Whats the best MOS for a high school graduate that can lead to a good civilian salary?

First, figure out what you want to do as a civilian. Then determine if an enlistment opens doors or closes them within that fields. Remember, while you are off in the military, your military experience is going to be weighed against the industry experience of your peers. Depending on the field, you may be better off with military experience, or you may be behind.

As a general caution, if you love the work, you'll find a way to make it work for you and yours; if you hate the work, the money will never be enough.

The one you love doing. Pick a job you enjoy, and you'll never work a day in your life. Pick a job you hate just because it pays well, and you'll hate that paycheck because of how miserable you are. As for a good career after the service, I could have taken my infantry training, joined a civilian contractor company, and made $150,000 a year as a mercenary while overseas. Or I could have taken my technical engineer training and worked starting at $50,000 a year a survey job right out of school, and worked up. Didn't love either one like I love building up a small company as an auto mechanic manager even if I am only making $30,000 this year.

I understand why you phrase the question as you do, however, answering you properly would obviously ne far easier with considerably more information. Trust me, take the time, time consuming though doing so might ne, and really elaborate on yourself in considerable detail. Education, ambitions, hobbies, interests, goals, all those are Paramount to having a chance at getting your efforts to do what youre considering right. Please believe me when I tell you, the single thing I lacked when I went in was adequate information, both as to where specific work I'd wanted to do was done, and, likewise, who actually did it. Further, I had little clue of the social responsibilities involved in going in, I wish, quite honestly, many, many times, over the succeeding decades, that I'd known considerably more about precisely how to have gone about it properly, what questions to ask, who to ask them of, and what training I should've had before even trying to go in. I appreciate your eagerness, I comprehend your interest, however, you should explain what services would interest you, what you've looked into for each one thus far. How much you've researched each one, as well. You need to understand something I'll try to convey to you here, doing what youre considering is in all likelihood te single most profoundly life changing, life altering event you could ever possibly think to consider. I'm not saying that to dissuade you, merely to try to enlighten you, that's all, honest. You can't just consider one service, to my way of thinking, that's entirely the wrong approach. Also, what you want only matters up to a certain point, what matters is what the services want, which, I assure you, is absolutely paramount that you entirely realize, and completely comprehend. Once done, it's a forever thing, it can never be undone, that's why it is absolutely essential, critical, in fact, that you go into the whole thing as completely well informed as you can possibly be. I was to have gone in under Army ROTC, I went in under USAF OTS instead. I'm glad I did it, doing it did me infinite good, it also carried with it responsibilities, very gravely serious ones, I didn't at that point, even remotely comprehend the gravity of, I assure you, which is why I'm trying to explain what happened to me to you, so as to try to make you understand and comprehend. When youre in, youre a public servant, a bound one, you voluntarily agree to that by going in. Your conduct and cooperation, as well as your cheerful, unflagging enthusiasm must be absolutely above and beyond any conceivable reproach, at virtually alp times. You'll have your own personal problems, those can never. Ever, so far as possible, be allowed to interfere with your responsibilities. The single most important attribute essential for anyone going is is absolute willingness to cooperate, regardless of what tasks you might be given. To worry about which specific assignment you'd be given, and what civilian salary you might get afterward, while perhaps understandable at your stage, is, I assure you, utterly and completely beside the point, please do trust me on that. One does not go in to improve oneself, I was told that once in a very long, draining discussion I once had with my unit CO, a very serious Vietnam war hero. I was taught while in Army ROTC by several other Vietnam war heroes, all of whom I remember, quite vividly, to this day, that you also may he assured of, believe me. If you go in, you are there to help further the mission of your unit, nothing elsrx your wants and wishes are utterly and completely secondary, to be utterly subordinated yo the goals and function of your unit. It is obviously not that no one will care about your wants, wishes, goals, and/or ambitions, however, only up to a certain point, and absolutely no further. Your career is your own, what you make of it is your own, what you're there to do is to help those you'd ne assigned to, thats what you agree yo, that's what you put your right hand up to do, irrespective, and completely regardless, of where youre sent, or what youre asked to do, and that you understand that is positively essential for you to entirely and completely comprehend beforehand, that much, I needed a very, very long time to learn, quite frequently the hard way, often due to my own banal stupidity, which,, and please believe me, I am very definitely trying to spare you. I wish I coudltve stayed in longer, I wish I could've done more, contributed more, however, I was woefully unprepared, in retrospect, precisely because I focused on what work I'd be doing, not realizing that the work any as to wear the uniform, not the given task at hand at any one moment. So, as I said, take the time to really elaborate here, as I'd explained, go into high school, college, grad school, specific coursework, specific majors, what you'd ultimately like to be involved with. Not what pays well after, but what you'd enjoy doing. However, realize, at the same time, that what you'd want, as I'd said, is entirely secondary in that world, if you get it, great, you get it, if you don''t, you don't, that still wouldn't lessen in any way your responsibility to perform well in whatever you'd wind up doing. You'd have PME yo do while in, you'd be expected to do college,, whether undergrad or grad, while in, you'd ne expected to volunteer while in, as I said, it's what you make of it, not what it males of you, OK? I realize that's a lot to take in, my intention was not to overwhelm, my object was to inform, and tell you the absolute unvarnished truth, at the sa!e time as trying to !maintain your enthusiasm, so, if you want advice, ask, however, the more you explain, and the greater detail you give biographically, the more those here can suggest to you, I hope that helps, truly, of be most eager to know your thoughts, nice New Year as well, of course, many thanks.

Barry Bob As others have mentioned, the pay is the same based on your pay grade. Carefully research all of the military branches and what they have to offer. Pick a MOS that appeals to you and that you qualify for. While you serve, continue your education, for an eventual civilian career. Good luck.

https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/military-service-branches-compared.html

The MOS is less of a determination than personal drive. Yes, certain MOSs give you greater access to training, education, and skills that align with civilian sector jobs, but the MOS itself will not get you those certifications/degrees, you need to seek those out in your own time. Differentiate yourself from your peers while in and you set yourself up for success when you leave.
Look to the things you enjoy doing now. Find a civilian career field that is related and pays well. Find a corresponding MOS.

That's like asking an alcoholic which beer is better. Combat Arms if you want to get into private contractors doing force protections and such. Combat Service / Service Support if you want more civilian jobs. Get on line and look up MOS cross training with civilian jobs. Only you can answer this question for yourself.

Every single one of them can, believe it or not. If you are good at something and have a passion for it, chances are you will be successful at it. Find something that you think will make you happy, period. I know it's not the answer you are searching, but money will come the longer you are at the job and if you are good and happy with it. I'll take happiness over money any day of the week.

Heavy equipment operator. Construction engineers, prime power, any of the mechanics,

If you have the qualifying scores, anything in the Military Intelligence field will assist you with getting a job in the civilian world.

You should first pick a career field that matches your abilities and interests. If you’re still in school, your guidance counselor may be able to administer interest test. Let’s say you are interested in being a mechanic. If you test well enough then you might choose an MOS or AFSC as a mechanic ranging from diesel mechanic to marine engine mechanic to jet engine mechanic. Picking the Service is a whole different string. There’s many career fields that are closely related to civilian occupations besides mechanics. IT has many opportunities, but so does being a cook or truck driver. It really depends on what you want to do. Don’t overlook the possibility of staying in the Service for a career of 20 years or more.