IT Careers for Veterans: Jobs, Salaries, and Career Support
1,800+ companies have hired Centriq graduates | About 30% of our students are veterans | 30+ years of training IT professionals
Your military experience gives you skills you can build on in IT. We help you add hands-on technical training, prepare for your job search, and connect with employers. Here’s what you can work toward after Centriq.
Veteran Career Outcomes in IT at Centriq
Army veteran Daniel Skahan completed Centriq’s Cybersecurity Specialist Program in June 2026 and secured a paid Technical Support Intern position with Complete Technology Solutions, with an opportunity to move into a full-time role. His experience is one example of how training can help veterans move into IT after military service. Individual outcomes vary, and training does not guarantee employment, salary, or a specific hiring timeline.
Centriq does not publish a veteran-specific placement rate, but in 2025 Centriq reported a 95% completion rate, a 72% placement rate among reporting students, and more than 100 new careers started. Individual outcomes vary, and training does not guarantee employment, salary, or a specific hiring timeline.
Many graduates begin in help desk, technical support, or IT support roles, building experience they can use to pursue networking, systems, or cybersecurity roles over time. For many veterans, that kind of role is not the end goal. It is the place where classroom training starts to become real-world experience.
How Your Military Experience Applies to IT
Your military experience may already include skills that translate naturally into IT. Troubleshooting equipment, following procedures, documenting issues, working under pressure, adapting to change, and supporting a team are all relevant in technology roles. IT employers need people who can solve problems, stay organized, communicate clearly, and work within structured processes.
That experience can give you a strong foundation for a career in tech. Equipment maintenance can translate to diagnostics and technical troubleshooting. Security procedures can translate to risk awareness, consistency, and accountability. Training others can translate to communication, support, and process clarity. At Centriq, students build on those strengths through hands-on training in systems, networking, and security, then learn how to explain that value more clearly in the job search.
Average Starting Salary for Veterans by IT Career Path
Many veterans want to know what kinds of roles may be available after training and how those starting points compare. Help desk, IT support, desktop support, networking, and security roles can all serve as entry points into IT, but they do not all ask for the same level of experience or responsibility. Some are common starting roles after training, while others may require additional technical depth, certifications, or on-the-job experience over time.
Centriq’s Cybersecurity Specialist Program helps students build the hands-on foundation needed for those early career paths through training in systems, networking, and security. The table below is designed to show several common IT roles, the kind of work they involve, how military experience may transfer, and the general salary information available for each. These figures are included as general career context and are not veteran-specific outcome data, but they can help veterans compare options and better understand where a career in technology may begin.
Job Role / Title | Description | Transferable Skills from Military | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|
*Salary sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Salary.com, and Glassdoor. Figures are provided for general career context only. | |||
Help Desk Technician | Resolves common technology issues, supports users, and helps keep day-to-day systems running smoothly. Often a practical first step into IT because it builds experience with users, systems, ticketing, and troubleshooting. | Service orientation, clear communication, documentation, following procedures, composure under pressure | $40,000–$60,000 annually |
IT Support Specialist | Supports users with common technology issues, account access, software problems, and everyday troubleshooting. Often a practical starting point for building experience in a professional IT environment. | Troubleshooting, adaptability, accountability, process discipline, operational support | $40,000–$55,000 annually |
Desktop Support Technician | Provides hands-on support for computers, devices, software, and workstation setup. These roles often involve direct interaction with users and problem-solving at the device level. | Equipment support, hands-on execution, attention to detail, task ownership, practical problem solving
| $60,000 annually |
Network Support Technician | Helps support connectivity, diagnose network issues, and assist with maintaining the systems that keep teams connected and productive. | Systems thinking, diagnostics, incident tracking, technical troubleshooting, reliability | $50,000–$65,000 annually |
Cybersecurity Specialist | Cybersecurity Specialist roles help protect systems, accounts, and data by supporting security processes and identifying potential risks. | Risk awareness, security discipline, observation, documentation, policy adherence | $72,000 annually |
Help Desk
Technician
Resolves common technology issues, supports users, and helps keep day-to-day systems running smoothly. Often a practical first step into IT because it builds experience with users, systems, ticketing, and troubleshooting.
- Service orientation
- Clear communication
- Documentation
- Following procedures
- Composure under pressure
$40,000–$60,000 annually
IT Support
Specialist
Supports users with common technology issues, account access, software problems, and everyday troubleshooting. Often a practical starting point for building experience in a professional IT environment.
- Equipment support
- Hands-on execution
- Attention to detail
- Task ownership
- Practical problem solving
$40,000–$55,000 annually
Desktop Support Technician
Provides hands-on support for computers, devices, software, and workstation setup. These roles often involve direct interaction with users and problem-solving at the device level.
- Troubleshooting
- Adaptability
- Accountability
- Process discipline
- Operational support
$60,000 annually
Network Support Technician
Helps support connectivity, diagnose network issues, and assist with maintaining the systems that keep teams connected and productive.
- Systems thinking
- Diagnostics
- Incident tracking
- Technical troubleshooting
- Reliability
$50,000–$65,000 annually
Cybersecurity Specialist
Cybersecurity Specialist roles help protect systems, accounts, and data by supporting security processes and identifying potential risks.
- Risk awareness
- Security discipline
- Observation
- Documentation
- Policy adherence
$72,000 annually
*Salary sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Salary.com, and Glassdoor. Figures are provided for general career context only.
The roles and salary figures shown here are provided for general career context only. They are not veteran-specific outcomes and should not be read as a guarantee of employment, salary, or hiring timeline. Actual results vary based on experience, qualifications, employer requirements, location, and market conditions.
Career Support for Veterans Beyond the Classroom
Learning technical skills is only part of the transition into civilian IT. Veterans also need support with resumes, interviews, employer connections, and the job search that follows training. Those pieces can matter just as much as the classroom experience, especially when moving from military service into a civilian role.
At Centriq, that support starts early and continues throughout training. About 30% of Centriq students are veterans, so many students are learning alongside others who understand the shift from military to civilian life. Career Services, hiring events, employer connections, and the student community all help support that transition beyond the classroom.
Career Services Before, During, and After Training
Centriq’s Career Services team helps students prepare for the job search with resume support, LinkedIn guidance, interview preparation, and one-on-one coaching. That support can also help veterans explain military experience in ways civilian employers understand and connect training projects to real job opportunities.
Career Fairs and Employer Connections
Students and graduates can meet employers through career fairs, hiring events, and networking opportunities connected to the Centriq community. These events help students make direct connections, learn what employers are looking for, and better understand how companies hire for entry-level IT and cybersecurity roles.
How Centriq Helps You Get Hired
Centriq shares job opportunities with students and graduates and helps connect them with employers looking for talent. Employers also come to Centriq to find candidates, which can create additional opportunities as students work toward a first role in IT.
Is Cybersecurity Training Worth It for Veterans in 2026?
For many veterans, the real question is not whether cybersecurity sounds interesting. It is whether the training leads to practical skills that can support a move into civilian IT. That question matters even more in 2026 as AI becomes part of more workplaces and employers continue looking for people who can troubleshoot, follow process, understand systems, and communicate clearly in real-world situations.
That is also why many veterans compare a cybersecurity program with a coding bootcamp for veterans or other short-term training options. The format matters. Students need enough structure, repetition, and hands-on practice to apply what they learn beyond the classroom. Centriq focuses on systems, networking, and security while also helping students prepare for interviews, resumes, and the job search that follows training.
Cybersecurity training is not a guarantee of employment, and it does not remove the work required after class ends. But for veterans looking for a structured path into IT, it can be a practical option when the training includes hands-on experience, career preparation, and employer connection alongside the technical content.
Do the GI Bill® and VET TEC 2.0 Pay for Centriq Training?
Centriq accepts Montgomery GI Bill® and Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits for approved training. VET TEC 2.0 is approved for our in-person training. Individual eligibility, remaining entitlement, payment amounts, and approval status still depend on current VA rules and the specific program and training format a student chooses.
Centriq can help students understand the school side of that process, including schedules, tuition, and which training options to review more closely. The VA remains the final authority on eligibility, entitlement, approval status, and payment amounts. Students should review current funding options, compare available schedules, and confirm that the program and format they want are approved for the benefit they plan to use.
Veteran Funding and Benefits
Review veteran funding options that may be available for approved training, including GI Bill® benefits and other VA education support.
VET TEC 2.0
Learn more about VET TEC 2.0, who it may apply to, and what to confirm before relying on it for approved technology training.
VET TEC 2.0 Guide
Veteran Schedules and Tuition
Compare available schedules, training formats, and tuition information for veterans so you can review your options before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Veteran IT Training
What is Centriq’s job placement rate for veterans?
Centriq does not publish a veteran-specific placement rate. In 2025, Centriq reported a 95% completion rate and a 72% placement rate among reporting students, with more than 100 new careers started. Veterans make up about 30% of Centriq’s student body and are part of that broader training and career outcomes story.
What IT jobs can veterans pursue after training?
After training, veterans may pursue roles such as Help Desk Technician, IT Support Specialist, Desktop Support Technician, Network Support Technician, and security-focused support roles. For many students, these positions are the starting point for building experience in civilian IT. Over time, that experience may support movement into networking, systems, or cybersecurity roles as skills, certifications, and responsibilities grow.
Can I use my GI Bill® for IT training at Centriq?
Eligible students may be able to use Montgomery GI Bill® or Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits for approved training from Centriq. Coverage depends on individual eligibility, remaining entitlement, the specific program, and the training format. Because the VA may treat different formats as different approved programs, students should confirm that the exact option they plan to take is approved before enrolling.
What if I have used up my GI Bill® benefits?
If you have used up your GI Bill® benefits, other options may still be available. Centriq accepts Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31), which may apply to additional training formats depending on your situation. VET TEC 2.0 is approved for in-person training. Individual eligibility and coverage still depend on current VA rules and each student’s situation, so it is important to review the details before making a decision.
What is VET TEC 2.0, and does it cover Centriq training?
VET TEC 2.0 is a VA education benefit that may help eligible veterans pay for approved technology training. You may qualify if you are a veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or an active-duty service member within 180 days of separation, have at least 36 months of active-duty service, and are under 62 when your application is approved. At Centriq, VET TEC 2.0 is approved for in-person training. Because approval can depend on the specific program and format, students should confirm that the exact option they want is approved before relying on this benefit.
How long does the Centriq program take?
Our Cybersecurity Specialist Program can be completed in as little as four months and up to seven months, but the exact timeline depends on the schedule and format you choose. Day and evening options do differ, so veterans should review current schedules and tuition information to see what fits their timeline and availability.
Do I need IT experience to start a Centriq program?
No prior professional IT experience is required to get started. Our Cybersecurity Specialist Program begins with foundational skills and helps students build technical knowledge through hands-on training in systems, networking, and security. That makes it a practical option for veterans who are changing careers and starting fresh in IT.
Is Centriq’s IT training in person or online?
Centriq offers both in-person and live virtual instructor-led training options. Available formats can vary by program, and VA approval may differ by modality, so students should review current schedule options and confirm that the format they want is approved for the benefit they plan to use.
What IT certifications can I prepare for at Centriq?
Our Cybersecurity Specialist Program helps students prepare for Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900), Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), and CompTIA Security+ while building practical skills in systems, networking, and security. Students must still meet the certification provider’s requirements and pass the applicable exam to earn each certification.
Take the Next Step Toward IT Training
Talk with us about your goals, schedule, and funding options.
If you are exploring IT training as a veteran, we can help you review program details, class schedules, career support, and available funding options for approved training. Whether you are still comparing options or ready to plan your next step, we can help you understand what to expect and answer your questions.