How to Become a

Marine Corps Recruiter

The complete career guide to be a Marine Corps Recruiter: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.
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Why We Love It

  • $63,710
    Potential Avg. Salary
  • 4.5%
    Job Growth Rate
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook
  • Don't Take Work Home
    Career Attribute

Marine Corps recruiters are in charge of finding and mentoring qualified individuals to join the Marine Corps, with the purpose of replacing those on active duty.

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What is a Marine Corps Recruiter?

Duties

Persons working as a marine corps recruiter perform valuable duties such as:

  • Tracking down valuable networks to befriend and work closely with, towards a mutually agreed upon goal of finding potential recruits for the Marine Corps.
  • Work closely with key partners like career guidance counsellors, university and college senior officials, school principals, and other local community leaders.
  • Brainstorm and implement effective marketing and communications materials like pamphlets, brochures, posters, etc. to spread awareness about the opportunities available in the life of a Marine Corps.
  • On occasions, work with local media as well as national media to gain publicity among civilians and push for interested candidates to enlist.

Day In The Life

As a marine corps recruiter, you will be working to find new and passionate talent that will join one of the world’s most elite group of fighters. Your workload day-to-day will differ from the typical operating marine. Much of your day will be spent working to encourage civilians to enlist in military service. Using the credentials you gain during your training period, you will build meaningful connections with leaders in diverse communities and maximise on relationship management. In addition, you may travel to locations outside your assigned region for events like career fairs, workshops and speaking engagements to interact face to face with young individuals interested in a career with the Marine Corps.

Work Schedule

A marine recruiter must be prepared for irregular hours that spill over to the weekends. You will usually work around 60 hours per week, with most of your time invested in interacting with different communities across the country. It is worth noting that as a marine recruiter, you will not be aware of your assigned duty station until a month before you have to move.

Living away from a military base also implies that you will spend more on day-to-day amenities and be comfortable with staying away from military acquaintances. If you have a history of post-traumatic stress or psychiatric medical treatment, you must undergo a professional mental health evaluation. However, this does not mean that you will automatically be disqualified on such a condition.

Growth Of The Job

There is plenty of potential to grow as part of the marine corp. You will enjoy the health care and lifestyle benefits that are given to other service branches. Further, you can choose to work with a wide range of areas or ‘occupational specialties’ such as computer sciences, special operations and medicine. Besides working as a recruiter, you can take on additional projects that require advanced computer skills, engineering abilities, and more tech-focused jobs are increasingly recognized now, as the military needs these capabilities not just for operational requirements but for Marine morale and personal time as well.

Military personnel can only retire after 20 years of service and must retire after 30 years of service, after which they can explore alternate career opportunities outside military service. However, you can take advantage of the top-notch support provided for a range of educational opportunities while serving.

Typical Employers

If you qualify to become a marine recruiter, you will be screened by the US Marine Corps headquarters, then recruited.

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How To Become a Marine Corps Recruiter

Only marines can eventually gain the credentials required to be a marine corps recruiter. The screening process for this is very specific and thorough – the assignment for a basic recruiter starts at the command level, after a Marine completes important paperwork like a financial worksheet and a screening checklist. These materials are further evaluated by the Enlisted Assignment branch (MMEA) at the US Marine Corps headquarters.

To be selected for Recruiters School, you would need to display exceptional qualities that embody an ideal Marine Corp soldier. This is vital since you will be tasked with discovering the future generations of this institution in accordance with the core values of courage, commitment and honor.

Once you are selected for the position, you will have to undergo additional procedures such as a medical exam that is scheduled within 12 months before you are assigned. Further you need to groom yourself well and meet the physical and appearance requirements of the Marine Corps – e.g. no excessive tattoos and body piercings, weight management problems, etc.

Marine Corps Recruiter Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

National Anual Salary

Low Range

$43,780

Average

$63,710

High Range

$99,920

National Hourly Wage

Low Range

$21/hr

Average

$31/hr

High Range

$48/hr

How do Marine Corps Recruiter salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Marine Corps Recruiter's can make an average annual salary of $63,710, or $31 per hour. On the lower end, they can make $43,780 or $21 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.

Salary Rankings And Facts

  • #239 Nationally for All Careers

  • Above Average Salary Nationally

Programs and Degrees

Here are the most common degrees for becoming a Marine Corps Recruiter. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.

Highest Education Among Marine Corps Recruiters

  • 2.3%   Doctorate
  • 15.5%   Masters
  • 42.6%   Bachelors
  • 8.6%   Associates
  • 19.9%   College
  • 10.1%   High School
  • 0.9%   Less than High School

Job Growth Projections and Forecast

2014 Total Jobs

482,000

2024 Est. Jobs

503,900

Job Growth Rate

4.5%

Est. New Jobs

21,900

How does Marine Corps Recruiter job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 21,900 jobs for a total of 503,900 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 4.5% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average.

Growth Rankings And Facts

  • #460 Nationally for All Careers

  • Above Avg. Growth Nationally

What Companies Employ The Most Marine Corps Recruiters

Industry Current Jobs New Jobs Needed % Increase
Temporary help services 41,400 6,400 6%
Management of companies and enterprises 33,500 300 0%
Federal government, excluding postal service 27,200 -3,600 -4%

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