Customize Your Journey
For Educators: Military Resources

Discover pathways into and through the Military, and how they can align with your personal and professional goals.

Explore resources to help you further your education, from choosing the right school to navigating financial aid.

Learn about the steps toward military service — and the benefits, opportunities and requirements you can expect.

Get information to help you advance your career — including advice on writing resumes and acing interviews.

Customize Your Journey
For Educators: Military Resources
Areas of Study

Skilled Trades and Technical Fields

About This Area of Study

What are the trades? To become an expert and eligible for employment, you’ll need to take courses and receive training that fine-tunes your technical knowledge of building, inspecting and maintaining a high degree of quality and safety within professional practices that include electrical, carpentry, automotive repair and more.

What You Can Expect to Do

If you’re the type who loves to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, this is the area of study for you. With strict standards, trade jobs are hands-on, precise and measured down to the tiniest fraction of an inch. You’ll master tools and techniques and learn to improvise, repair and produce with the same level of quality and efficiency across every project.

Types of Programs

  • Carpentry
  • Construction
  • Electrical
  • Leatherworking and Upholstery
  • Masonry
  • Mechanics and Repair
  • Plumbing
  • Precision Metalworking
  • Precision Production
  • Transportation
A group of four students sit in a lecture hall with their laptop and reading materials

Making School More Affordable With the Military

We get it: It seems like college is more expensive every year. The good news is there are ways to make it more affordable, including serving for a set period in the Military, which can cover up to 100% of the cost through its generous Tuition Assistance programs. Oh, and you don’t have to put your schooling on hold to do it.

Learn More

Related Occupations

Manufacturing

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.

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Median Salary

61,770

Job Outlook

+60%
Architecture and Construction

Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Assemble, install, or maintain solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks.

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Median Salary

48,800

Job Outlook

+48%
Manufacturing

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.

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Median Salary

61,420

Job Outlook

+15%
Manufacturing

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

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Median Salary

57,350

Job Outlook

+15%
Architecture and Construction

Millwrights

Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.

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Median Salary

62,980

Job Outlook

+15%
Manufacturing

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.

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Median Salary

45,850

Job Outlook

+13%
Architecture and Construction

Electricians

Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

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Median Salary

61,590

Job Outlook

+11%
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs

Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis. May collect a fare. Includes nonemergency medical transporters and hearse drivers.

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Median Salary

35,240

Job Outlook

+11%
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Schools That Offer This Area of Study

See All Schools

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH

Tuition

16,450

Students

251,081

School Type

Private, not-for-profit, 4-year or above

Size & Setting

Midsize | Suburb

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Tuition

9,465

Students

164,377

School Type

Public, 2-year

Size & Setting

Large | Urban

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Tuition

15,822

Students

138,745

School Type

Private, not-for-profit, 4-year or above

Size & Setting

Small | Urban

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Tuition

6,960

Students

103,845

School Type

Public, 4-year or above

Size & Setting

Medium | Urban

Dallas College

Dallas, TX

Tuition

6,000

Students

99,774

School Type

Public, 4-year or above

Size & Setting

Large | Urban

American Public University System

Charles Town, WV

Tuition

8,400

Students

95,970

School Type

Private, for-profit, 4-year or above

Size & Setting

Fringe | Town

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ

Tuition

32,193

Students

87,154

School Type

Public, 4-year or above

Size & Setting

Medium | Urban

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX

Tuition

40,328

Students

78,501

School Type

Public, 4-year or above

Size & Setting

Medium | Urban
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Your Guide to Preparing for School

If you’ve got a school in mind, the next step is making a solid plan. Dive into everything you need to map out your educational journey, from picking the right school to securing financial aid.
Start Planning

Enhancing Your Prospects With ROTC

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a leadership and development program you can join in college. It offers educational benefits, tuition assistance and reimbursement, and valuable leadership training while allowing you to have the full college experience.
Learn More About ROTC