Special Forces: Career Profile
Implement unconventional operations by air, land, or sea during combat or peacetime as members of elite teams. These activities include offensive raids, demolitions, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and counterterrorism. In addition to their combat training, special forces members often have specialized training in swimming, diving, parachuting, survival, emergency medicine, and foreign languages. Duties include conducting advanced reconnaissance operations and collecting intelligence information; recruiting, training, and equipping friendly forces; conducting raids and invasions on enemy territories; laying and detonating explosives for demolition targets; locating, identifying, defusing, and disposing of ordnance; and operating and maintaining sophisticated communications equipment.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Special Forces Perform?
Types of Special Forces Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Advance Seal Delivery System Maintainer
- Amphibian Crewmember
- Basic Combatant Swimmer
- Combatant Swimmer (SEAL)
- Joint Special Operations
- Master Naval Parachutist
- Naval Special Warfare Medic
- Parachutist
Job Outlook
There are roughly 39,034 special forces working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +4.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Special Forces
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $56,978 |
| Hourly median | $27.39 |
| 10th percentile | $40,219 |
| 25th percentile | $48,599 |
| 75th percentile | $65,358 |
| 90th percentile | $73,738 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Degree Programs
Future special forces often complete programs in:
Military Technologies and Applied Sciences
4 programs across 2 majors
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
3 programs across 2 majors
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 55-3018.00 (Special Forces).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.