56A MOS Chaplain — Civilian Career Guide
Provides religious services, counseling, and spiritual care to soldiers and families. Advises commanders on morale, ethics, and religious accommodation.
CAREER PATHS
4
TOP SALARY
$62,000.00
AVG SALARY
$57,735.00
Civilian Career Matches
Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Salaries are national medians — your area may vary.
Clergy
SOC 21-2011
$57,230.00
median/yr
Counselor
SOC 21-1014
$53,710.00
median/yr
Hospital Chaplain
SOC 21-2011
$62,000.00
median/yr
College Chaplain
SOC 21-2011
$58,000.00
median/yr
What's your next step?
You've got the civilian career picture. Now: pick what to tackle next. Most 56A Chaplain veterans separating in the next 12 months should start here.
Do this first
Start your VA disability claim
File before separation. Every day = back-pay you can't recover. Free claims tracker covers 110+ conditions.
Where to settle
Compare 50 states for veterans
Property tax exemptions, no-state-income-tax states, healthcare access. Side-by-side comparisons.
12-month roadmap
Build your transition timeline
TAP class, VA enrollment, terminal leave, TSP, SkillBridge — all the deadlines no one tells you.
Quick calculator
Estimate your VA combined rating
The VA doesn't add ratings — they use a specific formula. See your combined rating in 30 seconds.
Skills That Transfer
Recommended Certifications
These certifications can increase your salary by 10-25% and make you more competitive for civilian roles.
How to pay for these — you likely don't pay out of pocket
- GI Bill: the Post-9/11 GI Bill reimburses licensing & certification test fees up to $2,000 per exam— and it doesn't use a full month of entitlement.
- While you're still in:your branch's Credentialing Assistance program can cover the full cost of many of these certs (often several thousand dollars a year) — check Army COOL / Credentialing Assistance ↗ for what's funded and current amounts.
- Tip: start certs before you separate — Credentialing Assistance is only for currently-serving members; after separation you shift to the GI Bill.
VA conditions commonly associated with 56A service
The documented noise, physical demands, and exposures of a Chaplain role are commonly linked to the conditions below. This is awareness of what this job can lead to, not a promise of a rating. The VA decides every claim on your own diagnosis and evidence. If you deal with any of these, here is how each is rated.
Weapons, engines, and flightline noise are the #1 driver of ringing in the ears.
See how it is rated →Repeated noise exposure without perfect hearing protection is extremely common.
See how it is rated →Rucking, lifting, and body armor load the spine for years.
See how it is rated →Repetitive hand/keyboard or tool work compresses the wrist nerve.
See how it is rated →Stress, irregular meals, and meds drive chronic reflux.
See how it is rated →High-tempo or high-stakes duty can cause lasting anxiety.
See how it is rated →A free accredited VSO can help you file any of these at no cost. Never pay a fee or a percentage of your back pay for claim help.
Translate Your 56A Experience to a Civilian Resume
Use our free resume builder to convert your Chaplain skills and experience into language civilian employers understand. Built specifically for Army veterans.
56A Chaplain: Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 56A Chaplain do?
Provides religious services, counseling, and spiritual care to soldiers and families. Advises commanders on morale, ethics, and religious accommodation.
What civilian jobs can a 56A Chaplain transition into?
Common civilian careers for a 56A (Army MOS) Chaplain include Clergy, Counselor, Hospital Chaplain, and College Chaplain. These roles draw on the same skills and experience you built in service — see the full skill-to-career mapping above.
How much does a 56A Chaplain make in civilian work?
Civilian roles that match a 56A Chaplain have median salaries ranging from about $53,710 to $62,000 per year, depending on the role, location, and your certifications and clearance. Figures are BLS median wage data for the matched occupations.
What certifications help a 56A Chaplain land a civilian job?
Certifications that strengthen a 56A Chaplain resume include Board Certified Chaplain (BCC), Licensed Professional Counselor, and CPE Units. Many can be started before you separate, and several are covered by VA education benefits or credentialing programs.
What skills does a 56A Chaplain bring to civilian employers?
Employers value the transferable skills a 56A Chaplain develops, including Counseling, Crisis intervention, Public speaking, Interfaith relations, and Ethics advising. Translating these into civilian terms on your resume is what turns military experience into interviews.
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56A Jobs by State
Explore 56A Chaplain career opportunities by state.