Navy · OS
Navy Operations Specialists run the Combat Information Center—tracking radar, managing tactical pictures, and coordinating movement in real time. That transfers directly to air-traffic and radar work, operations centers, dispatch, and data/analysis careers.
There's no one-to-one civilian crosswalk for OS—the Department of Labor doesn't map a single job title to it. These are the specific civilian roles Operations Specialist experience genuinely maps to: what each pays, what it involves, and why it fits.
$48,890/yr mediantypical $33k–$76k
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers.
Why it fits: Your Operations Specialist experience maps directly onto the administration & operations support side of this role.
$83,960/yr mediantypical $50k–$152k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods,…
Why it fits: Your Operations Specialist experience maps directly onto the management & project leadership side of this role.
$79,400/yr mediantypical $48k–$129k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization.
Why it fits: Your Operations Specialist experience maps directly onto the business & financial operations side of this role.
$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: Your Operations Specialist experience maps directly onto the it, cybersecurity & data side of this role.
$98,580/yr mediantypical $58k–$163k
Typical entry: Bachelor’s degree typically expected
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis.
Why it fits: Your Operations Specialist experience maps directly onto the business & financial operations side of this role.
$46,860/yr mediantypical $32k–$76k
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Schedule and dispatch workers, work crews, equipment, or service vehicles for conveyance of materials, freight, or passengers, or for normal installation, service, or emergency repairs rendered…
Why it fits: Closely related to your Operations Specialist occupations on the administration & operations support side—a natural next step.
$38,930/yr mediantypical $30k–$59k
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 Operations Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
$54,580/yr mediantypical $37k–$87k
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Operations Specialist occupations on the protective & law enforcement side—a natural next step.
$36,750/yr mediantypical $28k–$59k
Typical entry: High-school diploma plus short on-the-job training
Operate telephone business systems equipment or switchboards to relay incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Operations Specialist occupations on the administration & operations support side—a natural next step.
$53,180/yr mediantypical $39k–$79k
Typical entry: Associate degree, apprenticeship, or vocational training
Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses.
Why it fits: Closely related to your Operations Specialist occupations on the healthcare (clinical) side—a natural next step.
$72,250/yr mediantypical $53k–$108k
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 Operations Specialist occupations on the protective & law enforcement side—a natural next step.
Roles selected from the O*NET occupations that fit Operations Specialist experience; the Department of Labor doesn't publish a one-to-one crosswalk for this code. Pay is BLS OEWS (May 2023). See the O*NET crosswalk.
Adjacent and stretch fields where your experience gives you a credible starting point.
$66,680/yr medianElectrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (representative)
Why it fits: Radar tracking and airspace coordination transfer to ATC and radar roles.
What it takes: FAA requirements apply; military experience supports controller hiring.
Explore this route →$83,960/yr medianEmergency Management Directors (representative)
Why it fits: Real-time tracking and coordination map to 911, transit, and utility dispatch and operations centers.
What it takes: State dispatcher certification for public safety.
Explore this route →$88,730/yr medianCaptains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (representative)
Why it fits: Navigation plotting and vessel coordination support port and vessel-traffic roles.
What it takes: Document systems and vessel classes.
Explore this route →$108,020/yr medianData Scientists (representative)
Why it fits: Track management and tactical data build a foundation for data and GIS analysis.
What it takes: Add Excel/SQL/GIS tools.
Explore this route →$120,360/yr medianInformation Security Analysts (representative)
Why it fits: Monitoring and incident coordination fit SOC roles.
What it takes: Security+ helps; a clearance is an asset.
Explore this route →Why it fits: Operations experience supports several federal series.
What it takes: Target the specialized experience.
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 Operations Specialist experience into evidence a civilian hiring manager can act on.
List the systems, vehicles, equipment, and tools you personally operated as Operations Specialist—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 “OS.” Search job boards by the equipment, skills, and outcomes above as much as by “Operations 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.