Coast Guard · IT
Your Information System Technician experience maps to civilian jobs like Network and Computer Systems Administrators—and well beyond. Explore the specific roles below, see what each pays and requires, and build from there.
These are the civilian jobs the U.S. Department of Labor maps to IT, 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 Information System Technician experience already fits, and build toward the rest.
$95,360/yr mediantypical $59k–$149k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers.
Why it fits: A direct Department of Labor match—your Information System Technician work maps straight onto the it, cybersecurity & data side of this role.
$71,530/yr mediantypical $46k–$122k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Information System Technician occupations on the it, cybersecurity & data side—a natural next step.
$104,920/yr mediantypical $50k–$174k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Develop and oversee the implementation of information security procedures and policies.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Information System Technician occupations on the it, cybersecurity & data side—a natural next step.
$132,270/yr mediantypical $77k–$209k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Information System Technician occupations on the it, cybersecurity & data side—a natural next step.
$101,510/yr mediantypical $54k–$158k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Information System Technician occupations on the it, cybersecurity & data side—a natural next step.
$129,840/yr mediantypical $78k–$195k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Information System Technician occupations on the it, cybersecurity & data side—a natural next step.
$103,800/yr mediantypical $63k–$166k
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Information System Technician occupations on the it, cybersecurity & data 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).
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 tasks, tools, equipment, qualifications, safety discipline, and the conditions in which you performed. Do not inflate supervisory scope.
Add team leadership, training, inspections, work allocation, quality control, readiness, and the people or assets you directly supervised.
Emphasize multi-team operations, schedules, resource forecasting, safety systems, policy enforcement, advising leaders, and organization-level results.
A translated title isn't enough. These four moves turn Information System Technician experience into evidence a civilian hiring manager can act on.
List the systems, vehicles, equipment, and tools you personally operated as Information System Technician—plus qualifications, certifications, and the recurring high-stakes tasks you owned.
Coast Guardsmen 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 “IT.” Search job boards by the equipment, skills, and outcomes above as much as by “Information System Technician.”
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.
17-week tech training (cloud, cyber, development) with a built-in hiring network.
Scholarship cybersecurity training and industry certifications for veterans.
Free tech education, entrepreneurship, and employment programs.
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.