Also called: Marine Corps 0352, Javelin Gunner, TOW Gunner
Fires shoulder-launched Javelin and vehicle-mounted TOW missiles to destroy tanks and armored vehicles in Marine infantry units.
Gunners practice target spotting, missile simulators and moving fast with heavy gear. In the field they find concealed firing spots, track armored targets through thermal sights, and coordinate with riflemen. Live missile shoots are rare and expensive, so simulator scores matter.
Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Junior troops often live in free barracks, so cash in hand is lower early on.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma, Marine boot camp, then Infantry Training Battalion antitank training. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Fire-and-forget missiles already guide themselves; finding targets and firing positions stays human.
Classes: Physical education, Physics.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.