Dan Wessel ⋅ Woodbridge, VA Federal Government ⋅ 5 years experience

This is one of the big statements that I hear from senior enlisted and officers who are transitioning. I want to move to the civilian world to do X, but I don't want to take a pay cut because the military already pays us poorly.

Although we like to say we aren't paid well in the military, that isn't exactly true. We don't have many expenses our civilian counterparts have to deal with like rent (base/barracks housing is free or you get paid BAH to cover your rent.) healthcare (saving a few hundred dollars a month), a pension plan (although hopefully you were investing in TSP for the last nine years) or food (the chow hall may not be great, but groceries are expensive!).

An an unmarried E-6 with 9 years you make a base pay of about $40,000 a year. Depending on where you want to live and if you rent or buy a house you might have to add between $10,000 and $15,000 in expenses just for housing. Add in the additional cost of food and other expenses that you don't think about in the military (healthcare, life insurance, retirement, etc.) and you need a job that pays at least $55,000 just to keep your current pay.

So, now that we know you need $55,000 to not take a pay cut you need to do some serious research and determine if there are any entry level social services jobs that pay that much and if you qualify. First ask yourself what you want to do in the social services field. Do you want to be a psychologist, case worker for the homeless, or a teacher? All of these jobs have different pay rates and required qualifications. If a degree is required, do you have one? Bachelors or Masters? Should you consider using your GI bill and going to college first, or perhaps re-enlisting for 4 more years to work and go to school before making the transition? What region, state, or city do you want to move to? If you are open to moving around the country then it is going to be a lot easier as you will have more options. Research government social service agencies and contractors and see what the opening pay grades are in the places you want to live after you EAS.

I know that this is a long answer to a short question, and that this question doesn't give you the definitive answer you wanted, but these are all things that you need to consider before finding the answer yourself. If you need help doing the jobs research try reaching out to the Career Transition Office - Enlisted for help looking these things up: http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/CAREER/TRANSITION/Pages/TransitionProcess.aspx

Also, try searching the "Job Openings" section to see if anyone has posted jobs that you are interested in. Even if you are not ready to transition by the cut-off date, you can still message the job poster and see if they can give you advice on building a resume and help you in your search down the road. Networking is key, and don't be afraid to do it! You are your own career monitor in the civilian world!

Good luck in your transition and job search!

barbara hawes ⋅ Brielle, NJ Aflac ⋅ 28 years experience

Social service work is a very broad field, however in most places you will need an advanced degree and licensure to be competitive in the market. Whether they decide to work in a clinic or strike out and work in private practice, most clinicians I have worked with are limited by (1) the number of hours they can work and (2) the limits and conditions insurance companies place on their reimbursment rate and paperwork required to obtain that reimbursement. One therapist recently commented, "how is it that the insurance premiums are going up and my payments aren't?" . Here are some alternative paths that will give you more income and still be in the field:
1. do what you love as an avocation -- that is, find your good-paying job, but for a few classes, you can get certified as an addiction counselor, run a support group, be a volunteer for domestic violence, disaster work, or other niche that interests you.
2. get the degrees and start working in the field, with an eye set on getting your license and moving up into supervisor or administrative positions. After some 25 years in the mental health & addiction fields, most of my "raises" came in the form of ,changing jobs and moving up.
3. Combine different jobs in the same field.... a friend of mine teaches college, writes professional articles, is a speaker at conferences and has a private practice-- and worked with me in a mobile crisis setting for some time. She said that teaching college paid better than her private practice. Again, all requiring advanced degrees and licensure.

As far as I have seen, administrators and PhD psychologists usually command the highest salaries. I don't know what kind of income you were hoping for -- a Masters in Social Work, Counseling or Psychology is usually how far most people go and are marketable. You can find average salaries for positions on the internet to give you an idea. Networking and experience (even volunteer) will give your resume a boost in any pile of candidates. Whatever you decide, my best wishes are with you, and thank you for your service!

Judy Tomlinson ⋅ Richardson, TX Energy Future Holdings ⋅ 30 years experience

Social Services is a broad field....you need to narrow your search and focus on the type of work you want to do. Taking a small pay cut to get your foot in the door might need to happen but, once they see what you can do, raises/promotions will come. Most hiring managers have no idea what valuable skills you have gained during your service. If you'd like me to glance at your resume, I would be happy to help. Your resume should contain the "Buzz" words for the type of job you are seeking. If you want to send it, use tomlinsonjk@aol.com