7 Top Jobs For Canadian Veterans

Get Back To Work, Soldier!

By Alida Moore, PayScale.com

What job options are available for a former soldier who is transitioning to life as a civilian?

The skills learned in a service career lend themselves well to a civilian career. Experiences also go a long way to building a post-service resume. “People in the military attain valuable skills in information technology and leadership. They take that knowledge to the private sector,” explains Katie Bardaro, Director of Analytics at online salary database PayScale.com. “The win for many veterans is that the jobs that require those skills typically pay well,” says Bardaro.

If you are a solider heading toward retirement from service, consider this list of careers that all pay over $60,000.

Program Manager, IT
Median Pay: $83,000

It is common for commanding officers to order their troops to learn the job of the person above them. Then, if a soldier is injured in battle, others can quickly make decisions. On a smaller scale, a program manager is responsible for knowing the jobs of every person on his or her team, from coding to designing, to ensure completion of a project in a timely and successful manner.

Program Manager, Aviation/Aerospace
Median Pay: $82,900

This career could be well-suited for a veteran with aviation experience. An aviation/aerospace program manager spends his or her time overseeing projects from start to finish, through design, research, integration, and testing. Organizational skills are a must.

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager
Median Pay: $79,900

Those service men and women who have experience in science and engineering could enjoy a career as an EHS manager. Responsible for addressing workplace concerns such as air quality, ergonomics, and waste management, EHS managers can enjoy a career in a variety of industries.

Business Development Manager
Median Pay: $73,100

One of the key traits of an effective soldier is leadership. Having the ability to command the respect of fellow soldiers, while strategizing for missions, can lead to many careers in the private sector. A business development manager is required to make a plan to grow a business, while inspiring others to follow.

Intelligence Analyst
Median Pay: $72,500

If you are retiring from the military but would like to continue to serve your country, consider a career as an intelligence analyst. Often working for the FBI, intelligence analysts are tasked with protecting America’s national security. They keep the country safe from domestic attack by analyzing the intelligence collected in field offices and siphoning out credible threats.

Mechanical Engineer:
Median Pay: $68,600

For soldiers whose time in the military was spent developing weapons, researching and improving navigation systems, or creating test standards for mechanical systems, a private sector career as a mechanical engineer is a logical conclusion. Veterans could find engineering jobs at engineering firms or government agencies.

Software Developer:
Median Pay: $63,900

Strong problem solvers are one of the military’s greatest assets. Combine that skill with the ability to understand mathematical concepts and computer programming, and you have a fine software developer.

Source: All salary data provided by online salary database PayScale.com. Pay listed is median, annual pay for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include all bonuses, commissions or profit sharing. Veterans are survey respondents who reported that their job 5 years ago was an active service member in one of the 3 branches of the Canadian military (Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Army, or Royal Canadian Navy).