Your military intelligence background — whether Army 35-series, Navy CT ratings, or Air Force 1N AFSCs — is among the most directly transferable skill sets in the entire veteran workforce. The IC wants you.
Translate Your MOSThe intelligence community (IC) and defense sector are the largest employers of military intelligence veterans, and for good reason: your training in analysis, collection, counterintelligence, SIGINT, HUMINT, and threat assessment is directly applicable to civilian roles at the CIA, DIA, NSA, FBI, and dozens of defense contractors. With an active TS/SCI clearance, you are one of the most in-demand candidates in the entire job market. Entry-level intelligence analyst roles start at $60,000-$75,000, while senior analysts and managers with active clearances routinely earn $130,000-$180,000+. The clearance premium alone adds $15,000-$40,000 to base salary.
The most directly transferable MOS in the intelligence field. Moves into all-source intelligence analyst, threat analyst, and strategic intelligence roles at every IC agency and major defense contractor.
Direct TranslationTranslates to counterintelligence agent, CI analyst, source operations officer, and intelligence operations specialist. CIA, FBI, and DIA actively recruit 35Ms.
Direct TranslationSignals intelligence experience maps directly to SIGINT analyst, technical intelligence analyst, and communications surveillance roles at NSA, defense contractors, and IC agencies.
Direct TranslationNavy CT ratings are among the most sought-after backgrounds in the IC. CTN (Networks) maps to cyber intelligence, CTI (Interpretive) to language analysis, CTR (Collection) to SIGINT collection management.
Direct TranslationAir Force intelligence AFSCs translate directly: 1N0 (Operations Intel) to all-source analyst, 1N1 (Geospatial) to GEOINT analyst, 1N2 (Signals) to SIGINT analyst, 1N4 (Fusion) to senior analyst roles.
Direct TranslationMarine intelligence specialists and CI/HUMINT operators transition to the same roles as their Army counterparts. The smaller community means tighter networks for job referrals.
Direct Translation| Role | Base Salary | With TS/SCI | With CI Poly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Analyst (Entry) | $60,000-$75,000 | $75,000-$90,000 | $85,000-$100,000 |
| All-Source Analyst | $70,000-$90,000 | $90,000-$110,000 | $100,000-$125,000 |
| Counterintelligence Agent | $65,000-$85,000 | $85,000-$105,000 | $95,000-$120,000 |
| SIGINT Analyst | $72,000-$95,000 | $95,000-$120,000 | $110,000-$140,000 |
| Threat Assessment Specialist | $68,000-$88,000 | $88,000-$110,000 | $100,000-$130,000 |
| Intelligence Manager / Senior Analyst | $90,000-$120,000 | $120,000-$155,000 | $140,000-$180,000+ |
| Collection Manager | $85,000-$110,000 | $110,000-$140,000 | $130,000-$165,000 |
An active TS/SCI clearance is worth $15,000-$30,000 in additional salary. Adding a CI polygraph can push the premium to $25,000-$40,000. Your clearance begins deactivation 24 months after separation — the clock is ticking. Apply to cleared positions immediately upon (or before) separation to maximize this asset. A new TS/SCI investigation costs employers $5,800+ and takes 12-18 months, making your existing clearance extremely valuable.
Critical Clearance Warning: Your TS/SCI clearance is your single most valuable career asset after separation. It begins deactivating the day you leave service. Do NOT let it lapse by waiting too long to find the "perfect" job. Accept any cleared position first, then upgrade. A lapsed TS/SCI can take 12-18 months and $5,800+ to reinvestigate, and you may not receive the same level of access.
$392 | 2-3 months | DoD 8570/8140 baseline certification. Required for most IC contractor roles involving information systems. The single most important cert for intelligence veterans entering the contractor space.
$749 | 6-12 months + 5yr exp | Senior intelligence and cybersecurity roles. Demonstrates deep security knowledge. Required for many senior IC positions and significantly boosts salary.
EC-Council | $450-$900 | 3-6 months | Validates threat intelligence tradecraft for private sector roles. Growing in demand as corporate threat intelligence programs expand.
SANS/GIAC | $2,000-$8,000 with training | 3-6 months | Premium certifications for cyber threat intelligence (GCTI) and open-source intelligence (GOSI). Command top salaries.
Direct hire intelligence analyst, operations officer, and technical collection positions. Active veteran recruitment program. Government pay scale (GS/GG) with full federal benefits. Apply through cia.gov/careers — allow 6-12 months for hiring process. Government Benefits
The most natural transition for military intelligence veterans. Defense intelligence analysts, HUMINT operations, collection management. Military culture persists. Apply through dia.mil. Strong Veteran Culture
SIGINT and cyber intelligence roles. Highest technical requirements but also highest technical pay. CTN, 35N/35S, and 1N2 veterans are particularly valued. Apply through intelligencecareers.gov.
The "Big Four" defense intelligence contractors. Thousands of intelligence analyst positions at any given time. Faster hiring than government agencies. Often serve as stepping stones to IC agency positions. Fastest Hiring
Veteran Advantage: Military intelligence professionals are among the most sought-after veterans in the civilian job market. Your combination of analytical tradecraft, clearance, operational experience, and discipline under pressure is virtually impossible to replicate through civilian education alone. The intelligence community was built by veterans, and the culture reflects it — you will find more former military colleagues than in almost any other civilian career field.
The MOS Translator maps your military intelligence specialty to specific civilian roles with salary data, clearance premiums, and required certifications.
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