There are thousands upon thousands of jobs out there, but for military veterans, it can seem like there are only a few options.
This is very common amongst veterans and other combat arms-related jobs, so I’m glad you are here.
Being an ex-infantryman, I thought the same thing, which led me to the internet.
This also led to lists of jobs that didn’t have what I was looking for.
Then again, who wants to hire a bullet-catching, ground-pounding infantryman?
Well, a lot of people, actually.
Just like every other MOS out there, we have jobs that can use our expertise.
It might not be about shooting guns and fighting bad buys, but it will work well with the kind of person you have become.
And if you are transitioning from a deployment, this will definitely help, too.
This list comes with the typical stuff, but I know some of you won’t benefit from it.
That is why I threw in some better options.
Without further ado, here are what I think are the best jobs for military veterans.
Work From Home Jobs For Military Veterans
There is no better job than one you can do at home or wherever you feel like doing it.
For me, I’d rather work alone than with others who won’t even understand.
Working with “regular people” was not the easiest thing to do, and I personally could not work well with others.
Blame me, blame them, or blame whoever you want, but talking about it will not help anyone.
Sometimes, it’s just better to take on an occupation that works best for you.
Not them.
So, for those who think or feel the same way, here are some work-from-home jobs that you might be interested in.
1. Internet Marketing
This is not your traditional job, but it is perfect for those of you who aren’t really interested in working with or around others.
Or, this can be great for you if you simply can not be bossed around.
Going from being the boss to being told what to do is not an easy thing to deal with, and sometimes you don’t have to.
So if you feel that there might be a problem with having a traditional job, then this is for you.
a. Blogging
I know it might sound a bit crazy, but just trust me when I say this is a great job.
I do it for a living, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
This is not your typical talk-about-life kind of blog but rather a website that caters to specific niches that interest you.
Build out a site on a specific topic, promote some products, and get paid.
How does making a living through your passion and a simple website sound?
Well, that’s what you can do with something like blogging, and I’m sure the income potential will get your attention.
Bloggers can make anywhere from $1 – $10,000 +, and that’s not an exaggeration.
I have personally exceeded $100K within a single year, and I plan to exceed that by the end of this year.
Start your very own blog, and you will see how to live the life most people only dream of.
b. Virtual Assistant
With the amount of businesses being done online, comes the need for help.
This is where you, the virtual assistant/veteran, can be used.
Again, this job does not require you to interact with a bunch of people, and it does not have you answering to a boss.
Sure the person paying you might seem like your boss, but you are doing nothing more than providing a service.
He runs his business and you run yours.
No one is the boss of anyone and you are not their employee.
c. E-commerce
There are so many veterans creating their own products, and I absolutely love it.
You can do the same, and it doesn’t always have to involve opening up an actual store to do it, either.
Thanks to the inter-web, you can do it completely online.
And with things like drop shipping, you don’t have to own a single product.
The internet is full of opportunities, and these are just a few of them.
2. Virtual Center Call Agent
This is a very common job these days, but it does require you to talk to people.
If you don’t have the patience, you might want to pass on this job, as I’m sure you will be dealing with some of the most irritating people out there.
But if you are in desperate need of a job but don’t want to leave your house, this is an option.
3. Freelance Writing
If you have a thing for writing, I would, of course, recommend you start your own blog, but if you want quick cash, this is the route you should take.
With sites like Upwork and Fiverr, you can land a job as soon as today.
You work flexible hours, and you can write on topics you are interested in.
I know for a fact this job makes a decent salary as I personally pay some good money to the people who write for me.
Learn how to do freelance work and you can start making money as soon as today.
4. Teacher/Tutor
Unlike traditional teaching, the internet has managed to give you the opportunity to make money without physically being there.
With a computer and a degree, you can start tutoring students in China thanks to VIPKID.
This job can be done from anywhere in the world, and you aren’t bound to your home either.
I’ve seen some teaching done at coffee shops, and it is actually pretty amazing.
The pay is not that bad either, and you don’t have to work long hours.
5. Work For Amazon
Amazon is huge, and they are not going anywhere.
On top of being the biggest online retailer and forcing regular stores to shut down, Amazon offers thousands of jobs.
You can become an associate and sell other people’s products, or you can deliver products.
Whether it be on a computer or in real life, there are many jobs that you might like.
Check out their job listing and see what interests you.
Traditional Jobs
For most veterans, having a structured and routine kind of job will work best.
And sometimes, this is really the best way to do things.
Wake up, go to work, come back home, have a beer (or 3), and then call it a day.
As a veteran, we are used to routine and it is one thing that isn’t easy to break.
We function almost like a robot, and we don’t even know it.
A good thing for us, there are jobs that cater to our kind.
Oh, and these are probably the easiest jobs to land as we do have a slight edge over some regular old Joe off the street.
6. Firefighter
If this was your childhood dream and decided to go and play Army, this is your chance to make that dream a reality.
When I first got out of the military, I was advised to apply for a federal firefighter position.
Not only were they opening a new cycle, but they preferred veterans over anyone.
I personally didn’t take the job, but I do know a bunch of buddies that did.
7. Police Officer
Being a cop is as close to the job I had as an infantryman and one that I know I would do well in.
Didn’t take this job either, but I know for a fact that I would’ve made it.
Not to sound cocky or anything, but it just goes perfectly with the work I did as a soldier.
Now if you were an MP (military police), then ummm, of course, you would be the best candidate for this job.
Just like firefighters, the police force prefers veterans.
8. Border Patrol
This is another very common job that veterans are taking on.
If you are familiar with doing patrols and pulling security on a building, this is the job for you.
Even while we were in Iraq, I had other soldiers talk about working as a border patrol agent, so that is really how I even learned of this job in the first place.
And if you can ride around on a four-wheeler, how cool will that be?
9. Security Guard
Definitely not the fanciest job on this list, but it is one that you will not have a problem getting.
Security guards come and go faster than you know it, and getting your high-speed flashlight is only an application away.
I mean, who would you rather have holding that flashlight?
Some kid that can’t even wipe their own behind or some war veteran that can turn it on faster than fast?
10. Corrections Officer
This is another easy job to get but does come with a lot more work.
When they do see your background, though, you can bet that you will stand out from the other applicants.
I’m sure you know the type of people you will be dealing with, so think about that before you take on such a job.
The starting pay is fair but will depend on where you’re from and what position you get.
Outdoor Jobs
I love being outside, and I’m sure a lot of you grunts do, too.
Remember when we were PT studs?
Well, PT is not the easiest thing to do these days, and exercise used to be #1 and is now way down on the priority list.
There is no better way to get some kind of exercise than to at least be outside.
These jobs are perfect for those of you who still feel the need to be one with nature.
11. Lawn Care Specialist
I did this when I was in high school, so I know how much money can be made here.
However, I was on the employee side of things, so I was making minimum wage.
For you, the veteran, you can simply do things the way you want to.
Get your own lawn care equipment and find yourself some customers.
You don’t need any brains, and you need a basic knowledge of maintaining a lawn.
12. Lifeguard
I find this very common amongst recent high school grads but it is a great fit for someone like you.
You are fresh out of doing physical training almost daily, so your beach body is still there.
Wait any longer, and you will end up with a dad bod like me.
13. Messenger Clerk
You might not have heard of this job before as it is not very common.
This is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had as it didn’t have me doing anything laborious.
I got in the company car, delivered documents to other agencies, and called it a day.
The job came with a lot of walking, so it kept me in shape as well.
One of the best jobs I’ve ever had and one that I’m sure you will enjoy.
If not being a delivery boy and not having a big responsibility is what you are looking for, then this is the job for you.
14. Become an Uber/Lyft Driver
I remember when Uber came around and ruined everything for cab drivers.
It didn’t make them happy, but it did open up an opportunity for people like yourself to make some money as somewhat of a cab driver.
There are several requirements, but once the process is over and done with, things will be a breeze.
Take people to where they need to be and get paid.
You are required to have your own car, so do keep that in mind.
15. Park Ranger
There’s no better job for veterans that will have them feeling safe and being safe than becoming a park ranger.
You carry a weapon, but you aren’t dealing with criminals.
I don’t know about you, but I think that is really awesome.
Sure, you might deal with the occasional rule breaker, but it definitely beats the job that cops have.
Office Jobs
From the great outdoors to the great cubicle.
Sometimes, we just need a break from the traditional infantryman’s environment.
Hey, I got my first job post-military as a messenger clerk, but it had me in the office half the time.
I absolutely enjoyed it, and it led to me working in a home office as my new career.
16. Clerk
This is the easiest of office jobs on the market.
Not much skill is required, and you don’t do any physical labor.
The pay isn’t the greatest, but with minimal work, it goes great for those of you who aren’t looking to do too much just yet.
I was a clerk for a while, and it was a great start for me while trying to get back into the swing of regular civilian life.
17. Project Planner
As a veteran, you have got to know how to plan things.
This time, you can help plan different projects for others and get paid for doing such a specific task.
Keep the project on track and ensure there is progress and you will get paid.
If a project isn’t completed, you will be held responsible, so know that this job requires a decent amount of responsibility.
18. Graphic Designer
For those of you artistic veterans who couldn’t use your skill while in service, this is your chance.
Graphic designers are in high demand, and the pay is a lot better than that of most jobs.
If you are great with computers, more power to you.
So if you have a way of sending a message through some “graphics,” then this is the job for you.
Not a job that just falls on your lap, so you might want to go out there and start doing your research.
19. Social Media Manager
Everyone and their mothers are on social media.
Literally.
The problem here is that most aren’t getting paid for it.
Within the social media space come many opportunities to make money.
And if you’re not running a YouTube channel or active IG account, maybe you might be better off managing one.
When these YouTubers and social media addicts are making a killing, they will pay good money for someone to do simple tasks.
Answer comments, figure out better ways to reach more people or anything you can think of that might be too much for them to handle.
20. Sales Rep
This is a simple job but requires a special person.
One that can promote a product like it was the best thing since sliced bread.
So if you at one point in your life did some kind of marketing, this might just be the job for you.
Tell other businesses why they need your company’s products and get paid.
Never tried doing this before, but I did run a bar that had me dealing with many sales representatives from many companies.
Cool Jobs
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like boring crap, and this isn’t just with jobs, either.
There are regular old jobs and then there are those that are interesting to everyone.
Including your dog.
So if lame and boring is not your thing, you might find the perfect job here.
21. SWAT
Who in the world does not like anyone in SWAT?
As an infantryman myself, this was one job I considered, but having kids changed everything.
Now if I were single and had no kids, I would’ve probably been in a SWAT team right now.
I think this is the coolest of jobs for veterans, and I don’t think there will be much arguing there.
22. Shooting Range Instructor
Sometimes, we can’t get enough range time, and there is no better job after serving than to work at a dang range.
I have many buddies who do this specific job, and if I were into shooting as much as they are, then I would probably work there too.
I do think I had enough shooting time overseas, and I’m into safer and better money-producing activities these days.
Not to say that I don’t think this is a cool job because it wouldn’t be on this list.
23. Software Applications Developer
Not your typical cool guy kind of job, but one that can bring in more dough.
Who do you know has the title “software applications developer”?
I know it is nothing more than an app developer, but it just sounds cooler.
This job is not only cool but it can make you a lot of money if you are good at this kind of stuff.
24. Truck Driver
For some reason, many veterans find themselves driving a truck.
I think it’s really cool, but driving for hours is just not my thing.
I wasn’t even an 88M, but I did so much driving in Iraq that I don’t even enjoy it anymore.
Now, maybe if you put me in a nice truck like you see flying down the interstate, then maybe, just maybe, I will think about becoming a truck driver.
25. Teacher
I saved this under cool jobs not because of the title of the type of work but simply because you can be that teacher who tells cool stories.
I’m not a teacher but I did have this teacher in high school that was so energetic and loved everything about the military.
We all knew him as that drill sergeant (even if he wasn’t one), and we all thought he was cool.
Besides that, this is also a decent-paying job that can reward you for contributing to the community.
Before You Apply
Some of the jobs listed above don’t even require an application or a resume.
However, it is always good practice to have one in hand, especially if it is one on the traditional job list.
Don’t expect to get any job you apply for, and don’t be scared to venture off into something you aren’t familiar with.
I didn’t think I would be blogging for a living, but look at me now.
Sometimes, life will throw you into unknown territory, but it is usually for the best.
The Best Jobs For Military Veterans Are Not Hard to Find
As a veteran, you definitely have the advantage.
With a simple search online, you can have many jobs lined up that you won’t get rejected for.
It takes nothing more than a simple application and nothing like the paperwork you filled out when you first joined the military.
If you need help finding the right job for you, feel free to leave your questions in the comments section below.
Besides that, I hope these best jobs for military veterans can help a veteran like yourself, as I know how hard it can be to get back into the workforce.
Let go a bit and try to find work that you are actually interested in.
Thank you for your service, and I hope you find that next J-O-B of yours.
Great resource. Very unique way to obtain employment.
Just what I need, to help my current situation.