Department of Defense Civilian Careers for Veterans: Complete Guide
Comprehensive guide to DoD civilian careers for veterans. Learn about positions, hiring programs, locations, salary ranges, and how to transition from military to DoD civilian employment.
Department of Defense Civilian Careers for Veterans: Complete Guide
You've served in the military. Now you can continue supporting the mission—with better hours, civilian benefits, and without the PT tests.
The Department of Defense is the largest federal employer, with over 950,000 civilian employees working alongside military personnel across the globe. For veterans, DoD civilian employment offers the rare opportunity to maintain your military connections while enjoying civilian work-life balance.
This guide covers everything you need to know about transitioning from military service to DoD civilian careers.
Why DoD Civilian for Veterans?
Culture Fit
DoD understands military culture because the organization IS military culture. As a DoD civilian, you'll:
- Work with people who understand your background
- Use familiar terminology and processes
- Continue supporting national defense
- Maintain connections to the military community
Veteran Hiring Commitment
DoD leads all federal agencies in veteran hiring:
- 28% of DoD civilians are veterans (highest of any agency)
- Active VRA and 30% disabled veteran programs
- Priority Placement Program for military spouses
- Dedicated veteran employment coordinators
Mission Continuity
Many veterans find meaning in continued defense work:
- Support the same missions you served
- Mentor active duty personnel
- Apply your tactical knowledge
- Stay connected to national security
DoD Civilian by the Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total civilian workforce | ~950,000 |
| Veteran employees | ~266,000 (28%) |
| Locations worldwide | 140+ countries |
| Average GS grade | GS-10 |
| Largest occupation | Administrative (GS-0301) |
DoD Components
DoD civilian positions exist across:
Military Departments:
- Department of the Army (largest civilian workforce)
- Department of the Navy
- Department of the Air Force (includes Space Force)
Defense Agencies:
- Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
- National Security Agency (NSA)
- Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)
- Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)
- Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
- Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
- Defense Health Agency (DHA)
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
Field Activities:
- Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA)
- Defense Media Activity
- Pentagon Force Protection Agency
- Washington Headquarters Services
Top Positions for Veterans
By MOS/Rating Translation
| Military Background | DoD Civilian Positions |
|---|---|
| 11B/0311 Infantry | Security Specialist, Police Officer, Range Control |
| 25B/IT Systems | IT Specialist (2210), Cyber, Network Admin |
| 35F/Intelligence | Intelligence Specialist, All-Source Analyst |
| 88M/Motor Transport | Transportation Specialist, Logistics |
| 91B/Wheeled Vehicle | Equipment Mechanic, Maintenance |
| 68W/Medic | Medical Technician, Health Tech |
| 42A/HR Specialist | Human Resources Specialist |
| 92Y/Supply | Supply Technician, Logistics Management |
High-Demand DoD Career Fields
Cybersecurity (2210 Series)
- IT Specialist (INFOSEC)
- Information Security Specialist
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- GS-9 to GS-15: $52K-$165K+
Intelligence (0132 Series)
- Intelligence Specialist
- All-Source Analyst
- Operations Analyst
- GS-9 to GS-15: $52K-$155K+
Logistics (0346 Series)
- Logistics Management Specialist
- Supply Chain Analyst
- Materiel Manager
- GS-7 to GS-14: $42K-$140K
Contract Specialist (1102 Series)
- Contract Specialist
- Procurement Analyst
- Contracting Officer
- GS-7 to GS-15: $42K-$165K+
Engineering (0800 Series)
- Mechanical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- GS-9 to GS-15: $52K-$175K
Security (0080 Series)
- Security Specialist
- Personnel Security Specialist
- Physical Security Specialist
- GS-7 to GS-13: $42K-$115K
DoD Locations
CONUS Major Installations
Washington DC Area (Largest concentration)
- Pentagon
- Fort Belvoir, VA
- Fort Meade, MD (NSA)
- Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
- Quantico, VA
Texas
- Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood)
- Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio
- Joint Base San Antonio
- Fort Bliss, El Paso
California
- Camp Pendleton
- Edwards AFB
- Naval Base San Diego
- Twentynine Palms
North Carolina
- Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg)
- Camp Lejeune
- Cherry Point
Georgia
- Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning)
- Fort Stewart
- Robins AFB
Virginia
- Norfolk Naval Station
- Joint Base Langley-Eustis
- Quantico Marine Base
OCONUS Locations
Germany: Ramstein, Stuttgart, Grafenwöhr Japan: Yokota, Okinawa, Yokosuka Korea: Camp Humphreys, Yongsan Italy: Aviano, Vicenza, Naples UK: RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall Guam, Hawaii, Alaska and 100+ other locations
Location Strategy
High locality pay areas:
- DC Metro: 33% locality adjustment
- San Francisco: 44% locality adjustment
- San Diego: 31% locality adjustment
Lower cost of living:
- Many Southern installations
- Midwest locations
- OCONUS with housing allowances
Salary Ranges by Grade
GS Pay at DoD (2024, DC Locality)
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 10 | Typical Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $45,146 | $53,830 | Entry-level tech, clerk |
| GS-7 | $55,924 | $66,693 | Junior specialist |
| GS-9 | $68,405 | $81,569 | Specialist, analyst |
| GS-11 | $82,764 | $98,695 | Senior specialist |
| GS-12 | $99,200 | $118,294 | Team lead, expert |
| GS-13 | $117,962 | $140,663 | Supervisor, SME |
| GS-14 | $139,395 | $166,200 | Branch chief, senior expert |
| GS-15 | $164,089 | $191,900* | Director, program manager |
*Capped at Executive Level IV
Special Salary Rates
DoD has special salary rates for hard-to-fill positions:
- Cybersecurity positions
- Engineering positions
- Medical professionals
- Certain scientific positions
Special rates can add 10-30% above base GS pay.
Wage Grade (WG) Positions
DoD has significant WG workforce:
- Aircraft mechanics: WG-10 to WG-12 ($25-$45/hour)
- Vehicle mechanics: WG-8 to WG-10 ($20-$35/hour)
- Electricians: WG-10 to WG-11 ($25-$40/hour)
- Warehouse workers: WG-5 to WG-7 ($16-$25/hour)
DoD Hiring Programs for Veterans
Operation Warfighter (OWF)
Internship program for wounded, ill, and injured service members:
- Work experience during recovery
- Pathway to civilian employment
- Multiple DoD component participation
DoD SkillBridge
Civilian job training during last 180 days of service:
- Work for DoD civilians while still on active duty
- Pathway to direct hiring after separation
- Multiple occupational fields available
Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship
Partnership program placing transitioning service members:
- 12-week fellowship with DoD components
- Leads to potential job offers
- Professional development included
Priority Placement Program (PPP)
For military spouses and certain veterans:
- Priority consideration for DoD positions
- Helps with frequent PCS moves
- Spouse employment protection
VRA and 30% Disabled Programs
DoD actively uses veteran hiring authorities:
- VRA for positions GS-11 and below
- 30% disabled veteran authority at all levels
- Direct outreach through veteran coordinators
The DoD Application Process
Where to Find Jobs
Primary source: USAJOBS.gov
- Filter by Department of Defense
- Filter by specific component (Army, Navy, etc.)
- Filter by location
Component-specific sites:
- DCPAS (Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service)
- Individual service civilian career pages
- Defense agency career portals
DoD-Specific Resume Tips
Highlight:
- Military-to-civilian skill translation
- Security clearance level and status
- Military training and certifications
- Deployments and operational experience
- Leadership at each rank
Keywords to include:
- DoD-specific programs you've used
- Military systems and platforms
- Joint operations experience
- Clearance level (if applicable)
Clearance Advantage
If you have a current security clearance:
- Mention it prominently
- Include investigation type and date
- Note if currently active vs. expired
- Clearance transfers are much faster than new investigations
Timeline Expectations
Typical DoD civilian hiring timeline:
- Application to interview: 4-8 weeks
- Interview to selection: 2-4 weeks
- Selection to start (with clearance): 2-4 weeks
- Selection to start (new clearance): 3-12 months
Veterans with active clearances often experience the faster end.
Day in the Life: DoD Civilian
Schedule
Most DoD civilian positions offer:
- Regular hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM typical
- Compressed schedules: 4/10s (4 ten-hour days) or 5/4/9
- Flexible schedules: Core hours with flexible start/end
- Telework: Increasingly available, especially post-COVID
Environment
On military installations:
- Access to commissary and exchange
- Military fitness facilities (varies by installation)
- Familiar military culture
- Regular interaction with service members
Pentagon and headquarters:
- Professional office environment
- High-tempo operations
- Frequent meetings and coordination
- More formal dress code
Relationships
As a DoD civilian veteran:
- You'll mentor and advise active duty personnel
- Your military experience is valued
- Colleagues understand your background
- Strong veteran support networks exist
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Mission continuity:
- Continue supporting national defense
- Apply military expertise
- Meaningful work
Culture fit:
- Familiar environment
- Understood terminology
- Veteran-friendly atmosphere
Career stability:
- Federal job security
- Excellent benefits
- Clear advancement paths
Location options:
- Worldwide positions
- Near military communities
- OCONUS opportunities
Challenges
Bureaucracy:
- Government processes can be slow
- Multiple approval layers
- Extensive documentation
Lower pay ceiling:
- Private sector may pay more for some skills
- GS scale has limits
- Locality variations
Politics and reorganization:
- Budget fluctuations affect hiring
- Reorganizations can shift positions
- Administration changes impact priorities
Geographic constraints:
- Many positions at specific installations
- PCS may be required for advancement
- Not all locations are desirable
Career Progression at DoD
Typical Path
Entry (GS-5/7/9): Individual contributor, learning systems Journey (GS-11/12): Fully proficient, independent work Senior (GS-13/14): Expert, team lead, supervisor Executive (GS-15/SES): Director, senior leader
Advancement Strategies
Within component:
- Career ladder promotions (guaranteed if in ladder)
- Merit promotion to higher grades
- Leadership positions
Across DoD:
- Move between Army/Navy/Air Force
- Transfer to defense agencies
- Geographic mobility increases options
Certifications that help:
- PMP (Project Management Professional)
- DAWIA certifications (Acquisition)
- Security+ and cyber certifications
- Specific program certifications
Getting Started
Immediate Actions
- Create USAJOBS profile with 100% completion
- Claim all veteran eligibilities (VRA, 30% disabled, VEOA, preference)
- Build federal resume tailored to DoD positions
- Research target components (Which agency matches your skills?)
- Network with DoD civilians (Use military connections)
Target Applications
Start with positions where your military experience directly translates:
- Same mission area (intel → DIA, logistics → DLA)
- Same installation (familiar with organization)
- Same systems (expertise in specific platforms)
Use Your Network
Your military network is invaluable:
- Former commanders now in DoD civilian roles
- Military colleagues who've transitioned
- Professional associations (AUSA, Navy League, AFA)
- LinkedIn connections at target components
Resources
Official DoD Resources
- DCPAS – Defense civilian employment authority
- USAJOBS – Primary job search
- DoD SkillBridge – Transition program
Service-Specific
- Army Civilian Careers: www.civiliancareer.army.mil
- Navy Civilian Careers: www.navyciviliancareers.com
- Air Force Civilian Careers: www.afciviliancareers.com
Veteran Support
- VA for Vets: www.vaforvets.va.gov
- Hire Heroes USA: www.hireheroesusa.org
- American Corporate Partners: www.acp-usa.org
The Bottom Line
DoD civilian employment offers veterans:
- Mission continuity without the uniform
- Cultural familiarity that eases transition
- Strong veteran hiring programs that value your service
- Worldwide opportunities at every career level
Your military experience is the foundation. DoD civilian service lets you build on that foundation while enjoying the benefits of civilian life.
Interested in other federal agencies? Explore careers at VA, DHS, or FBI.