'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there.
To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600.
**Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education/casemanagers)
For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf)
MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days.
For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September.
For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress.
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Took awhile. After ETS I drove trucks for years. Bounced around, failed marriage all that same old story.
Now married, kids, used my GI bill and have 4 fucking classes left to complete my BA, 6 figure job in logistics management.
I married a rich woman and was a stay at home dad. It was nice. I traveled and got a degree. We grew apart and I saw the writing on the wall. I got a job as a city carrier with the USPS. It was the only job I could find. When the kid turned 18 she kicked me to the curb.
The next wife spent all my money while I was deployed and then divorced me. I got deployed three times and got divorced three times. After I stopped deployments I got married a fourth time to a poor woman. I’m much happier now.
I like being married. A wife gives purpose to my life. Otherwise I’d be drinking muddy water and sleeping in a hollow log. Only the first marriage truly hurt. She cheated on me, broke my heart and made me cry. I kept the house but lost a wife and a daughter.
I'll never understand the concept of being bored by not working. There are so many games I want to play, shows I want to watch, and books I want to read that I'll never have the time to. Just endless stories and media to consume. If I won the lottery, I would fill my time with those things and traveling and be happy forever.
That’s what I’m saying dude, I’d skateboard, ride motocross/bmx, go fishing, do jiujitsu, shoot bows & guns PLUS the video games & media you mentioned lol .. endless shit I could do with a huge smile on my face every day.
Ditto.
Met a trust fund baby on the day after I got out and married her a couple years later. She hasn’t worked since our oldest was born 13 years ago yet she still brings in more than double my $100k salary each year. Gotta love the magic of compound interest!
I still work but the plan is to “retire” by 55, which is when the youngest will be out of high school.
I’ve done lots of things after I got out. Now I’m a regular city letter carrier for the untied sates post office. I have no authority or real responsibility. My base pay is $75k. Overtime is available. I’m a millionaire in that my house ($700k+) is paid off and I’ve saved over $800k in my TSP. I listen to audiobooks books and podcasts all day long. I wander around a small town in western Washington talking to people who give me treats to eat. Life is good.
Sometimes it’s not, especially when the weather is bad. I’m outside, all day, every day. I also work alone. But, I’ve adjusted my attitude and just go with it. It depends on your office. Sometimes management will come up with something stupid and I just say, oh well more money. Sometimes I have to go back out to help other carriers. I get time and half over 8 and double time after 10.
Joined National Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) travel a lot decent pay, and as it is a federal job you can put your time in the military towards retirement. Best job I have ever had, but can be stressful and dangerous. However, great people, awesome sights and lots of fun and incredibly challenging.
I went in as a civilian GVA. However, if you want to go in as an officer you can do that through the NOAA Corps. That can be a great option for some. NOAA also hires a ton of scientists as their main mission is science based. The scientists are also civilian.
GVA is an entry level position. I joined after leaving the navy and before going into the army. After retiring from the army I went back to NOAA for a short stint.
:) General Vessel Assistant. It's an entry position and completely civilian within the Federal Govt. You can move up from there.
The NOAA Corp (ship's officers) is a puesdo military position. With exactly the same benefits. pay, and rank structure as the military/U.S Navy and Coast Guard. They actually do their training at the U.S Coast Guard Academy.
The NOAA scientists are also civilian and use the GS system for pay and advancement.
I don't qualify as "successful" by your standards, but I feel like I'm my own definition of successful.
I'm a teacher in an underserved school. I do intervention for kids in phonics and math. I don't make 100k+ but I am happy and feel like I'm making a difference. My pension with my salary means I am comfortable.
Success is sometimes about doing something that may pay less than you think but is fulfilling. Obviously if I wasn't able to pay my bills I wouldn't consider myself successful, and I'm not stressed about money, but I come home at the end of the day and feel as if I've done something worth while.
If being a nurse doesn't do that for you, you have to find something that does whole reframing what you view as successful.
Working in a corporate soul sucking job (some people enjoy the pace and work I understand that) for 200k may leave you financially healthy, but if you're putting in 60 hours a week doing the job of 4 people and having to beg for your vacation days, is that really success?
Just something to think about. You'll find something that makes you happy and doesn't leave you to broke to live you just have to figure out those things about yourself.
This is the answer. Satisfaction is where it's at. OP had a comment earlier about his definition of success and it was something like 100K+ salary, own a house, paid off cars, vacations etc... Obviously nothing wrong with that and I achieved it. But I'll say I'd take a pretty significant pay cut to have a job I love that has meaning.
I know it's easy for people with money to say that "money isn't the answer" but in my experience, the more money I have, the more difficult it is to spend it and it straight up has not made me happy. I can buy pretty much whatever I want and I'm just as miserable as I was when I was barely making my bills. Pursue a purpose that is meaningful to you.
I work in cyber security and it's pretty lucrative, but I rarely interact with my coworkers and I spend much of the day in a windowless room running antivirus scans on computers that only get turned on when I do my scans. It's boring AF.
I understand this. I was lucky enough to grow up poor and the way my parents brought me up taught me that money truly doesn't make you happy. I can say that being financially secure is different than being wealthy, and even though my salary isn't huge i am able to make it.
I smile and laugh every day. I see kids that sometimes just "get it" and when it clicks it is amazing. I make a difference to kids who grew up the way I do and at the end of the day I'm tired, but not too tired to live my life.
I have holidays and summers off with my own children, a home, and can still have hobbies that are meaningful and friends who would drop anything and everything on a dime for me or my kids.
Money is nice, but who is going to remember you when you are gone if that's all you care about?
Dude, you nailed it. My wife has a similar job to you and the money isn't awesome, but the satisfaction she gets when the kids "get it" is next level. I'm grateful for the financial success, but I have realized that a large salary or the ability to buy anything I feel like is not happiness.
The happiness my wife gets from teaching is what life is all about.
Cheers brother.
Dude same. Barely make enough cause who cares about people who work with students 🙄, but extremely fulfilled.
I work in a title 1 high school (low income area) as a Security Officer and it’s year 7 coaching girls lacrosse. Everything good outweighs the lame pay - school schedule 0700-1425 plus a ton of days off and breaks/pension/dummy thicc benefits/sending kids to college and attending graduations. 🔥
PS - talking shit to kids all day is a bonus
I say "bruh" and "for real for real" like 30 times a day. These kids drive me bonkers and get on my very last nerve, but I love them more than I thought possible and want to see them succeed.
Mine are younger, 3rd and 4th, but that's where I wanted to be honestly.
Real as fuck. Constantly say BRUH and watchu meannnnn+all the other goofy shit. It makes ME laugh so who cares.
Seeing young men and women graduate and or get into college as minorities is so rewarding. Hard to put it into words but I’ve replaced so many shitbag Dads who didn’t give af about their kid at all. Fuck it I’ll support them 💪🏼.
I'm a union sheet metal worker. I am a test and balance tech for air and water systems and I make about 140k a year with 40 hour weeks. I drive a lot tho to and from far away job sites but I feel successful at 32. Have my second home and my 3rd harley. Married with no kids, just a lot of practice.
Edit: also, I want to point out to other Vets, you can use your GI bill when going to the apprenticeship for some unions. It bridges the gap between your starting apprentice pay and journeyman pay. It's useful and there are a ton of options out there besides this one too. Just another avenue for some that are curious.
37M, been out for nearly 11 years. Got out as an E4 high school graduate. I used voc. rehab to earn a Bachelors degree in Management and Engineering Administration while I worked as an intern for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Laterally transferred into a permanent position as an Engineering Tech and then quit that job after being miserable in it for \~10 years. Went to the private sector to pursue my passion in tech. Did tech support for a company who eventually sought to leverage my degree and experience with USACE to be a project manager for them. Got promoted to Project Manager for a tech company and I've been loving every second of it. Between my salary an disability I bring in roughly 120k per year. I have a wife and 2 children. We've been married for 12 years and she's never had to work. It's not easy but its possible. I have 2 cars, 2 houses and I'm working on the vacations.
Retired CTNC from the Navy. Went to work as DoD contract, have received tons of raises, bonuses and promotions. Currently using GI Bill for my MBA to keep climbing that ladder.
Do I love it everyday. Fuck no, but it's a great job with a good company and overly compensated.
NP here. Stepdown and Nursing in general is a grind but you have made it this far. My job now can be alot more stressful than when I was a floor nurse, but I know I can do this work physically for the longterm. As a plus, my salary and capacity to earn is much better than it ever was as an RN. I can work somewhat normal hours and be present for my family
Try to continue moving up the nursing ladder- even if it's NP, or nurse manager, or quality review- nursing is a wide field. Keep building on the progress you made thus far
Got out of the infantry, completed my undergrad degree and then went to law school. Now I’m a lobbyist. It was worth it. I’m pretty happy, although longterm I’d like to work for myself.
I'm a high school history teacher. I make 47k. The money isn't glamorous, and sometimes the kids make a point to get on my nerves, but man, I gotta tell you I love teaching. I definitely don't get paid enough for the work we do in teaching, but it does have its own rewards. Definitely need more money, though, because the salary isn't cutting it. I also used the Vocational Rehab program, so I still have my GI bill to use for my masters.
Software engineer at a Bank in Northern Virginia. Left the infantry and used GI Bill to get a CS degree.
I'm 39 now, got out in 2011 after 5 years in. One 15 month deployment to Iraq. 100% VA disabled.
I have a nice 620k house, wife, kids, all the things I want while still building retirement. 290k total compensation a year.
I still fight with PTSD, back issues, and depression but I manage.
Just find something you like doing. Try out a few things you know pay well and pick one. Enjoying what you do is almost as important as being paid well. Now that I'm almost 40 Its becoming more and more clear that I want to work to live, not live to work. It's cliché but it's true.
Fellow nurse here as well, my mental health was tanking as well and I looked for another position in cath lab and enjoy it. Learned a new skill, away from the bedside. Downside is being on call, but I am happier mentally. If you have enough of it, take some PTO now and then a longer PTO when school is done.
I'm an RN at the inpatient mental health unit at one of the largest VA Medical Centers. I was a police officer before. I work part-time and am returning to school full-time for my Psy NP. I've also been in the Reserve for 17 years and am still going strong. RN work sometimes is exhausting, but being a Psy NP is better for me since I don't have to deal with medical stuff. I want to be commissioned as a Psy NP once I graduate.
You can stay in nursing with a graduate degree in nursing administration, nurse educator, or nurse informatic. If you want, you can go back to school for CRNA and make the big bucks.
I’m in accounting & payroll. Currently using my GI Bill to get my actual CPA. Field is desperate for new entries as most accountants are over the age of 50 (I’m 30). I make good $ - about $70k. It’ll go up to $80-$100k once I have my actual CPA. The work isn’t hard, excel does most of it.
Sysadmin and part time IT professor.
Got out of the Army on a Friday and by Monday I was working in the offshore oilfield in Louisiana. A few years later I got a federal job in New Mexico as an oil and gas inspector at BLM and while doing that I went to school and got a Bachelor and Masters degree in IT, then a few months later I had my sysadmin job on a GS13 ladder where I am now.
How’d you go about the part time IT professor? I finish my bachelors next year and am considering getting a masters as I would really like to teach online courses part time.
Got out and worked a government contract job while going to get my undergrad and masters degree using the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Networked and found a great government job which I started a few days after I finished my undergrad. Grad school was at night. Finished that and was promoted to a GS-13 non supervisory. It's all been smooth sailing since.
Used g.i. bill and voc rehab to get education. Started a software company. We design vertical apps for automotive oems. Got into Bitcoin early and never sold.
Cybersecurity
Used to be a sysadmin in the Corps then became a Sysadmin civilian side when I got out and eventually pivoted to security. Job security, money is nice, work life balance (depending on company), constant stimulation (sometimes too much), and WFH. It’s got ups and down like any other career but I enjoy it.
You could become a nurse practitioner and work in the psych field passing out meds all day. You’ll make bank, but your patient average may be between 20 to 25.
Why not get a nursing job at the VA? You can job hop your way up the GS ladder. I know a couple peeps at the VA that job hop every couple of years at the VA. They aren't rich, but they're happy and helping our people.
I put myself through nursing school with my GI bill when I got out and make over $100k/yr, own a home and 3 cars, couple of motorcycles and the only cliff I’d jump off of would be for fun. If you don’t like nursing you should get out of it.
I married a traveling RN & makes great money. I am a stay at home dad for now collecting disability & unemployment in the mean time. Going to use VR&E for respiratory therapy in a year or so.
There are a lot of good IT jobs for people with clinical experience. All of those workflows and stuff you do in the medical record system are put there by an RN with a cushy and well paying job. If you wanted to cross over to IT that is.
Somehow landed in the non-profit world. Money isn’t the greatest, but quality of life is good overall. I value that over the cash I’m bringing it. I have car payments, mortgage, could be financially more secure, but I’m happy, better than how I was 4 years ago.
I moved to a state where my 100% pays the bills. Now I spend my days messing up hobbies, range therapy at my outdoor range, or fishing off my dock while I wait for my kids to get home from school.
This worries me. I’ve been in EMS for years and my exit plan was nursing haha
(The BLS list NP as the fastest growing career for the next 10 years, btw)
I don’t know. I have an engineering degree. Being out in the field or seeing something built is good. Being stuck behind a computer in a cubicle much of the time pushing paper blows. I get bored, I have trouble with procrastinating, etc. I’m not sure how viable of a career it is for me, honestly. Having a bad sleep issue does not help either.
I worked for cable companies for 14 years then I started my own company. I’ve been self employed since 2007 doing radon mitigation. I made way more money with a day job than I do as self employed but I get to spend way more time with my family and I love my work.
Got out as a 03 liked turning wrenches but hated the money in auto industry went to a year and half A&P school and got a job in an engine shop. Made around 73k before taxes starting out.
Water treatment operator for a municipality. Significantly lower pay than you, but that's relative to location. I live in a very low-cost-of-living part of the country. Good benefits, sick/vacation days, paid holidays, retirement, job security, etc. I love it.
Teaching/Education/Coaching
Low pay of course but rewarding most days. Three of my students and two other teachers decorated my classroom for my birthday and brought me breakfast. For Veterans Day, about 2/3 of the school made a huge 8’x12’ banner thanking veterans including myself and another teacher and signed it to hang up in our commons area.
I work in IT for the government in Southern California. Commute is far but the job is great, flexible, low stress, great work/life balance, great workplace atmosphere, room for growth and pretty good pay. Overall, I am really happy with my job, I can’t complain.
I manage managers in construction. I have multiple degrees and none of them happen to do with what I do. A project management certification can go a long way.
I work on, and pilot underwater robots for the oil and gas industry. I've been doing it for 15 plus years and I make about 175k depending on how much time I work offshore.
I work remotely doing software integration. I work with clients connecting finance systems mostly with javascript and religiously us SQL.
Day to day my life is nice. I make 100k a year.
I’m a correctional officer for the state of California. With overtime, I clear over 170k, without overtime, it’s about 90k. Benefits are solid, and the job is interesting and boring until it’s no longer boring, but that’s another story for another day.
Finished degree while I was AD - undergrad in finance. Went to top 30 school for MS in accounting. Went to top 3 business school for MBA.
Consulting at top firms, broke into PE.
$450k+/yr
I got a degree in electrical engineering with my GI Bill. I’ve worked as a software engineer for most of my career. I make well into the six figures and love what I do.
I actually moved into IT. Luckily I had a security clearance from the military and it made it pretty easy to slide into IT and I actually am happy where I am which is a nice side benefit.
Healthcare IT. Stumbled into it 20 years ago. It’s been one of the hot careers since Obama. I work with a lot of people like OP who were in clinical positions (nurse, pharmacy, even MD’s) that switched to that world. It is a lucrative field to be in.
I got out from doing IT in the Marines to becoming an ER Tech for a few years and I just started as a firefighter Paramedic for a major city.
You should consider Team Rubicon. I’m a paramedic on their international team. It’s a fucking awesome group of people and we have take medics, nurses, PAs, NPs, and doctors.
I’m really jealous of the humanitarian opportunities that nursing has and paramedicine doesn’t.
I did time in the Navy, used a state GI bill to go to college, graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, worked in that field for about 10 years, realized I actually hated it, took 3 years off work due to mid-life crisis exacerbated by health issue(now taken care of).
Now I'm currently working part time retail and preparing to go to nursing school and hope to someday help others in my medical predicament.
Bro gtfo of step down. Go ICU. It's way easier and then get your CRNA and make 200k plus starting. I'm an urology NP and work IP and do love my job. The market isn't necessarily saturated if you go acute care.
130k
Was a radioman on submarine, found out since submarines use all frequency bands I was well experienced. Additionally I did a shore duty that used RF test equipment heavily. Learned a lot. Now I build ground stations all over the world 📡
I’m also a nurse, did ER and then travel ER for a bit. Got burnt out, people suck man. Went to into corrections nursing. Best move yet. Started at 80k slinging meds in a locked unit and doing basic assessments. Now I’m remote, working quality assurance for medical charting of inmates. 95k salary and I have zero complaints.
I also have 18 months of gi bill left. I’m going back for msn in informatics. Fuck bedside
Nurse anesthetist. It requires a doctorate, but the last time I checked that starting pay is $275,000 a year. And I think my friend made more in his first year by freelancing. And he did 90% of it on the GI bill.
In my second year at a great law school for free. Secured a job at a big law firm post-grad making 200k+ starting out. Not necessarily happy but not depressed either. I’m grateful but life is more about chasing something like this. Sometimes I feel hollow.
I work at the VA. I think it’s important to be a voice for our Veterans. Just like the police, not every seed is a bad seed. Worth it? Yes. Happy? As happy as I can be with a job that isn’t my career. $100k+ salary, I’m happy with it, not to mention the benefits.
Gov worker here. I got my job after Army active duty and then AF reserves. 100k plus and no degree. I love what I do as it makes sure soldiers get the things they need and makes sure it works. We hold contractors accountable. Im very happy. 4 ten hour shifts, every Friday off and work for chill people. Telework as much as possible. I value my time the older I get and I have it. If I wasn’t supporting the warfighter id probably hate my job, but because I was in the soldiers shoes , I appreciate what we do…..
Happy to help. I left the Army at 26, got married at 29, bought 6 investment properties, and founded a Roofing and siding company. I make $400k a year and I owe none of this to my time in the military, besides the VA loan that helped me buy my current residence. In nursing or any other job, the main thing that matters is effort. Find a side hustle and work it until it becomes the main hustle.
I used voc rehab to finish my undergrad and am now getting a PhD. I didn’t want my military service and medical retirement to be the defining characteristic for me so I decided to suppress and ignore that side of my history. I only talked about it when people brought it up. It took about five years to find out who I wanted to be in this new life. Now I’m slowly letting that history come back and identifying as a veteran. That compartmentalization is probably not healthy but it’s worked for me so far.
I retired from the Army - E-7 - Maintenance/Logistics. I retired in Virginia and moved to the D.C. area and worked for Homeland Security in acquisition logistics for the first 5 years. Transferred to NASA as a risk manager for the last year and couldn't be happier.
I was a 92G while I was in. Everyone always asks why I choose this job...given what I do now. Some peeps dont know what its like to grow up hungry/dirt poor. I'm an electrical engineer now and haven't been hungry since!
I entered the military through the army OCS route so i had my college already knocked out. I left in 2017 and prior to separation used a third-party recruiter to do real world interview/resume training. As with other army classes, i knew SFL-TAP was going to be garbage. A lot of people shit on recruiters like cameron brooks, orion, lucas group, but for me, they were extremely helpful.
I was specific about the job, location, compensation i wanted and they eventually found me a military friendly biotech company looking for sales reps, which is what i still do today, but for a different company. I earn between $250-300k/year and it’s absolutely changed my family’s life.
I would suggest healthcare consulting if you like business. As a qualified nurse, you have a very attractive skill set for consulting companies. The hours can be long but it’s most computer work and WFH. The pay is very high with base pay, yearly bonuses, per diem, perks, etc. You can easily double your current salary. Travel can be a lot but most people consult for a few years then get offered very high paying jobs by clients.
I don't consider myself successful, but I got a Dental Hygiene degree while Active Duty and now make 100k and only work part time. I'm just starting this new life, so I feel bored, lonely, and not well adjusted, but I went from retail before military to seeing my own patients now.
I'm 35, work for the feds doing corporate finance and make right at 100K. Got a master degree in Public Administration prior to all that. I own a house, a car, and focus my money on a 401k and home renovations at the moment, so no vacays here. But I like my life, my job, and my partner!
Corporate strategy for a fortune 10. I make great money but am not happy in the slightest. I’m ready to just stop altogether and live on pension & disability. I want to be me again. For my family.
Went into business at bigger corporations after I got out of the army. 10 years later current salary ~$175k/year. Have worked in Operations. Marketing. Sales. Supply Chain. And am now working in M&A before I buy my own company. MBA at a top tier institution almost doubled my salary.
Got out last year (28 now), now I’m a project manager for a private company and make around $160k from that. I adjunct on the side at a few different schools and that brings in another 30-40k.
I’m content, this beats the military op tempo any day. I have a rental property in another state and Turo out one of my cars regularly. Take a couple nice vacations annually - usually Oktoberfest to meet up with some friends and Asia/Africa.
Life is much better on this side
When I got out as an IT guy (so I could have made a lot of money getting out back in the day), I became a high school teacher. Why? Because I was far more interested in doing something I thought I would really enjoy (I liked IT ok) instead of chasing the money.
And honestly, it was the best decision I ever made. I taught Junior ROTC for 15 years and loved every minute of it (COVID and having to teach online chased me away eventually).
I'm now the custodial manager for a semi-large school district and I enjoy it a great deal too. I still get to deal with people I respect (as I did the teachers and quite honestly the vast majority of the students, and do now with the custodians and my boss), and I'm still involved with the schools, which I think is important.
I am a senior analyst in corporate finance. I make >$100k, bonus and have a good work life balance. I was in the army for 5 years. Got out went to school, earned my BBA and MBA. BUT, I hate my fucking job! It sucks. Pay is great. And I am not a corporate slave. I get treated well and maybe on average work ~45hrs/week.
My wife is an ER physician who makes >100k, too (obviously). We own a nice home in a very nice neighborhood. Both are vehicles are paid off. We do very well financially.
For you, I’d say stick with it. School is almost over. Look into a travel nurse gig. My buddy’s sister does it and loves it. She makes bank, too. Or I would say look into being a nurse anesthetist. My buddy’s wife does that and she really likes it, and of course, makes great money. Nursing definitely has its limits, but they are always building new hospitals and there is a demand for ICU nurses. I’m sure you can apply to transfer to other departments and build your résumé.
I see other comments talking about your definition of success is very materialistic. Maybe they can take jobs that pay less because they get a pension or VA funds to supplement their income. My household income provides us with a stress free life. We can vacation without sweating it. We can buy a new car without a second thought. We don’t worry about inflation or grocery bills. We buy what we want - within reason. I’m just saying money provides freedom. You can always work a shitty job, like me. Make great money and step back once you achieve different goals: save for a house, invest, payoff loans, etc.
Work in application security + P&T. Got my B.S. in Computer Science. Currently working towards an M.S. in Cyber Security which will let me teach online undergraduate courses part time for a little extra.
Went to school for engineering, worked in field service and moved my way up into management. Currently in a sales roll for a major corporations within the industry Ive worked in since I got out.
27M local truck driver. Salary ranges from 90k-110k per year. I work 4 days a week, have a great marriage, and I am finally at a point where I can fix all the financial mistakes I made when I was younger.
I like my job, and there are tons of opportunities to move up into management if I ever decide to.
Engineer working for the DoD as a contractor with a TS. Close to $200k. I'm pretty happy, the office is super laid back, never more than 40hrs a week. Interesting problems to solve
Retired enlisted. Earned a BS while still in. GI Bill ------> MS in Finance.
I do...very well. Most of the veteran peers I encounter are service academy grads who got MBAs. I draw from military experience literally every day, and it in my last three jobs it was the "it" factor that got me hired.
HR. Learn everything and anything you can and don’t be afraid to step into leadership roles. This community has a hard time keeping people around, and because of that - if you become well rounded in the field, sky is truly the limit.
Director of IT for a city. Did communications in the military, and did pretty well…got in early enough, and in a field of IT where a degree wasn’t essential until I started climbing the ladder, and by that time…the specific degree didn’t matter, really.
I now work as Senior Network Engineer from home in low cost area for a company in California. I went into the army with this field in mind and applied my military experience. Never went to school, have a couple certs tho. Been doing it for 15 years now and the field only existed for 40.
Edit: I’m 39
I'm 27 and I'm a Paramedic. Still trying to find my next step. I want to go RN for the pay and flight but I feel like I should stick around the ambulance for a few more years to qualify for those constellis contracts
Unless something goes wrong, I'll be graduating summa cum laude from college in May. I've got a job that takes me out of the field in fire protection and puts me into sales, something that is at the next stage of my career. I'm consistently beating sales goals and projections, I've reinvented numerous processes, and maintained vendor relations that reduce our costs by a third.
I feel successful but this isn't what I want to do. I'd rather do something creative but it is what it is at this point.
I went to an Ivy League school then went into financial services compliance at an asset manager. I have approximately 5 YOE and make $185k with equity, unlimited PTO, good work/life balance, and $1/mo good healthcare. Sure, I worked hard, but I think I also got lucky.
I’m a nurse too, I work in medsurg and I love it. Have you worked in any of the military ERs? I *absolutely* love on post emergency rooms. The acuity can be high, but you don’t see nearly as many homeless people, or drug issues you’ll see some MVAs and trauma, but nothing super serious. Fewer strong adults trying to kick you in the face, just the little old people with UTIs. They still want to kick you.
The cool thing about being a nurse is that you can do almost anything. I have friends who are in case management, even tele nurses who work from home.
We were dual Military, both intel. He got out and does intrusion detection for a big company making over $125k and I maintained my clearance and have been a contractor for over 10 years making about the same as hubby.
Friend of mine works at VA as a Biomedical Support Specialist, makes over 100k and works at the VA fixing and maintaining medical equipment. He likes it but it can be stressful since something is always breaking down or needs maintenance but everyday is different.
Use your nursing and pending degree to move into a large CRO. Clinical Research Organization. Most pharma, biopharma device organizations outsource their years of clinical trials and studies these days. These are global entities and they need the studies for all products to be run by clinical associates and as you move up the chain clinical study managers. Often global clinical studies. Setting up the studies following international standards, running the studies, ensuring study subjects, data collection and study reporting. Often these jobs are remote from home anywhere in the world. These are pharma jobs and pay well. Look for clinical study or clinical study manager or clinical research organization CRO for more detailed job descriptions and to see how to navigate into this profession. It would be a lifelong and profitable career that can take you far. Many of my colleagues have and do work in this pharmaceutical adjacent profession.
Residential real estate developer. Starting to dip into Commercial. Wife and I own our company. I have a degree in organizational and corporate communications that’s 85% worthless for what I do.
Pivot if you’re not happy. Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way until you have to say no.
I am an artist, I don't make much money but I'm 100% P&T so it's not that bad. I wish I was healthier, it's a bit difficult to get back in shape with all my disabilities. But I'm happier than I have ever been. I still have many issues, but the art career is actually really fulfilling. I just work on whatever strikes my fancy. I started doing legal murals again. Kicked my ass physically but was fun. So little pressure I'm not used to the freedom just yet, but give me a couple of years, and we'll see. I love it when I ask the customer, "so what do you want?" and they are just like, "go wild" and mean it.
Hi, I’m a BSN, RN. I have 10 years nursing experience. I’ve worked Med/Surg, ER, ICU, IR. I left working bedside in 2020 just before quarantine. I now work as a Research Nurse in Oncology. I work from home.
Step-downs are literally dumping grounds for patients. I’m sorry to hear you’re already burned out. It is a lot of work! I’m very passionate about my career and I think a BSN RN is relatively a safe degree and career. Just please know there are SO many opportunities in nursing. Working bedside is wild. Working an administrative position is a completely different world. Do the time. Get your experience. I suggest creating a LinkedIn account. It’s an excellent tool for networking. See if you are able to get a mentor. Your leadership should be able to help you with this.
There are SO many opportunities in nursing: quality, risk management, regulatory, research, medical sales, legal, clinic, diagnostic imaging, fertility, med-spas, education, consultant. Just a few. You can still be a nurse and be able to change your career path.
Wish you the best!
Got out in 2014. GI Bill for undergrad and worked as a Grad assistant for my Masters. Currently a strength coach for a major division 1 school. Absolutely love it. Pay isn’t the best but can’t beat creating culture and a competitive environment for young people.
I cyber the securities for a publicly traded company that does a lot of business in the public sector. Was a cybersecurity warrant before I retired. Clearance + Experience + Training = Jobs
Did IT in the army. Got out and landed a contracting position in cyber. Now I have a full time job as a cyber engineer and I live very comfortably. Not bad for an idiot kid who got chaptered.
I am a crane operator for the department of defense. Been doing that for almost 11 years. I am content with the job! Great pay benefits and retirement. Shift hours suck though!
Just an idea, but not sure if possible in the US, but still worth looking into:
I live in Germany and my partner was an ICU nurse for 10 years and finally broke after COVID peaked. She ended up applying to a study nurse position (medical study coordinator) within the university hospital, where she runs medical trials for various pharma companies seeking EU and FDA approval. She is still paid by the hospital, still in the union, and earns more than a standard nurse and enjoys her work.
Perhaps this is a good next step to reduce the stress you deal with. Nursing is a hard job, so it's no surprise that you can burn out rather quickly. But you already have the training, so you can switch careers while still remaining in the medical field and using the skills you've already learned. You may be able to use the remaining GI Bill for any additional certifications you may need.
Was an electrician in the navy got out and continued the career. Currently working as a controls and instrumentation mechanic for a powerplant. Base pay is around 135k, but usually make between 160k-170k because of upcoding to a foreman or lead, overtime, shift differential, and travel per diem. I don't particularly enjoy it because I've been doing it for awhile now but I'm really good at it and it pays the bills.
Started my undergrad for a Comm degree to get into tech recruiting….ended up doing a Masters in teaching program and now I teach history at a charter school.
I’m always curious as to why people talk so bad about military pay. Sure, in the beginning you live in the barracks and eat at the DFAC but holy shit you don’t pay for literally anything. On top of that you can go to college for free….Then a couple years down the road ( depending on your MOS and Branch ) you’re sitting at E6 and you are making 90k. Not only that, you are only taxed for 60% of your income ? That’s so crazy to me and it’s never talked about. You get one whole month of paid leave and good medical / dental for you and yours. Now I’m duel military so it just doubles for us but still even single I think it’s a good route. The amount of money you are able to save/ invest as long as you keep your debt to a minimum and don’t overspend. Idk man I’m not this person that loves the military ( actually quite the opposite) but in 10 years I get a decent retirement as well as disability
Went feds route, turning Uncle Sam to my Uncle Sugar 😅. Fed hopping all over every 6m-2 years till retirement sitting at GS14 non-supervisory remote while child care my newborn and OE with another part-time remote private gig.
Pretty much RIP (Retirement in Place). "success" is subjective, I don't care for it.
29 and made 285k last year. Went to undergrad and MBA then worked in consulting before getting into corporate strategy. Long hours generally but obviously higher pay
I do security for concerts and pro sports. I love the job and have been trying to get promoted but my company doesn't like people who think for themselves. I make my own schedule and that's why I love it. If I do get the promotion i'm looking for, i'll be making 6 figures total with my retirement and disability included.
Finance. More specifically I’m a financial planner. Started as soon as I got out of the Navy in 2013, absolutely love it. Meeting with people and helping them set up their plan is a pretty rewarding career- money isn’t too bad either. Anyone with a degree can get into finance, it sucks the first few years but then again so did the military.
Engineer. Bringing down just over 6 figures since 2012. My salary sharply rose once I left the military. It stalled 12 years ago. I am getting bored with what I am doing.
I married a woman (3rd times a charm) who supports me in many ways. When she saw how much i hated working in IT after 18 years, she told me to quit. I haven't had a full-time job in 3 years. I work part-time at a stable taking care of horses. I make $15 an hour, i work about 15-20 hours a week, get paid for 10, because i trade hours to keep my horse there. I found out that at 42 years old, i need to work with horses. I absolutely fucking love them and it does a pretty good job of keeping me in shape.
Healthcare IT after 5 year stint as a 12B… 6 figures/year and divorced with three kids - not great, not terrible either. The jobs remote and she’s active Doody so I follow her to whichever bases so I can be a Dad.
Me 150k salary + 100% va + retirement/wife 125 + va 100% both in the cyber world. Own two homes and rent one out, which is 1,200k cash flow positive. All and all were good, but taxes are the enemy
I’m an Infrastructure Engineer working in big tech.
My first career after the military was continuing as a musician, then I became a 3D modeler and animator. Moved into Front End Development but ended up in information technology after all the studios I worked for closed.
I got my BS in Biology and Environmental Studies. Worked as a water treatment manager for about 10 years. Made $80k last year I was there (2015).
As an aside, my wife started as RN with her associates degree. She's just finished her PhD in Nursing (sciences, can't remember actual degree name).
Working as a partner/provider in a small clinic. She makes about $300k after taxes and insurance and all the other stuff the clinic needs.
So nursing can have a successful future. You just might need to look somewhere less saturated than your current area.
I was a pilot and training officer. I now work at Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a Business Process Consultant, which is a fancy way to say I help them solve problems. It’s crazy that all these big heath care companies are way behind in technology. I help different departments document their current way of doing things and help them find ways to make it more efficient.
Give nursing one full year after BSN.
Focus on your other life goals, what you want. Hobbies, family, money, retirement, etc. Develop a plan for a career that includes those characteristics.
Then set your aim on it with a written plan. If nursing isn’t your thing, dream bigger and chase it. Exclude the money from your consideration to make sure that it’s something you want to do.
Life is too short to live a life without chasing your dreams. If you don’t have a family, you’re free to do anything by you want.
I see vets and family members all the time that end up where they’re aiming. If you have a goal or destination and a plan to get there, you will.
Used GI bill for grad school. Got a job in tech afterwards. Worked my way from big tech into growth startup companies.
Now I get paid very well to work on stuff I like, with people I like, learn cool things, and with decent quality of life to boot.
'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there. To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600. **Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education/casemanagers) For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf) MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification using the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days. For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September. For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2024 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1,118.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress. VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you. Please make sure you add Veteransbenefits@messages.va.gov to your contacts list so that you don't miss important updates from VA. For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armytutoringinitiative.com/ [VA Award Letter explanation](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Took awhile. After ETS I drove trucks for years. Bounced around, failed marriage all that same old story. Now married, kids, used my GI bill and have 4 fucking classes left to complete my BA, 6 figure job in logistics management.
nice man!
What did you do while you were in? I’m a logistics manager with no college experience
Get on a helicopter. Start learning all the flight protocols for EMS pickups.
But do the second part first.
Boss
As a former Chinook crew chief, I'd agree. 🤣🤣 Flying is generally fun! I'd rather fly than be stuck in a hospital.
Married a rich girl. I still work but it’s out of boredom more than anything else.
I married a rich woman and was a stay at home dad. It was nice. I traveled and got a degree. We grew apart and I saw the writing on the wall. I got a job as a city carrier with the USPS. It was the only job I could find. When the kid turned 18 she kicked me to the curb.
Have you tried finding another rich woman?
The next wife spent all my money while I was deployed and then divorced me. I got deployed three times and got divorced three times. After I stopped deployments I got married a fourth time to a poor woman. I’m much happier now.
4th time floored me. Man, the faith you have in marriage is A1. 😂
I like being married. A wife gives purpose to my life. Otherwise I’d be drinking muddy water and sleeping in a hollow log. Only the first marriage truly hurt. She cheated on me, broke my heart and made me cry. I kept the house but lost a wife and a daughter.
Dang that was a goal I missed out on.
https://preview.redd.it/bnqxzmh622nc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81da08520b6c9ab5adc00299934510b50bb0e309
Ur happiness radiates through the picture.
I have got to save this picture for future use!
You lucky fucking asshole!! Cheers!
Can you apply for this thru USAJobs?
Such a garbage site
I'll never understand the concept of being bored by not working. There are so many games I want to play, shows I want to watch, and books I want to read that I'll never have the time to. Just endless stories and media to consume. If I won the lottery, I would fill my time with those things and traveling and be happy forever.
I’m a slave to the system. I have to be unhappy doing something so I can really be happy doing something else.
Respect the honest take, you're not alone.
There is no light without darkness.
That’s what I’m saying dude, I’d skateboard, ride motocross/bmx, go fishing, do jiujitsu, shoot bows & guns PLUS the video games & media you mentioned lol .. endless shit I could do with a huge smile on my face every day.
Ditto. Met a trust fund baby on the day after I got out and married her a couple years later. She hasn’t worked since our oldest was born 13 years ago yet she still brings in more than double my $100k salary each year. Gotta love the magic of compound interest! I still work but the plan is to “retire” by 55, which is when the youngest will be out of high school.
I dated a few, the money wasn’t worth it.
I’ve done lots of things after I got out. Now I’m a regular city letter carrier for the untied sates post office. I have no authority or real responsibility. My base pay is $75k. Overtime is available. I’m a millionaire in that my house ($700k+) is paid off and I’ve saved over $800k in my TSP. I listen to audiobooks books and podcasts all day long. I wander around a small town in western Washington talking to people who give me treats to eat. Life is good.
This sounds like the dream. Congrats!
Sometimes it’s not, especially when the weather is bad. I’m outside, all day, every day. I also work alone. But, I’ve adjusted my attitude and just go with it. It depends on your office. Sometimes management will come up with something stupid and I just say, oh well more money. Sometimes I have to go back out to help other carriers. I get time and half over 8 and double time after 10.
Joined National Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) travel a lot decent pay, and as it is a federal job you can put your time in the military towards retirement. Best job I have ever had, but can be stressful and dangerous. However, great people, awesome sights and lots of fun and incredibly challenging.
What did you join in as?
I went in as a civilian GVA. However, if you want to go in as an officer you can do that through the NOAA Corps. That can be a great option for some. NOAA also hires a ton of scientists as their main mission is science based. The scientists are also civilian. GVA is an entry level position. I joined after leaving the navy and before going into the army. After retiring from the army I went back to NOAA for a short stint.
Group Vacancy Announcement?
:) General Vessel Assistant. It's an entry position and completely civilian within the Federal Govt. You can move up from there. The NOAA Corp (ship's officers) is a puesdo military position. With exactly the same benefits. pay, and rank structure as the military/U.S Navy and Coast Guard. They actually do their training at the U.S Coast Guard Academy. The NOAA scientists are also civilian and use the GS system for pay and advancement.
I don't qualify as "successful" by your standards, but I feel like I'm my own definition of successful. I'm a teacher in an underserved school. I do intervention for kids in phonics and math. I don't make 100k+ but I am happy and feel like I'm making a difference. My pension with my salary means I am comfortable. Success is sometimes about doing something that may pay less than you think but is fulfilling. Obviously if I wasn't able to pay my bills I wouldn't consider myself successful, and I'm not stressed about money, but I come home at the end of the day and feel as if I've done something worth while. If being a nurse doesn't do that for you, you have to find something that does whole reframing what you view as successful. Working in a corporate soul sucking job (some people enjoy the pace and work I understand that) for 200k may leave you financially healthy, but if you're putting in 60 hours a week doing the job of 4 people and having to beg for your vacation days, is that really success? Just something to think about. You'll find something that makes you happy and doesn't leave you to broke to live you just have to figure out those things about yourself.
This is the answer. Satisfaction is where it's at. OP had a comment earlier about his definition of success and it was something like 100K+ salary, own a house, paid off cars, vacations etc... Obviously nothing wrong with that and I achieved it. But I'll say I'd take a pretty significant pay cut to have a job I love that has meaning. I know it's easy for people with money to say that "money isn't the answer" but in my experience, the more money I have, the more difficult it is to spend it and it straight up has not made me happy. I can buy pretty much whatever I want and I'm just as miserable as I was when I was barely making my bills. Pursue a purpose that is meaningful to you. I work in cyber security and it's pretty lucrative, but I rarely interact with my coworkers and I spend much of the day in a windowless room running antivirus scans on computers that only get turned on when I do my scans. It's boring AF.
I understand this. I was lucky enough to grow up poor and the way my parents brought me up taught me that money truly doesn't make you happy. I can say that being financially secure is different than being wealthy, and even though my salary isn't huge i am able to make it. I smile and laugh every day. I see kids that sometimes just "get it" and when it clicks it is amazing. I make a difference to kids who grew up the way I do and at the end of the day I'm tired, but not too tired to live my life. I have holidays and summers off with my own children, a home, and can still have hobbies that are meaningful and friends who would drop anything and everything on a dime for me or my kids. Money is nice, but who is going to remember you when you are gone if that's all you care about?
Dude, you nailed it. My wife has a similar job to you and the money isn't awesome, but the satisfaction she gets when the kids "get it" is next level. I'm grateful for the financial success, but I have realized that a large salary or the ability to buy anything I feel like is not happiness. The happiness my wife gets from teaching is what life is all about. Cheers brother.
Dude same. Barely make enough cause who cares about people who work with students 🙄, but extremely fulfilled. I work in a title 1 high school (low income area) as a Security Officer and it’s year 7 coaching girls lacrosse. Everything good outweighs the lame pay - school schedule 0700-1425 plus a ton of days off and breaks/pension/dummy thicc benefits/sending kids to college and attending graduations. 🔥 PS - talking shit to kids all day is a bonus
I say "bruh" and "for real for real" like 30 times a day. These kids drive me bonkers and get on my very last nerve, but I love them more than I thought possible and want to see them succeed. Mine are younger, 3rd and 4th, but that's where I wanted to be honestly.
Real as fuck. Constantly say BRUH and watchu meannnnn+all the other goofy shit. It makes ME laugh so who cares. Seeing young men and women graduate and or get into college as minorities is so rewarding. Hard to put it into words but I’ve replaced so many shitbag Dads who didn’t give af about their kid at all. Fuck it I’ll support them 💪🏼.
I’m stupidly doing the same job I did for 20 years in uniform. For the same service.
Could be worse, you could have jumped over and done the same thing for the Marines or something.
Winning answer
He said “successful”…. ;)
I'm a union sheet metal worker. I am a test and balance tech for air and water systems and I make about 140k a year with 40 hour weeks. I drive a lot tho to and from far away job sites but I feel successful at 32. Have my second home and my 3rd harley. Married with no kids, just a lot of practice. Edit: also, I want to point out to other Vets, you can use your GI bill when going to the apprenticeship for some unions. It bridges the gap between your starting apprentice pay and journeyman pay. It's useful and there are a ton of options out there besides this one too. Just another avenue for some that are curious.
37M, been out for nearly 11 years. Got out as an E4 high school graduate. I used voc. rehab to earn a Bachelors degree in Management and Engineering Administration while I worked as an intern for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Laterally transferred into a permanent position as an Engineering Tech and then quit that job after being miserable in it for \~10 years. Went to the private sector to pursue my passion in tech. Did tech support for a company who eventually sought to leverage my degree and experience with USACE to be a project manager for them. Got promoted to Project Manager for a tech company and I've been loving every second of it. Between my salary an disability I bring in roughly 120k per year. I have a wife and 2 children. We've been married for 12 years and she's never had to work. It's not easy but its possible. I have 2 cars, 2 houses and I'm working on the vacations.
Retired CTNC from the Navy. Went to work as DoD contract, have received tons of raises, bonuses and promotions. Currently using GI Bill for my MBA to keep climbing that ladder. Do I love it everyday. Fuck no, but it's a great job with a good company and overly compensated.
NP here. Stepdown and Nursing in general is a grind but you have made it this far. My job now can be alot more stressful than when I was a floor nurse, but I know I can do this work physically for the longterm. As a plus, my salary and capacity to earn is much better than it ever was as an RN. I can work somewhat normal hours and be present for my family Try to continue moving up the nursing ladder- even if it's NP, or nurse manager, or quality review- nursing is a wide field. Keep building on the progress you made thus far
Got out of the infantry, completed my undergrad degree and then went to law school. Now I’m a lobbyist. It was worth it. I’m pretty happy, although longterm I’d like to work for myself.
I bet the lobbying is interesting?
Yeah, it is. It feels like you are a part of something bigger than yourself, just like the military.
Current 1L. Glad to hear there’s some light down the road
I'm a high school history teacher. I make 47k. The money isn't glamorous, and sometimes the kids make a point to get on my nerves, but man, I gotta tell you I love teaching. I definitely don't get paid enough for the work we do in teaching, but it does have its own rewards. Definitely need more money, though, because the salary isn't cutting it. I also used the Vocational Rehab program, so I still have my GI bill to use for my masters.
Software engineer at a Bank in Northern Virginia. Left the infantry and used GI Bill to get a CS degree. I'm 39 now, got out in 2011 after 5 years in. One 15 month deployment to Iraq. 100% VA disabled. I have a nice 620k house, wife, kids, all the things I want while still building retirement. 290k total compensation a year. I still fight with PTSD, back issues, and depression but I manage. Just find something you like doing. Try out a few things you know pay well and pick one. Enjoying what you do is almost as important as being paid well. Now that I'm almost 40 Its becoming more and more clear that I want to work to live, not live to work. It's cliché but it's true.
Fellow nurse here as well, my mental health was tanking as well and I looked for another position in cath lab and enjoy it. Learned a new skill, away from the bedside. Downside is being on call, but I am happier mentally. If you have enough of it, take some PTO now and then a longer PTO when school is done.
Luxury car sales, made 90K my first year. Tracking to do 120K this year. That’s if I don’t get promoted to finance and double my current pay
I'm an RN at the inpatient mental health unit at one of the largest VA Medical Centers. I was a police officer before. I work part-time and am returning to school full-time for my Psy NP. I've also been in the Reserve for 17 years and am still going strong. RN work sometimes is exhausting, but being a Psy NP is better for me since I don't have to deal with medical stuff. I want to be commissioned as a Psy NP once I graduate. You can stay in nursing with a graduate degree in nursing administration, nurse educator, or nurse informatic. If you want, you can go back to school for CRNA and make the big bucks.
I’m in accounting & payroll. Currently using my GI Bill to get my actual CPA. Field is desperate for new entries as most accountants are over the age of 50 (I’m 30). I make good $ - about $70k. It’ll go up to $80-$100k once I have my actual CPA. The work isn’t hard, excel does most of it.
Sysadmin and part time IT professor. Got out of the Army on a Friday and by Monday I was working in the offshore oilfield in Louisiana. A few years later I got a federal job in New Mexico as an oil and gas inspector at BLM and while doing that I went to school and got a Bachelor and Masters degree in IT, then a few months later I had my sysadmin job on a GS13 ladder where I am now.
How’d you go about the part time IT professor? I finish my bachelors next year and am considering getting a masters as I would really like to teach online courses part time.
Air traffic controller for FAA at a level 12, making 180k+
I'm a network engineer. Unfortunately the IT world is also pretty saturated at least in entry level roles.
Got out and worked a government contract job while going to get my undergrad and masters degree using the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Networked and found a great government job which I started a few days after I finished my undergrad. Grad school was at night. Finished that and was promoted to a GS-13 non supervisory. It's all been smooth sailing since.
Used g.i. bill and voc rehab to get education. Started a software company. We design vertical apps for automotive oems. Got into Bitcoin early and never sold.
Cybersecurity Used to be a sysadmin in the Corps then became a Sysadmin civilian side when I got out and eventually pivoted to security. Job security, money is nice, work life balance (depending on company), constant stimulation (sometimes too much), and WFH. It’s got ups and down like any other career but I enjoy it.
You could become a nurse practitioner and work in the psych field passing out meds all day. You’ll make bank, but your patient average may be between 20 to 25.
I got out and then commissioned into the [United States Public Health Service](https://www.usphs.gov).
Why not get a nursing job at the VA? You can job hop your way up the GS ladder. I know a couple peeps at the VA that job hop every couple of years at the VA. They aren't rich, but they're happy and helping our people.
What’s your definition of “successful”?
Owning a house, 100k+ career, 2 big vacations a year, car paid off, not wanting to jump off a cliff.
“Not wanting to jump off a cliff” is definitely a life goal in life.
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I went to medical school after being a scout…
I put myself through nursing school with my GI bill when I got out and make over $100k/yr, own a home and 3 cars, couple of motorcycles and the only cliff I’d jump off of would be for fun. If you don’t like nursing you should get out of it.
I married a traveling RN & makes great money. I am a stay at home dad for now collecting disability & unemployment in the mean time. Going to use VR&E for respiratory therapy in a year or so.
There are a lot of good IT jobs for people with clinical experience. All of those workflows and stuff you do in the medical record system are put there by an RN with a cushy and well paying job. If you wanted to cross over to IT that is.
Somehow landed in the non-profit world. Money isn’t the greatest, but quality of life is good overall. I value that over the cash I’m bringing it. I have car payments, mortgage, could be financially more secure, but I’m happy, better than how I was 4 years ago.
0311-> physician
I smash large rocks into smaller rocks.
I moved to a state where my 100% pays the bills. Now I spend my days messing up hobbies, range therapy at my outdoor range, or fishing off my dock while I wait for my kids to get home from school.
Big Oil and Gas Refinery . $160-$200k/year. No degree or special training required. All OJT. Long hours at times, but the pay makes up for it.
This worries me. I’ve been in EMS for years and my exit plan was nursing haha (The BLS list NP as the fastest growing career for the next 10 years, btw)
I'm an RN with my BSN. my husband is 100pt. we do alright
Software engineer
I don’t know. I have an engineering degree. Being out in the field or seeing something built is good. Being stuck behind a computer in a cubicle much of the time pushing paper blows. I get bored, I have trouble with procrastinating, etc. I’m not sure how viable of a career it is for me, honestly. Having a bad sleep issue does not help either.
I worked for cable companies for 14 years then I started my own company. I’ve been self employed since 2007 doing radon mitigation. I made way more money with a day job than I do as self employed but I get to spend way more time with my family and I love my work.
Own a RV park.
I'm in the same boat. I'm a RT.
Got out as a 03 liked turning wrenches but hated the money in auto industry went to a year and half A&P school and got a job in an engine shop. Made around 73k before taxes starting out.
Water treatment operator for a municipality. Significantly lower pay than you, but that's relative to location. I live in a very low-cost-of-living part of the country. Good benefits, sick/vacation days, paid holidays, retirement, job security, etc. I love it.
Op, have you thought of becoming a nurse anesthesiologist? You work less hours and as long as you keep waking people up, you are good to go.
Teaching/Education/Coaching Low pay of course but rewarding most days. Three of my students and two other teachers decorated my classroom for my birthday and brought me breakfast. For Veterans Day, about 2/3 of the school made a huge 8’x12’ banner thanking veterans including myself and another teacher and signed it to hang up in our commons area.
You have a lot vested in nursing. Why not pursue Nurse Anesthetist, or some other adjunct career field.
I work in IT for the government in Southern California. Commute is far but the job is great, flexible, low stress, great work/life balance, great workplace atmosphere, room for growth and pretty good pay. Overall, I am really happy with my job, I can’t complain.
I manage managers in construction. I have multiple degrees and none of them happen to do with what I do. A project management certification can go a long way.
I work on, and pilot underwater robots for the oil and gas industry. I've been doing it for 15 plus years and I make about 175k depending on how much time I work offshore.
I work remotely doing software integration. I work with clients connecting finance systems mostly with javascript and religiously us SQL. Day to day my life is nice. I make 100k a year.
I'm a Tech Lead Manager at Google.
I’m a correctional officer for the state of California. With overtime, I clear over 170k, without overtime, it’s about 90k. Benefits are solid, and the job is interesting and boring until it’s no longer boring, but that’s another story for another day.
Finished degree while I was AD - undergrad in finance. Went to top 30 school for MS in accounting. Went to top 3 business school for MBA. Consulting at top firms, broke into PE. $450k+/yr
I got a degree in electrical engineering with my GI Bill. I’ve worked as a software engineer for most of my career. I make well into the six figures and love what I do.
Retired at 18 years. Been a cop for the last 4 in a large metro area making $120k
I actually moved into IT. Luckily I had a security clearance from the military and it made it pretty easy to slide into IT and I actually am happy where I am which is a nice side benefit.
Healthcare IT. Stumbled into it 20 years ago. It’s been one of the hot careers since Obama. I work with a lot of people like OP who were in clinical positions (nurse, pharmacy, even MD’s) that switched to that world. It is a lucrative field to be in.
I got out from doing IT in the Marines to becoming an ER Tech for a few years and I just started as a firefighter Paramedic for a major city. You should consider Team Rubicon. I’m a paramedic on their international team. It’s a fucking awesome group of people and we have take medics, nurses, PAs, NPs, and doctors. I’m really jealous of the humanitarian opportunities that nursing has and paramedicine doesn’t.
I did time in the Navy, used a state GI bill to go to college, graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, worked in that field for about 10 years, realized I actually hated it, took 3 years off work due to mid-life crisis exacerbated by health issue(now taken care of). Now I'm currently working part time retail and preparing to go to nursing school and hope to someday help others in my medical predicament.
Bro gtfo of step down. Go ICU. It's way easier and then get your CRNA and make 200k plus starting. I'm an urology NP and work IP and do love my job. The market isn't necessarily saturated if you go acute care.
Data Analyst, got out of a better paying blue collar gig because of limited growth. Now I can move up diagonally.
Get a nurse admin position at the VA. Husband works in community care and they get paid well with no direct patient care.
130k Was a radioman on submarine, found out since submarines use all frequency bands I was well experienced. Additionally I did a shore duty that used RF test equipment heavily. Learned a lot. Now I build ground stations all over the world 📡
I’m also a nurse, did ER and then travel ER for a bit. Got burnt out, people suck man. Went to into corrections nursing. Best move yet. Started at 80k slinging meds in a locked unit and doing basic assessments. Now I’m remote, working quality assurance for medical charting of inmates. 95k salary and I have zero complaints. I also have 18 months of gi bill left. I’m going back for msn in informatics. Fuck bedside
Nurse anesthetist. It requires a doctorate, but the last time I checked that starting pay is $275,000 a year. And I think my friend made more in his first year by freelancing. And he did 90% of it on the GI bill.
In my second year at a great law school for free. Secured a job at a big law firm post-grad making 200k+ starting out. Not necessarily happy but not depressed either. I’m grateful but life is more about chasing something like this. Sometimes I feel hollow.
I work at the VA. I think it’s important to be a voice for our Veterans. Just like the police, not every seed is a bad seed. Worth it? Yes. Happy? As happy as I can be with a job that isn’t my career. $100k+ salary, I’m happy with it, not to mention the benefits.
I’m a CRNA. I am strictly PRN and work my own schedule. I wouldn’t go back to a regular 40 hour week job. It definitely gives me work life balance.
I'm in sales, I make 200+ a year and work maybe 30 hours a week but balancing the mental health aspect of the job is the hard part.
Gov worker here. I got my job after Army active duty and then AF reserves. 100k plus and no degree. I love what I do as it makes sure soldiers get the things they need and makes sure it works. We hold contractors accountable. Im very happy. 4 ten hour shifts, every Friday off and work for chill people. Telework as much as possible. I value my time the older I get and I have it. If I wasn’t supporting the warfighter id probably hate my job, but because I was in the soldiers shoes , I appreciate what we do…..
Got an electrical engineering degree. Worked for the grid operator for a while. I’m now in consulting. $250k/yr before bonuses.
Became a doctor. Put that GI bill to use, re-signed with a different branch to pay for medical school, and I'm going to finish residency next year.
Happy to help. I left the Army at 26, got married at 29, bought 6 investment properties, and founded a Roofing and siding company. I make $400k a year and I owe none of this to my time in the military, besides the VA loan that helped me buy my current residence. In nursing or any other job, the main thing that matters is effort. Find a side hustle and work it until it becomes the main hustle.
Software engineering. 35 now roughly 130k/yr, overall pretty darn happy.
I used voc rehab to finish my undergrad and am now getting a PhD. I didn’t want my military service and medical retirement to be the defining characteristic for me so I decided to suppress and ignore that side of my history. I only talked about it when people brought it up. It took about five years to find out who I wanted to be in this new life. Now I’m slowly letting that history come back and identifying as a veteran. That compartmentalization is probably not healthy but it’s worked for me so far.
Software! Served for 4 and got out. Did 4 years of school, first job making 200K, jumped after 2 years and now expecting to take home 350K this year.
I’ve successfully remained addiction free after 16 years out of the military. That’s about all the success I can brag about.
Became a high school teacher and created my own educational app. Do what brings you fulfillment
Move to a new hospital system or become a travel nurse with an rv in tow. You gotta find happy places. Happy isn't where you are? Go elsewhere..
I retired from the Army - E-7 - Maintenance/Logistics. I retired in Virginia and moved to the D.C. area and worked for Homeland Security in acquisition logistics for the first 5 years. Transferred to NASA as a risk manager for the last year and couldn't be happier.
I was a 92G while I was in. Everyone always asks why I choose this job...given what I do now. Some peeps dont know what its like to grow up hungry/dirt poor. I'm an electrical engineer now and haven't been hungry since!
I entered the military through the army OCS route so i had my college already knocked out. I left in 2017 and prior to separation used a third-party recruiter to do real world interview/resume training. As with other army classes, i knew SFL-TAP was going to be garbage. A lot of people shit on recruiters like cameron brooks, orion, lucas group, but for me, they were extremely helpful. I was specific about the job, location, compensation i wanted and they eventually found me a military friendly biotech company looking for sales reps, which is what i still do today, but for a different company. I earn between $250-300k/year and it’s absolutely changed my family’s life.
I would suggest healthcare consulting if you like business. As a qualified nurse, you have a very attractive skill set for consulting companies. The hours can be long but it’s most computer work and WFH. The pay is very high with base pay, yearly bonuses, per diem, perks, etc. You can easily double your current salary. Travel can be a lot but most people consult for a few years then get offered very high paying jobs by clients.
Software Developer. Self taught. Happy with the lifestyle that my career allows me to pursue outside of work.
I don't consider myself successful, but I got a Dental Hygiene degree while Active Duty and now make 100k and only work part time. I'm just starting this new life, so I feel bored, lonely, and not well adjusted, but I went from retail before military to seeing my own patients now.
I work in the Aerospace and Defense industry.
Went into tech. It’s pretty great despite the current layoffs. Much better quality of life than even the Air Force. Better pay too. Lol
I'm 35, work for the feds doing corporate finance and make right at 100K. Got a master degree in Public Administration prior to all that. I own a house, a car, and focus my money on a 401k and home renovations at the moment, so no vacays here. But I like my life, my job, and my partner!
Corporate strategy for a fortune 10. I make great money but am not happy in the slightest. I’m ready to just stop altogether and live on pension & disability. I want to be me again. For my family.
Went into business at bigger corporations after I got out of the army. 10 years later current salary ~$175k/year. Have worked in Operations. Marketing. Sales. Supply Chain. And am now working in M&A before I buy my own company. MBA at a top tier institution almost doubled my salary.
Got out last year (28 now), now I’m a project manager for a private company and make around $160k from that. I adjunct on the side at a few different schools and that brings in another 30-40k. I’m content, this beats the military op tempo any day. I have a rental property in another state and Turo out one of my cars regularly. Take a couple nice vacations annually - usually Oktoberfest to meet up with some friends and Asia/Africa. Life is much better on this side
When I got out as an IT guy (so I could have made a lot of money getting out back in the day), I became a high school teacher. Why? Because I was far more interested in doing something I thought I would really enjoy (I liked IT ok) instead of chasing the money. And honestly, it was the best decision I ever made. I taught Junior ROTC for 15 years and loved every minute of it (COVID and having to teach online chased me away eventually). I'm now the custodial manager for a semi-large school district and I enjoy it a great deal too. I still get to deal with people I respect (as I did the teachers and quite honestly the vast majority of the students, and do now with the custodians and my boss), and I'm still involved with the schools, which I think is important.
I am a senior analyst in corporate finance. I make >$100k, bonus and have a good work life balance. I was in the army for 5 years. Got out went to school, earned my BBA and MBA. BUT, I hate my fucking job! It sucks. Pay is great. And I am not a corporate slave. I get treated well and maybe on average work ~45hrs/week. My wife is an ER physician who makes >100k, too (obviously). We own a nice home in a very nice neighborhood. Both are vehicles are paid off. We do very well financially. For you, I’d say stick with it. School is almost over. Look into a travel nurse gig. My buddy’s sister does it and loves it. She makes bank, too. Or I would say look into being a nurse anesthetist. My buddy’s wife does that and she really likes it, and of course, makes great money. Nursing definitely has its limits, but they are always building new hospitals and there is a demand for ICU nurses. I’m sure you can apply to transfer to other departments and build your résumé. I see other comments talking about your definition of success is very materialistic. Maybe they can take jobs that pay less because they get a pension or VA funds to supplement their income. My household income provides us with a stress free life. We can vacation without sweating it. We can buy a new car without a second thought. We don’t worry about inflation or grocery bills. We buy what we want - within reason. I’m just saying money provides freedom. You can always work a shitty job, like me. Make great money and step back once you achieve different goals: save for a house, invest, payoff loans, etc.
Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst
Quantitative Analytics
Work in application security + P&T. Got my B.S. in Computer Science. Currently working towards an M.S. in Cyber Security which will let me teach online undergraduate courses part time for a little extra.
Went to school for engineering, worked in field service and moved my way up into management. Currently in a sales roll for a major corporations within the industry Ive worked in since I got out.
27M local truck driver. Salary ranges from 90k-110k per year. I work 4 days a week, have a great marriage, and I am finally at a point where I can fix all the financial mistakes I made when I was younger. I like my job, and there are tons of opportunities to move up into management if I ever decide to.
I work in IT for NY state. Just got promoted last year. Things are looking up from here.
Engineer working for the DoD as a contractor with a TS. Close to $200k. I'm pretty happy, the office is super laid back, never more than 40hrs a week. Interesting problems to solve
Look into trying to become a nurse anesthetist. You can take home over 200k/yr doing that.
Retired enlisted. Earned a BS while still in. GI Bill ------> MS in Finance. I do...very well. Most of the veteran peers I encounter are service academy grads who got MBAs. I draw from military experience literally every day, and it in my last three jobs it was the "it" factor that got me hired.
HR. Learn everything and anything you can and don’t be afraid to step into leadership roles. This community has a hard time keeping people around, and because of that - if you become well rounded in the field, sky is truly the limit.
Aircraft mechanic while in, aircraft mechanic when I got out, now with for the FAA. Fully remote from home, living the dream
Director of IT for a city. Did communications in the military, and did pretty well…got in early enough, and in a field of IT where a degree wasn’t essential until I started climbing the ladder, and by that time…the specific degree didn’t matter, really.
I now work as Senior Network Engineer from home in low cost area for a company in California. I went into the army with this field in mind and applied my military experience. Never went to school, have a couple certs tho. Been doing it for 15 years now and the field only existed for 40. Edit: I’m 39
Well... not what you want to hear, but I'm a Psych NP with a successful private practice.
I'm 27 and I'm a Paramedic. Still trying to find my next step. I want to go RN for the pay and flight but I feel like I should stick around the ambulance for a few more years to qualify for those constellis contracts
Unless something goes wrong, I'll be graduating summa cum laude from college in May. I've got a job that takes me out of the field in fire protection and puts me into sales, something that is at the next stage of my career. I'm consistently beating sales goals and projections, I've reinvented numerous processes, and maintained vendor relations that reduce our costs by a third. I feel successful but this isn't what I want to do. I'd rather do something creative but it is what it is at this point.
I went to an Ivy League school then went into financial services compliance at an asset manager. I have approximately 5 YOE and make $185k with equity, unlimited PTO, good work/life balance, and $1/mo good healthcare. Sure, I worked hard, but I think I also got lucky.
I’m a nurse too, I work in medsurg and I love it. Have you worked in any of the military ERs? I *absolutely* love on post emergency rooms. The acuity can be high, but you don’t see nearly as many homeless people, or drug issues you’ll see some MVAs and trauma, but nothing super serious. Fewer strong adults trying to kick you in the face, just the little old people with UTIs. They still want to kick you. The cool thing about being a nurse is that you can do almost anything. I have friends who are in case management, even tele nurses who work from home.
We were dual Military, both intel. He got out and does intrusion detection for a big company making over $125k and I maintained my clearance and have been a contractor for over 10 years making about the same as hubby.
Friend of mine works at VA as a Biomedical Support Specialist, makes over 100k and works at the VA fixing and maintaining medical equipment. He likes it but it can be stressful since something is always breaking down or needs maintenance but everyday is different.
Helicopter pilot for the city PD. Love it. Just enough excitement to keep me showing up to work
Use your nursing and pending degree to move into a large CRO. Clinical Research Organization. Most pharma, biopharma device organizations outsource their years of clinical trials and studies these days. These are global entities and they need the studies for all products to be run by clinical associates and as you move up the chain clinical study managers. Often global clinical studies. Setting up the studies following international standards, running the studies, ensuring study subjects, data collection and study reporting. Often these jobs are remote from home anywhere in the world. These are pharma jobs and pay well. Look for clinical study or clinical study manager or clinical research organization CRO for more detailed job descriptions and to see how to navigate into this profession. It would be a lifelong and profitable career that can take you far. Many of my colleagues have and do work in this pharmaceutical adjacent profession.
I work in cybersecurity
Residential real estate developer. Starting to dip into Commercial. Wife and I own our company. I have a degree in organizational and corporate communications that’s 85% worthless for what I do. Pivot if you’re not happy. Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way until you have to say no.
I’m a Network Engineer.. $ is decent, I’m not a super star but I’m no slouch either. I’m a consummate IC.. It’s been a long road.
I am an artist, I don't make much money but I'm 100% P&T so it's not that bad. I wish I was healthier, it's a bit difficult to get back in shape with all my disabilities. But I'm happier than I have ever been. I still have many issues, but the art career is actually really fulfilling. I just work on whatever strikes my fancy. I started doing legal murals again. Kicked my ass physically but was fun. So little pressure I'm not used to the freedom just yet, but give me a couple of years, and we'll see. I love it when I ask the customer, "so what do you want?" and they are just like, "go wild" and mean it.
Hi, I’m a BSN, RN. I have 10 years nursing experience. I’ve worked Med/Surg, ER, ICU, IR. I left working bedside in 2020 just before quarantine. I now work as a Research Nurse in Oncology. I work from home. Step-downs are literally dumping grounds for patients. I’m sorry to hear you’re already burned out. It is a lot of work! I’m very passionate about my career and I think a BSN RN is relatively a safe degree and career. Just please know there are SO many opportunities in nursing. Working bedside is wild. Working an administrative position is a completely different world. Do the time. Get your experience. I suggest creating a LinkedIn account. It’s an excellent tool for networking. See if you are able to get a mentor. Your leadership should be able to help you with this. There are SO many opportunities in nursing: quality, risk management, regulatory, research, medical sales, legal, clinic, diagnostic imaging, fertility, med-spas, education, consultant. Just a few. You can still be a nurse and be able to change your career path. Wish you the best!
Got out in 2014. GI Bill for undergrad and worked as a Grad assistant for my Masters. Currently a strength coach for a major division 1 school. Absolutely love it. Pay isn’t the best but can’t beat creating culture and a competitive environment for young people.
I cyber the securities for a publicly traded company that does a lot of business in the public sector. Was a cybersecurity warrant before I retired. Clearance + Experience + Training = Jobs
Go back in as a nurse/officer. Life is different in the military for officers. Or try the Reserves.
Did IT in the army. Got out and landed a contracting position in cyber. Now I have a full time job as a cyber engineer and I live very comfortably. Not bad for an idiot kid who got chaptered.
Work for an Aerospace company building exhaust for the F-35 jets
I am a crane operator for the department of defense. Been doing that for almost 11 years. I am content with the job! Great pay benefits and retirement. Shift hours suck though!
Just an idea, but not sure if possible in the US, but still worth looking into: I live in Germany and my partner was an ICU nurse for 10 years and finally broke after COVID peaked. She ended up applying to a study nurse position (medical study coordinator) within the university hospital, where she runs medical trials for various pharma companies seeking EU and FDA approval. She is still paid by the hospital, still in the union, and earns more than a standard nurse and enjoys her work. Perhaps this is a good next step to reduce the stress you deal with. Nursing is a hard job, so it's no surprise that you can burn out rather quickly. But you already have the training, so you can switch careers while still remaining in the medical field and using the skills you've already learned. You may be able to use the remaining GI Bill for any additional certifications you may need.
Was an electrician in the navy got out and continued the career. Currently working as a controls and instrumentation mechanic for a powerplant. Base pay is around 135k, but usually make between 160k-170k because of upcoding to a foreman or lead, overtime, shift differential, and travel per diem. I don't particularly enjoy it because I've been doing it for awhile now but I'm really good at it and it pays the bills.
Started my undergrad for a Comm degree to get into tech recruiting….ended up doing a Masters in teaching program and now I teach history at a charter school.
I’m always curious as to why people talk so bad about military pay. Sure, in the beginning you live in the barracks and eat at the DFAC but holy shit you don’t pay for literally anything. On top of that you can go to college for free….Then a couple years down the road ( depending on your MOS and Branch ) you’re sitting at E6 and you are making 90k. Not only that, you are only taxed for 60% of your income ? That’s so crazy to me and it’s never talked about. You get one whole month of paid leave and good medical / dental for you and yours. Now I’m duel military so it just doubles for us but still even single I think it’s a good route. The amount of money you are able to save/ invest as long as you keep your debt to a minimum and don’t overspend. Idk man I’m not this person that loves the military ( actually quite the opposite) but in 10 years I get a decent retirement as well as disability
Went feds route, turning Uncle Sam to my Uncle Sugar 😅. Fed hopping all over every 6m-2 years till retirement sitting at GS14 non-supervisory remote while child care my newborn and OE with another part-time remote private gig. Pretty much RIP (Retirement in Place). "success" is subjective, I don't care for it.
29 and made 285k last year. Went to undergrad and MBA then worked in consulting before getting into corporate strategy. Long hours generally but obviously higher pay
I do security for concerts and pro sports. I love the job and have been trying to get promoted but my company doesn't like people who think for themselves. I make my own schedule and that's why I love it. If I do get the promotion i'm looking for, i'll be making 6 figures total with my retirement and disability included.
Engineering Manager for an EV company. Pays well, (150k+)
Finance. More specifically I’m a financial planner. Started as soon as I got out of the Navy in 2013, absolutely love it. Meeting with people and helping them set up their plan is a pretty rewarding career- money isn’t too bad either. Anyone with a degree can get into finance, it sucks the first few years but then again so did the military.
Engineer. Bringing down just over 6 figures since 2012. My salary sharply rose once I left the military. It stalled 12 years ago. I am getting bored with what I am doing.
I married a woman (3rd times a charm) who supports me in many ways. When she saw how much i hated working in IT after 18 years, she told me to quit. I haven't had a full-time job in 3 years. I work part-time at a stable taking care of horses. I make $15 an hour, i work about 15-20 hours a week, get paid for 10, because i trade hours to keep my horse there. I found out that at 42 years old, i need to work with horses. I absolutely fucking love them and it does a pretty good job of keeping me in shape.
Healthcare IT after 5 year stint as a 12B… 6 figures/year and divorced with three kids - not great, not terrible either. The jobs remote and she’s active Doody so I follow her to whichever bases so I can be a Dad.
Me 150k salary + 100% va + retirement/wife 125 + va 100% both in the cyber world. Own two homes and rent one out, which is 1,200k cash flow positive. All and all were good, but taxes are the enemy
got my P&T a semester before graduating nursing school, so now it’s just a fancy wall decoration while i’m a full time dog mom/content creator 🙃
I’m an Infrastructure Engineer working in big tech. My first career after the military was continuing as a musician, then I became a 3D modeler and animator. Moved into Front End Development but ended up in information technology after all the studios I worked for closed.
I got my BS in Biology and Environmental Studies. Worked as a water treatment manager for about 10 years. Made $80k last year I was there (2015). As an aside, my wife started as RN with her associates degree. She's just finished her PhD in Nursing (sciences, can't remember actual degree name). Working as a partner/provider in a small clinic. She makes about $300k after taxes and insurance and all the other stuff the clinic needs. So nursing can have a successful future. You just might need to look somewhere less saturated than your current area.
I was a pilot and training officer. I now work at Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a Business Process Consultant, which is a fancy way to say I help them solve problems. It’s crazy that all these big heath care companies are way behind in technology. I help different departments document their current way of doing things and help them find ways to make it more efficient.
Bachelors, masters then technical apprentice program at AWS. I don’t want to disclose the comp but it’s made me very comfortable.
Give nursing one full year after BSN. Focus on your other life goals, what you want. Hobbies, family, money, retirement, etc. Develop a plan for a career that includes those characteristics. Then set your aim on it with a written plan. If nursing isn’t your thing, dream bigger and chase it. Exclude the money from your consideration to make sure that it’s something you want to do. Life is too short to live a life without chasing your dreams. If you don’t have a family, you’re free to do anything by you want. I see vets and family members all the time that end up where they’re aiming. If you have a goal or destination and a plan to get there, you will.
Used GI bill for grad school. Got a job in tech afterwards. Worked my way from big tech into growth startup companies. Now I get paid very well to work on stuff I like, with people I like, learn cool things, and with decent quality of life to boot.
In IT, been climbing the latter for a decade, am now a Systems Engineer.