OT Career Guide
OT: Oceanography Technician
Career transition guide for Navy Oceanography Technician (OT)
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Top civilian roles for OT veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Acoustic Engineer
Skills to develop:
Geospatial Analyst
Skills to develop:
Data Scientist
Skills to develop:
Sonar Technician (Civilian)
Skills to develop:
Environmental Consultant
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your OT training built — and where they transfer.
Pattern Recognition
Oceanographic Technicians analyze acoustic displays to identify patterns in underwater sounds, differentiating between natural phenomena, marine life, and potential threats.
This skill translates to the ability to identify meaningful patterns within complex datasets, crucial for roles that require data analysis and anomaly detection.
System Modeling
These technicians develop a mental model of how sonar systems operate and how environmental factors affect acoustic signal propagation underwater, enabling them to troubleshoot issues and optimize data collection.
This translates to understanding the interactions between different components within a system and predicting how changes in one area will impact others. It’s valuable in roles requiring troubleshooting and optimization of processes.
Procedural Compliance
OTs adhere strictly to established protocols for data collection, processing, and reporting to ensure accuracy and consistency in oceanographic information.
This indicates a strong ability to follow guidelines and maintain standards, essential for roles in regulated environments where precision and adherence to rules are paramount.
Situational Awareness
OTs maintain awareness of their surroundings, including weather conditions, equipment status, and potential hazards, to ensure mission success and safety.
This ability to assess the environment and understand how different factors might impact ongoing operations is highly transferable to civilian roles requiring risk management and proactive decision-making.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Data Center Technician
SOC 49-2021You've been trained to maintain complex technical equipment in demanding conditions, a core skill for data center technicians. Your pattern recognition skills and your experience troubleshooting systems will be invaluable in keeping servers running smoothly. You are also adept at following procedures to ensure the integrity of data and equipment, making you a reliable and efficient asset to any data center team.
Environmental Compliance Inspector
SOC 13-1041Your experience collecting and processing oceanographic data, along with your strong adherence to procedures, directly translates to the skills needed for monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations. You're detail-oriented, understand data analysis, and can prepare written reports – all essential for this role.
Acoustic Consultant
SOC 17-3029You've developed a deep understanding of acoustics and data processing, skills that are highly valuable in acoustic consulting. You can use this knowledge to help architects, engineers, and developers design spaces that minimize noise pollution and optimize sound quality. Your experience with sonar systems and underwater acoustics gives you a unique perspective that sets you apart.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Naval Oceanography Technician (OT) School, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL
Topics Covered
- •Oceanographic Data Collection
- •Underwater Acoustics Principles
- •Sonar Systems Operation & Maintenance
- •Acoustic Data Processing and Analysis
- •Computer Systems Operation and Maintenance
- •Navigation and Plotting
- •Meteorology
- •Bathymetry
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires study of surveying principles, land boundaries, legal descriptions, and specific instrumentation used in land surveying that may not be covered in military oceanographic data collection.
While experience collecting oceanographic data is valuable, further study in advanced hydrographic surveying techniques, data processing software specific to hydrography, and international hydrographic standards is needed.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| AN/SQQ-89(V)15 Sonar System | Commercial sonar systems used in fishing and marine research (e.g., Simrad, Raymarine) |
| AN/UYQ-70(V) Advanced Display System (ADS) | High-performance graphic workstations used in scientific visualization and data analysis (e.g., Dell Precision workstations with specialized graphics cards) |
| Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) | Seismic monitoring networks and oceanographic research buoy networks |
| Acoustic Data Analysis System (ADAS) | Software packages for signal processing and data analysis (e.g., MATLAB, Python with SciPy libraries) |
| Global Command and Control System – Maritime (GCCS-M) | Maritime domain awareness platforms used by port authorities and shipping companies (e.g., Pole Star, Lloyd's List Intelligence) |
| Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) Data Products | Commercial providers of oceanographic and weather data (e.g., AccuWeather, The Weather Company) |
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