Median Wage: $54,340
Experience: None required
Bachelor’s Degree Required
Sales Managers
Sales managers direct organizations’ sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data and develop training programs for the organization’s sales representatives.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 139,700
Median Wage: $98,530
Experience: 1-5 years
Management Analysts
Management analysts, often called management consultants, propose ways to improve an organization’s efficiency. They advise managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced costs and increased revenues.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 274,300
Median Wage: $78,160
Experience: 1-5 years
Software Developers, Systems Software
Research, design, develop and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software for medical, industrial, military, communications, aerospace, business, scientific, and general computing applications. Set operational specifications and formulate and analyze software requirements. May design embedded systems software. Apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering and mathematical analysis.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 168,000
Median Wage: $94,180
Experience: None required
Master’s/Professional Degree Required
Pharmacists
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer advice on their safe use. Pharmacists must have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), a four-year professional degree. They also must be licensed, which requires passing two exams.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 136,000
Median Wage: $111,570
Experience: None
Physical Therapists
Physical therapists help people who have injuries or illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain. They are often an important part of rehabilitation and treatment of patients with chronic conditions or injuries. Physical therapists typically need a doctoral degree in physical therapy. All states require physical therapists to be licensed
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 100,600
Median Wage: $76,310
Experience: None
Post-Secondary Teachers
Post-secondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and vocational subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books. Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Most commonly, post-secondary teachers must have a Ph.D. However, a master’s degree may be enough for some post-secondary teachers at community colleges. In technical and trade schools, work experience may be important for getting a post-secondary teaching job.
New Job Openings 2010-2020: 586,100
Median Wage: $62,050
Experience: None