Is Ordnance And Accessories A Good Career Path? (8 Jobs In Ordnance and Accessories: Best-Paying + Entry-Level)

Yes, ordnance and accessories is a good career path. As a professional in ordnance and accessories, you’ll play an essential role in the manufacture of military supplies. This can include anything from weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, components, and maintenance tools.

Of course, while this career does come with the responsibility of creating safe and effective weaponry, you’ll also typically receive pay higher than the average American salary of $53,000 per year. Therefore, if you’re interested in pursuing an ordnance and accessories career, it’s important to know which jobs are available to you.

Luckily, if you’re interested in any of these jobs, this article will cover everything you need to know about the various ordnance and accessories career paths on the market, as well as what you need to do to achieve one.

The 5 Best-Paying Jobs in Ordnance and Accessories

Many Ordnance and Accessories jobs do pay higher than the average U.S. income of just over $53,000 per year. With that in mind, this section will dive into the highest-paying Ordnance and Accessories jobs out there. Just remember that with higher pay typically comes unique education and experience requirements.

Overall though, here are the best-paying Ordnance and Accessories jobs, according to our research:

1. Ordnance Engineer

   Average Annual Salary: $85,000
   Jobs Available: 4,400
   Job Growth: 4%

   As one of the best-paying Ordnance and Accessories jobs, this role requires the experience necessary to design, develop and test hazardous materials. For example, Ordnance Engineers regularly work with explosive ordnance materials, so safety is key.

   Ultimately, the goal of an Ordnance Engineer is to create designs that meet military procurement specifications. Then, once approved, these professionals will prepare project proposals that aid in negotiating contracts. Overall, Ordnance Engineers play a crucial role in the creation of explosives, as well as other military weapons and tools.

   Find Ordnance Engineer jobs near me

2. Armament Weapons Support Equipment Technician

   Average Annual Salary: $63,000
   Jobs Available: 88,500
   Job Growth: N/A

   These professionals often work in workshops or in the field inspecting, testing, and repairing electronic components. These components can be located on anything from combat vehicles, ships, artillery, aircraft, and missile silos.

   Armament Weapons Support Equipment Technicians play a crucial role in maintaining military equipment, allowing equipment to retain more longevity in the field.

   Find Armament Weapons Support Equipment Technician jobs near me

3. Ordnance Officer

   Average Annual Salary: $63,000
   Jobs Available: 68,400
   Job Growth: N/A

   Ordnance Officers are essential managers who take the time to ensure all weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment are functioning and readily available. However, this management isn’t always done out in the field and can involve a bit of paperwork.

   In general, Ordnance Officers are responsible for managing munitions at every stage of their lifecycle. From development, testing, fielding, handling, storage, and disposal, these professionals are the watchful eye that ensures nothing goes wrong along the way.

   Find Ordnance Officer jobs near me

4. Aviation Ordnance Officer

   Average Annual Salary: $63,000
   Jobs Available: 68,700
   Job Growth: N/A

   Aviation Ordnance Officers, or AOs, are tasked with managing all types of ammunition carried on U.S. aircraft. Keep in mind that many of these weapons have complex mechanical and electrical systems, meaning that regular maintenance is crucial for safety and effectiveness.

   For instance, if an aircraft is equipped with a StormBreaker, that munition has three modes that make its integrated seeker function effective. When one of these modes stops working, Aviation Ordnance Officers have the important role of repairing it, so the StormBreaker’s laser, wave radar, and infrared systems continue to operate properly.

   Find Aviation Ordnance Officer jobs near me

5. Ordnance Handler

   Average Annual Salary: $60,000
   Jobs Available: 26,900
   Job Growth: -1%

   For every munition produced, there are several steps that get that product from its origin point, all the way to being set up for a military operation. Ordnance Handlers are a major part of ensuring this process goes smoothly.

   These professionals ensure the safe production, storage, receipt, shipment, inspection, maintenance, and testing of munitions items and components. More specifically, Ordnance Handlers often work with explosive materials, meaning that extra precautions must be taken to ensure safe storage and transportation.

   Find Ordnance Handler jobs near me

3 Entry-Level Jobs in Public Utilities

There are some options for Ordnance and Accessories jobs that have minimal education requirements, allowing you to earn a respectable wage with no more than a High School diploma. For more information about the best entry-level jobs in the industry, here are our top three picks:

1. Quality Control Inspector

   Average Annual Salary: $35,000
   Jobs Available: 108,100
   Job Growth: -18%

   With 36% of those currently working in this field needing only a High School Diploma to start their career, this is a great entry-level position. As a Quality Control Inspector, you’ll monitor the quality of incoming and outgoing munitions and components in manufacturing sites and warehouses.

   Luckily, unlike other jobs in Ordnance and Accessories that focus on testing and examining, workers in this field can be easily trained to spot flaws in the manufacturing process.

   Find Quality Control Inspector jobs near me

2. Mechanical Ordnance Assembler

   Average Annual Salary: $32,800
   Jobs Available: 35,900
   Job Growth: N/A

   Munitions for aircraft, ships, vehicles, and more can have many electrical and mechanical components. With that in mind, Mechanical Ordnance Assemblers specialize in constructing those all-important mechanical parts.

   For example, these professionals use torque wrenches and hand tools to work with solid, liquid, or gas-powered mechanical parts. Often, this includes things like engines for torpedoes and other weaponry.

   Luckily, even if you don’t have a degree, you can be trained by an employer on how to work with these mechanical components safely and effectively.

   Find Mechanical Ordnance Assembler jobs near me

3. Warehouse Worker

   Average Annual Salary: $31,000
   Jobs Available: 206,600
   Job Growth: 1%

   Warehouse Workers are highly versatile and trainable employees that specialize in restocking shelves, processing and packing orders, counting inventory, and preparing orders for shipping.

   In the context of Ordnance and Accessories, some warehouse workers will need to take special care in working with explosive or hazardous materials. However, for the most part, all tasks performed by these workers are easy to learn. In fact, upwards of 59% of Warehouse Workers only needed a High School Diploma to start their career.

   Find Warehouse Worker jobs near me

Why Choose a Career in Ordnance and Accessories?

There are many reasons why someone might want to pursue a career in Ordnance and Accessories. So, to know if you’re a good fit for the industry, here are some important factors to consider:

• Manufacturing and engineering. If you studied manufacturing or engineering in college or simply have an interest in learning, many Ordnance and Accessories jobs will be relevant to you. Whether you’re repairing engines or working on aircraft electronics, these skills are always in demand.

• Military affiliation. If you’ve served in the military or would like to, becoming involved in the Ordnance and Accessories industry is a great way to learn more about the U.S. military. You can become familiar with all kinds of munitions and components and will also have the opportunity to interact with members of the military.

• You can get your hands dirty. Not everyone likes being cooped up in an office all day, and being an Ordnance and Accessories worker allows you to work in warehouses and outdoors. Therefore, if you like moving around and tinkering, many of these jobs might be a great fit.

• Entry-level opportunities. Some Public Utilities jobs allow you to start working with only a High School Diploma or Associate’s degree. This means you can easily land an entry-level job without much experience, with the added bonus of not racking up college tuition debt.

• Higher than average salaries. A large portion of the jobs in Ordnance and Accessories consistently pay more than $50,000 per year, with some even paying as high as $85,000. Combined with a focus on experience over education, this is truly a great deal.

• Independent opportunities. Business owners such as salespeople and gunsmiths who own their own shops can also fall under the category of Ordnance and Accessories careers. That means you can work in this industry while also having the independence that comes with running your own business.

Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Ordnance and Accessories

Ordnance and Accessories is an important U.S. industry, and therefore, education requirements will vary depending on the career you’re interested in. However, here are some general facts about what you should expect:

• Entry-level jobs have minimal education requirements. There are entry-level jobs in Ordnance and Accessories that you can work with only a High School Diploma. Plus, all of these jobs pay over $30,000 per year, making them great starting careers.

  For example, 59% of Warehouse Workers and 36% of Quality Control Inspectors only needed a High School Diploma to start their career.

• Engineering Degrees are a Plus. Many of the highest paying jobs in the Ordnance and Accessories industry can be achieved through a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in engineering.

  For instance, some of the most common degrees earned by professionals in the industry include: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Civil Engineering.

• Don’t underestimate an Associate’s degree. Several Ordnance and Accessories jobs that pay higher than the average U.S. salary require you to have no more than an Associate’s degree.

  For instance, 63.6% of Ordnance Handlers have an Associate’s degree in either Communication, Management, or other related majors. Additionally, these Associate’s degrees can also help you become a more successful business owner or salesperson if you decide to go that route.

• When you need certifications. Jobs within aviation or jobs that deal with explosives will typically require certifications.

  The most common certification required for an Aviation Ordnance Officer is the Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL), while the most common for Explosive Ordnance Technicians is the Explosives & Ordnance Training (EOT).

What Do People Working In Ordnance and Accessories Do?

Ordnance and Accessories workers play a crucial role in designing, building, repairing, and ensuring the safety of military weaponry. This can include anything from weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, components, and maintenance tools and different fields in the industry that can specialize in one or more of these niches.

Without Ordnance and Accessories workers, the U.S. military would fall into disrepair. Additionally, many average Americans wouldn’t have access to weapons without the materials and components manufactured in this industry.

Of course, working with explosive and hazardous materials requires a vast understanding of not only the materials themselves but also the state and federal regulations that inform proper maintenance. That means Ordnance and Accessories workers need to have a keen eye for knowing how to handle every situation.

Overall, succeeding as an Ordnance and Accessories worker requires you to be detail-oriented, diligent, and thoughtful. So if that sounds like you, you can likely learn what you need to pursue a successful Ordnance and Accessories career, even with no experience.

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.