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Salary Talk Mission: Transition

A common question among military officers transitioning to civilian life is, “What salary can I expect in the corporate world?” While there’s no universal conversion scale, these factors* will help you weigh the numbers.

Location. There are high-cost and low-cost areas of the country. Use www.salary.com to figure the differences in cost-of-living.

Your role. There is a big difference between leadership or supervisory positions and those for team members, and they pay differently. You probably had supervisory responsibilities in the military, and you know what a challenge that can be. Keep in mind, none of these is a bad position if it meets your work-life balance needs.

Continued service. You might decide to forego a higher salary for the opportunity to serve at a government agency, nonprofit, or charity. Your paydays could be smaller, but your personal satisfaction might be higher.

Being new. When we assess ourselves, we place a high value on our abilities. To a hiring firm, you might be a rookie. Get an insider to vouch for your experience and abilities so you don’t get passed over as someone who talks a good story but is new to the field.

Competition. Are you one of a few people after a position or one of dozens? You lose leverage when a company has more choices.
— Lt. Col. Shane Ostrom, USAF (Ret),
CFP®, MOAA Transition Center

Transition Advice

Are you still in the military but starting to think about all the changes a transition to civilian life entails?

Get free advice at a MOAA transition lecture. Check the MOAA Calendar, page 75, to see when a MOAA Transition Center expert will visit a base near you. Lectures vary in content from general transition advice to civilian benefit package comparisons, transition tax implications, and job-search tips.

*online: Find five more factors that determine your salary after the military at www.moaa.org/careerarticles.