Navy · MA
Navy Master-at-Arms are the Navy’s police—law enforcement, force protection, investigations, and physical security. That transfers directly to policing, corrections, corporate security, and federal law-enforcement careers.
These are the civilian jobs the U.S. Department of Labor maps to MA, 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 Master-at-Arms experience already fits, and build toward the rest.
$72,280/yr mediantypical $45k–$112k~646K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances.
Why it fits: A direct Department of Labor match—your Master-at-Arms work maps straight onto the protective & law enforcement side of this role.
$91,100/yr mediantypical $51k–$154k~107K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Master-at-Arms occupations on the protective & law enforcement side—a natural next step.
$101,750/yr mediantypical $60k–$161k~138K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Master-at-Arms occupations on the protective & law enforcement side—a natural next step.
$72,250/yr mediantypical $53k–$108k~2K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Protect and police railroad and transit property, employees, or passengers.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Master-at-Arms occupations on the protective & law enforcement side—a natural next step.
$53,040/yr mediantypical $30k–$88k~16K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Maintain order in courts of law.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Master-at-Arms occupations on the protective & law enforcement side—a natural next step.
$53,300/yr mediantypical $38k–$87k~351K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Master-at-Arms occupations on the protective & law enforcement side—a natural next step.
$61,800/yr mediantypical $42k–$105k~86K U.S. jobs
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Master-at-Arms occupations on the community & social services 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.
$72,280/yr medianPolice and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (representative)
Why it fits: Patrol, use-of-force, and investigation experience transfer directly to policing.
What it takes: Academy / POST certification; background and fitness standards apply.
Explore this route →$72,280/yr medianPolice and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (representative)
Why it fits: Custody and supervision experience map to corrections roles.
What it takes: Academy/certification requirements apply.
Explore this route →$37,070/yr medianSecurity Guards (representative)
Why it fits: Physical security, access control, and incident response fit corporate security.
What it takes: State licensing; ASIS credentials help for management.
Explore this route →$72,280/yr medianPolice and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (representative)
Why it fits: Enforcement experience and clearance are competitive for federal agent/officer roles.
What it takes: Age, fitness, and background standards apply.
Explore this route →$91,100/yr medianDetectives and Criminal Investigators (representative)
Why it fits: Report writing and evidence discipline support investigations and compliance.
What it takes: Document case types and outcomes.
Explore this route →$37,070/yr medianSecurity Guards (representative)
Why it fits: Incident response and antiterrorism experience fit EOC and security-management roles.
What it takes: FEMA Independent Study courses help.
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 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 Master-at-Arms experience into evidence a civilian hiring manager can act on.
List the systems, vehicles, equipment, and tools you personally operated as Master-at-Arms—plus qualifications, certifications, and the recurring high-stakes tasks you owned.
Sailors 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 “MA.” Search job boards by the equipment, skills, and outcomes above as much as by “Master-at-Arms.”
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.