The 10 best career paths for veterans after leaving the military

Veterans gain valuable leadership skills while serving in the military, which can often translate to a successful career in government or public administration. With plenty of opportunities for career growth and flexible hours, veterans looking to enter this career path should consider applying for jobs in administration, program analysis, and public affairs.

Average annual salary: $60,573/year

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Defense contracting involves creating materials that will help aid the various sections of national defense. Whether you're building weaponry or an aircraft, defense contracting work offers competitive salaries and is directly related to the military. Potential jobs in defense contracting could include becoming an analyst, an intelligence specialist, a contract management specialist, or a quality assurance manager.

Average annual salary: $57,624/year

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Information technology jobs are expanding year after year, so veterans may want to consider joining this career. IT jobs provide competitive salaries and a clear path toward career advancement. Popular career paths in the IT field among veterans include project management, systems engineering, cybersecurity, data analysis, and information security analysis.

Average annual salary: $54,057/year

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Financial services jobs are popular among veterans, with more than one in 10 younger vets placed in a job related to finance. Salaries are competitive, and popular career paths can range anywhere from being a financial advisor to a finance manager or accountant.

Average annual salary: $54,983/year

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For veterans who value mission-based work, a career in education may be the perfect fit. Most careers in education do require a college degree, and 13% of career-holding veterans end up in education-related professions.

Average annual salary: $43,967/year

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One popular career path among many veterans is law enforcement. Skills and experiences learned in the military make veterans a valuable asset to any law enforcement organization. Possible law enforcement careers for retired military members could include becoming a police officer, a crime scene investigator, an emergency dispatcher, or a corrections officer.

Average annual salary: $46,083/year

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Veterans working in the retail industry can enjoy working on a team as well as the benefits of flexible hours. Veteran employment in retail is most popular among veterans aged 45 and older, and popular career paths include sales, marketing, and warehouse logistics.

Average annual salary: $25,540/year

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The manufacturing industry is a viable career path for veterans without college degrees. While the average annual salary for careers in manufacturing as a whole is only $27,199, entry-level maintenance technicians reportedly make an average of $39,111 per year and manufacturing supervisors make an average of $57,666 per year.

Average annual salary: $27,199/year

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For veterans who prefer a more active, physical career path, working in a warehouse could be the right career choice. With the holiday season around the corner, companies with jobs in transportation and warehouses are ramping up their seasonal hiring to deal with large influxes of packages, so there couldn't be a better time to apply.

Average annual salary: $27,449/year

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