Army · 68W
A combat medic is not just an EMT. The role covers emergency and trauma care, patient assessment, medication administration under protocol, medical documentation, medical logistics, and clinic support, often while leading and training others. That range supports many clinical, logistics, public-health, and healthcare-administration directions, though civilian roles still require their own licensure.
These are the civilian jobs the U.S. Department of Labor maps to 68W, plus the roles most closely related to them—ordered from the closest match. Think of them as a floor, not a ceiling: see what each role involves and pays, start where your Combat Medic Specialist experience already fits, and build toward the rest.
$53,180/yr mediantypical $39k–$79k~99K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses.
Why it fits: A direct Department of Labor match—your Combat Medic Specialist work maps straight onto the healthcare (clinical) side of this role.
$38,930/yr mediantypical $30k–$59k~167K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Assess injuries and illnesses and administer basic emergency medical care.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Combat Medic Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
$86,070/yr mediantypical $64k–$133k~3.2M U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth; many openings
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Combat Medic Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
$86,070/yr mediantypical $64k–$133k~3.2M U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth; many openings
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Combat Medic Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
$59,730/yr mediantypical $46k–$78k~630K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Combat Medic Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
$86,070/yr mediantypical $64k–$133k~3.2M U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth; many openings
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Combat Medic Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
$59,160/yr mediantypical $37k–$101k~19K U.S. jobs
★ Bright Outlook — Rapid growth
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant…
Why it fits: Closely related to your Combat Medic Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
Source: O*NET / DMDC Military Crosswalk and O*NET related-occupations data, August 2024. Pay is BLS OEWS (May 2023).
Adjacent and stretch fields where your experience gives you a credible starting point.
$53,180/yr medianParamedics (representative)
Why it fits: Field trauma care and composure map directly to emergency medical services.
What it takes: The NREMT earned in training helps; state licensure is required and paramedic needs added schooling.
Explore this route →$42,000/yr medianMedical Assistants (representative)
Why it fits: Assessment, vitals, and bedside care transfer to hospital and clinic support roles.
What it takes: Employer onboarding or a CMA/CCMA credential; military training may shorten it.
Explore this route →$48,940/yr medianSurveying and Mapping Technicians (representative)
Why it fits: Clinical exposure is a strong foundation for LPN/LVN and RN pathways.
What it takes: Complete an accredited nursing program; some schools grant credit for military medical training.
Explore this route →$130,020/yr medianPhysician Assistants (representative)
Why it fits: Advanced medic experience is a recognized on-ramp; it does not by itself qualify you.
What it takes: PA school required (active-duty IPAP is one route).
Explore this route →$48,940/yr medianSurveying and Mapping Technicians (representative)
Why it fits: Medical supply accountability and equipment handling support supply chain and sterile-processing roles.
What it takes: A CRCST or supply credential strengthens the move.
Explore this route →$41,410/yr medianSocial and Human Service Assistants (representative)
Why it fits: Screening, education, and coordination support community health programs.
What it takes: A community-health-worker certificate helps in many states.
Explore this route →Why it fits: Documented clinical experience can support 0640/0620-series roles when specialized experience is met.
What it takes: Mirror the vacancy questionnaire; licensure requirements vary by role.
Explore this route →Use the level that reflects what you actually did—not rank alone. Two people with the same code and very different experience should not submit the same résumé.
Lead with hands-on patient care, procedures performed, certifications (e.g., NREMT/TCCC), and aid-station or line-medic settings.
Add section-medic leadership: junior medics trained, clinic/treatment-team supervision, protocols enforced, and readiness tracking.
Emphasize medical operations planning, personnel and equipment management, program oversight, and advising commanders on medical readiness.
A translated title isn't enough. These four moves turn Combat Medic Specialist experience into evidence a civilian hiring manager can act on.
List the systems, vehicles, equipment, and tools you personally operated as Combat Medic Specialist—plus qualifications, certifications, and the recurring high-stakes tasks you owned.
Soldiers led, dollar value of equipment you were accountable for, workload, readiness rates, and safety or quality outcomes. Scope beats adjectives.
For any target role, name the license, degree, or software it requires and start now—your GI Bill and credentialing assistance can cover most of it.
Recruiters rarely search “68W.” Search job boards by the equipment, skills, and outcomes above as much as by “Combat Medic Specialist.”
You don't have to make this jump alone. These programs exist specifically to move service members into civilian careers—most are free, and several pay you while you train.
Train or intern with a civilian employer during your last ~180 days on active duty—at full military pay.
Earn a paycheck while you train for a trade or technical role; USMAP can credit the military training you already have.
Corporate fellowships and hiring events that place transitioning service members and military spouses.
Free career training and nationally recognized certifications for service members, veterans, and spouses.
VA-funded high-tech training (IT, cyber, data, software) that does not touch your GI Bill entitlement.
Free local career centers plus certification and state-by-state license finders for any field.
How to use this: Treat these as targets, not limits. Your exact duties depend on your assignments, so lead with what you actually did—and remember that regulated careers require their own license, certification, or degree.