Also called: Army 19K, Marine 1812
Drives, loads, and fires the M1 Abrams tank as part of a four-person crew.
Tank crews spend a lot of time on maintenance: tightening tracks, checking engines, and testing the gun's computer. On the range they practice hitting targets at over a mile while moving. Afterward, crew members often work as heavy-equipment operators, diesel mechanics, or truck drivers.
Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Cash in hand is lower early on because junior troops often live in free barracks and eat in dining halls. Enlistment bonuses can add thousands.
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 and ASVAB, then ~22 weeks of basic and armor 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.
Majors to look at: Diesel Technology (trade school), Heavy Equipment Operation.
Growing slowly. Not in BLS projections. The Army is shrinking and modernizing heavy armor units, so openings are steady but not growing.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Autoloaders and robot combat vehicles may cut crew sizes by the 2030s; maintenance and driving stay human.
Classes: Auto / diesel tech CTE, Physics, PE / strength training.
Official data: O*NET occupation 55-3013.
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.