by our College Data Analytics TeamMilitary systems maintenance and technology is a technical track for students wishing to join the armed services in a number of available roles. This may include positions in aerospace ground equipment, air and space operations technology, munitions systems, explosive ordinance, joint task force, missile technology and military information systems technology. These are technical positions open to enlisted and commissioned officers and focus on technical aspects of the military.
You may be responsible for clearing an area suspected of having unexploded ordnance, or you may be responsible for maintaining munitions systems on various vehicles. The number of ??systems" involved in the military is staggering, and people working in systems maintenance are critical to ensuring the success of the armed forces and the missions they carry out.
Courses in military systems will focus on the hands-on knowledge needed to perform in a variety of roles. Enlisted members can pick a technical specialty after basic training where they will learn how to perform their assigned job. Commissioned officers earn their bachelor's degrees in one of the federal service academies where they can then choose a specialization.
A degree in Military Systems & Maintenance Technology explores Military Systems And Maintenance Technology. Read on to learn the key facts every military systems & maintenance technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering military systems & maintenance technology programs.
Across the country, military systems & maintenance technology is a popular field of study, with 207 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Military Systems & Maintenance Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 7 schools to determine the best overall colleges for military systems & maintenance technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of military systems & maintenance technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Military Systems & Maintenance Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations military systems & maintenance technology graduates commonly enter.
Besides your education, you will also need to meet several qualifications to become a member of the armed services. You must be at least 17 years old, be a US citizen or permanent resident and be able to pass a medical exam.
You must have the ability to work well with others. You must learn to trust and rely on others, and you must also provide support and do your assigned tasks to ensure the safety and success of your team. Other important skills are the ability to work well under stressful situations.
The skill set developed in a military systems & maintenance technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a military systems & maintenance technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several military systems & maintenance technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 88 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 99 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 17 |
People currently working in careers related to military systems & maintenance technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 36.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 28.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.7% |
| Some college courses | 4.1% |
| Master’s degree | 1.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in military systems & maintenance technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
In today's armed services, technology plays a huge role. Very few systems don't have a technical system behind them and being able to operate and maintain these systems is of great importance. Pay will vary depending on your pay grade and number of years of service and whether you are enlisted or a commissioned officer.
Studying military systems & maintenance technology can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to military systems & maintenance technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to military systems & maintenance technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 214,833 | 10.6% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
| Command and Control Center Officers | 41,356 | -1.1% |
| Special Forces | 40,649 | 4.1% |
| Artillery and Missile Crew Members | 32,870 | 5.0% |
| Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists | 31,884 | 10.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of military systems & maintenance technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,214 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for military systems & maintenance technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers military systems & maintenance technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $77,835 |
| Special Forces Officers | $73,745 |
| Command and Control Center Specialists | $69,900 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
| Special Forces | $56,978 |
| Aircraft Launch and Recovery Specialists | $47,575 |
With 7 different military systems & maintenance technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased military systems & maintenance technology school rankings to help you.
Those considering military systems & maintenance technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Air and Space Operations Technology | 114 |
| Aerospace Ground Equipment Technology | 70 |
| Explosive Ordinance/Bomb Disposal | 23 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 4,051 |
| Military Applied Sciences | 383 |
| Military Technologies and Applied Sciences, Other | 144 |
| Military Technology and Applied Sciences Management | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
