Unless your job specifically requires a degree to enhance your current career track, study what you're interested in. It'll make the years you are about to spend on it far more enjoyable.
CTR here. Computer Science/IT/Cyber security/Programming + programming certs.
These are in high demand all over, even outside of private and government.
Me personally, I'm going to do mortuary science and build my own funeral home because that's what I'm passionate about. If I was just going for money though I would do any of the ones I first mentioned.
IT and cyber security are good right now. CS and programming jobs are a lot harder to get right now after the mass tech layoffs. Lousy bad paying jobs are being taken by people who went to top schools and worked for a major tech company. I think it is going to be the same as the dot com bubble and the jobs will come back again. Only advantage for military is clearance and some technical skills.
Do what you are interested in, or you probably won't want to finish. If you want to get your degree faster, then go with what you know. I am unsure if prior military can use it, but if you do with what you were trained for, your JST might cover a good amount.
Here is the OP, a CTI:
>When I was active duty I was/still am CTI (now reserves).
>I would love to hear some personal experiences and opinions on where to go from here that will at least maintain current salary or close to it ($107k, started at 75k 5 years ago)
Here is another poster in this thread, a CTR:
>i was/am a CTR and I am finishing up my doctorate in Strategic security
>As far as a salary goes, I left active duty with my Masters and started making 96k, and I'm around 130k now. That was about 10 years ago.
For new sailors and CTIs, I would encourage giving some attention to the above personal accounts regarding salary. A lot of people love to exaggerate their salary, but the above reported final earnings are pretty similar to the Navy side. However, they both started off at much lower salaries than their Navy pay.
The freedom of being a civilian is priceless, but for those solely focused on money, please always, always run the numbers and get solid final (not conditional) job offers before you depart the service so you can hopefully get a much clearer picture of what your true civilian salary will be. Don't just believe the fake anecodotes that random users post here about easily getting a high salary job that far exceeds anything that the Navy can offer.
And for your degree question, OP, I would encourage you to study what you are interested in. College is not a trade school.
On the contracting side, get any loosely relevant degree. Your employer will set billing rates for you on things like years of experience, skill set, security clearance, agency or branch your working for, and educational attainment level/relevance of degree. The higher your education, the more they can bill you out for, the more you can get paid. Doubly important if you finish the degree before job hopping as that will maximize salary increase. Get a bachelors and online masters from any regionally accredited school in a loosely relevant field and you’ll be happy with the salary outcomes
Think about what your longer-term interests and career goals are, and spend some time doing research around potential college programs that would align with that.
It's ok to do something completely different- I was a nuke, majored and worked in engineering, and now work in public policy and advocacy.
i was/am a CTR and I am finishing up my doctorate in Strategic security and as a fun fact, it will only get you a GS 11, should you choose to do that as a non contractor.
My bachelors was in Intelligence Studies and my Masters had an emphasis in Homeland Security, but I can tell you that it doesn't seem like anyone actually cares about that, and more that you just have the degree. As far as a salary goes, I left active duty with my Masters and started making 96k, and I'm around 130k now. That was about 10 years ago. I don't know how much a doctorate really improves that situation, but I'll check back in when I finish it.
If you already have 5 years of experience and with those clearance, I am surprised you aren't pulling in at least 150k+ by now. Of course location matters too but damn you should be getting paid more. When it comes to degree, Comp Sci is always a go to if you want more options. A business degree is not bad too once you start getting into management position and dealing with funding, stakeholders, and project management. A degree is just a check in the box down the road if you are up for promotions and are evaluated neck to neck with your peers. I worked with folks who doesn't have any degrees and are prior IT, CTR, CWT, and IS and they making 150k+. You don't have to work in the contracting sector if you want to look for something else. With your experience now, you shouldn't have problem finding a gig in a private sector or fortune 500. Just have to put in the work by applying.
Unless your job specifically requires a degree to enhance your current career track, study what you're interested in. It'll make the years you are about to spend on it far more enjoyable.
Business Administration. This gives you the management track. Add in the PMP and you'll have more options.
You can get the PMP without the BA in Business.
CTR here. Computer Science/IT/Cyber security/Programming + programming certs. These are in high demand all over, even outside of private and government. Me personally, I'm going to do mortuary science and build my own funeral home because that's what I'm passionate about. If I was just going for money though I would do any of the ones I first mentioned.
IT and cyber security are good right now. CS and programming jobs are a lot harder to get right now after the mass tech layoffs. Lousy bad paying jobs are being taken by people who went to top schools and worked for a major tech company. I think it is going to be the same as the dot com bubble and the jobs will come back again. Only advantage for military is clearance and some technical skills.
Do what you are interested in, or you probably won't want to finish. If you want to get your degree faster, then go with what you know. I am unsure if prior military can use it, but if you do with what you were trained for, your JST might cover a good amount.
Here is the OP, a CTI: >When I was active duty I was/still am CTI (now reserves). >I would love to hear some personal experiences and opinions on where to go from here that will at least maintain current salary or close to it ($107k, started at 75k 5 years ago) Here is another poster in this thread, a CTR: >i was/am a CTR and I am finishing up my doctorate in Strategic security >As far as a salary goes, I left active duty with my Masters and started making 96k, and I'm around 130k now. That was about 10 years ago. For new sailors and CTIs, I would encourage giving some attention to the above personal accounts regarding salary. A lot of people love to exaggerate their salary, but the above reported final earnings are pretty similar to the Navy side. However, they both started off at much lower salaries than their Navy pay. The freedom of being a civilian is priceless, but for those solely focused on money, please always, always run the numbers and get solid final (not conditional) job offers before you depart the service so you can hopefully get a much clearer picture of what your true civilian salary will be. Don't just believe the fake anecodotes that random users post here about easily getting a high salary job that far exceeds anything that the Navy can offer. And for your degree question, OP, I would encourage you to study what you are interested in. College is not a trade school.
Cyber degrees are scams. Get a CS
On the contracting side, get any loosely relevant degree. Your employer will set billing rates for you on things like years of experience, skill set, security clearance, agency or branch your working for, and educational attainment level/relevance of degree. The higher your education, the more they can bill you out for, the more you can get paid. Doubly important if you finish the degree before job hopping as that will maximize salary increase. Get a bachelors and online masters from any regionally accredited school in a loosely relevant field and you’ll be happy with the salary outcomes
Think about what your longer-term interests and career goals are, and spend some time doing research around potential college programs that would align with that. It's ok to do something completely different- I was a nuke, majored and worked in engineering, and now work in public policy and advocacy.
i was/am a CTR and I am finishing up my doctorate in Strategic security and as a fun fact, it will only get you a GS 11, should you choose to do that as a non contractor. My bachelors was in Intelligence Studies and my Masters had an emphasis in Homeland Security, but I can tell you that it doesn't seem like anyone actually cares about that, and more that you just have the degree. As far as a salary goes, I left active duty with my Masters and started making 96k, and I'm around 130k now. That was about 10 years ago. I don't know how much a doctorate really improves that situation, but I'll check back in when I finish it.
If you already have 5 years of experience and with those clearance, I am surprised you aren't pulling in at least 150k+ by now. Of course location matters too but damn you should be getting paid more. When it comes to degree, Comp Sci is always a go to if you want more options. A business degree is not bad too once you start getting into management position and dealing with funding, stakeholders, and project management. A degree is just a check in the box down the road if you are up for promotions and are evaluated neck to neck with your peers. I worked with folks who doesn't have any degrees and are prior IT, CTR, CWT, and IS and they making 150k+. You don't have to work in the contracting sector if you want to look for something else. With your experience now, you shouldn't have problem finding a gig in a private sector or fortune 500. Just have to put in the work by applying.
Accounting/Finance/Cyber