Avionics Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Live · Guide v1.0AWV · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · AWVCareer Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.AWV.R.04
AWV · NAVY · EnlistedNaval Aircrewman
Naval Aircrewman
(Avionics).
Navy AWV (Naval Aircrewman (Avionics)). 1,200 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $68K–$135K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,200DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 21 semester hours recommended
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your AWV background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What AWV training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01HFGCS and SATCOM→ Network Management
- 02ELINT and AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) System→ Signal Intelligence and Threat Detection
- 03Avionics Troubleshooting and Repair→ System Diagnostics
- 04Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS)/Link 16→ Secure Network Administration and Data Encryption
- 05Situational Awareness and Rapid Prioritization→ Incident Response
To learn05
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools+Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)+Scripting languages (Python or Bash)+Data analysis and visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Electronics Technician
$68KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Specific certifications related to industry (e.g., CompTIA)
Aerospace Engineering Technician
$72KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — CAD software proficiency
- — Knowledge of aerospace regulations
Air Traffic Controller
$135KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA certification
- — Strong communication skills
Technical Trainer (Avionics/Electronics)
$70KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Instructional design principles
- — Curriculum development
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your AWV training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
Naval Aircrewmen (Avionics) maintain constant awareness of the aircraft's environment, including weather, other aircraft, and potential threats, to ensure mission success and safety.
Transfers to
The ability to perceive and understand the surrounding environment, anticipate potential issues, and make informed decisions based on the available information translates to anticipating market trends, managing project risks, and ensuring workplace safety.
System Modeling
AWVs develop a deep understanding of complex aircraft avionics systems, allowing them to predict system behavior, troubleshoot malfunctions, and optimize performance during flight operations.
Transfers to
Understanding how different components interact within a larger system allows for effective problem-solving, process optimization, and strategic planning in civilian settings. This skill is invaluable in roles that require a holistic view of complex operations.
Degraded-Mode Operations
Aircrewmen are trained to maintain operational effectiveness even when aircraft systems are damaged or malfunctioning, using backup procedures and creative problem-solving to complete the mission.
Transfers to
The ability to maintain composure and find alternative solutions under pressure translates directly to managing crises, adapting to unexpected challenges, and ensuring business continuity in demanding civilian roles.
Rapid Prioritization
In the dynamic environment of aerial operations, AWVs must quickly assess and prioritize tasks, ensuring the most critical issues are addressed first to maintain safety and mission effectiveness.
Transfers to
This skill enables effective multitasking, efficient resource allocation, and decisive decision-making in fast-paced civilian environments, such as project management, emergency response, and executive leadership.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Business Continuity Planner
SOC 13-1199.00You've been rigorously trained to maintain operations under duress and troubleshoot complex systems. As a Business Continuity Planner (13-1199.00), you'll develop and implement strategies to ensure an organization can continue functioning after a disruption. Your experience in degraded-mode operations and system modeling translates directly to this role, where you'll analyze potential risks, develop contingency plans, and coordinate recovery efforts.
Adjacent · MatchTechnical Trainer
SOC 25-9044.00You've developed a deep understanding of complex avionics systems, coupled with communication abilities as an airborne communicator. As a Technical Trainer (25-9044.00), you'll leverage your experience to train others on complex equipment and procedures. Your skills in system modeling, procedural compliance, and situational awareness make you uniquely qualified to create engaging and effective training programs.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161.00You've maintained safety and operational effectiveness in high-pressure environments. As an Emergency Management Specialist (11-9161.00), you'll leverage your situational awareness and rapid prioritization skills to coordinate responses to emergencies and disasters. Your experience in degraded-mode operations and tactical communication will enable you to develop and implement emergency plans, conduct training exercises, and ensure community resilience.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Aircrewman Candidate School (ACS)
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL; Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC), Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL; P-8A Poseidon Fleet Replacement Aircrew Training (FRAT), Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL1,200hHours
30wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 21 semester hours recommended
Topics · 8
- Aviation Physiology and Survival
- Aircraft Electrical and Electronic Systems
- Avionics Troubleshooting and Repair
- Electronic Warfare Principles
- Acoustic Sensor Systems
- Navigation Systems
- In-flight Maintenance Procedures
- Aircrew Coordination and Communication
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET)60%
Study consumer electronics, troubleshooting techniques specific to civilian devices, and current industry standards.
- CompTIA Network+40%
Focus on network topologies, protocols, cybersecurity basics, and cloud networking concepts relevant to civilian IT infrastructure.
Recommended next · 04
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- CompTIA Security+Adjacent
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| AN/APS-149 Littoral Surveillance Radar System (LSRS) | Maritime surveillance radar systems for coastal monitoring and search and rescue | Signals |
| AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) System | Spectrum analyzers and signal intelligence (SIGINT) collection software | Operations |
| AN/ASQ-265 Advanced Airborne Sensor System (AASS) | High-resolution imaging systems and data processing software for aerial surveys | Signals |
| High Frequency Global Communications System (HFGCS) | Global HF radio communication networks for emergency and remote communications | Networking |
| Satellite Communication Systems (SATCOM) | Commercial satellite internet and communication services (e.g., Starlink, HughesNet) | Networking |
| Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) | Aviation data link services for airline operational control (e.g., ARINC, SITA) | Networking |
| Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS)/Link 16 | Military-grade secure communication networks (no direct civilian equivalent, but experience translates to expertise in secure network administration and data encryption) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate AWV into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.