Each military branch has nine enlisted grades (E-1 through E-9) and 10 officers' grades (O-1 through O-10). The higher the number is, the more advanced a person's rank. The various branches of the military have somewhat different criteria for promoting individuals; in general, however, promotions depend on factors such as length of time served, demonstrated abilities, recommendations, and scores on written exams. Promotions become more and more competitive as people advance in rank. On average, a diligent enlisted person can expect to earn one of the middle noncommissioned or petty officer rankings (E-4 through E-6); some officers can expect to reach lieutenant colonel or commander (O-5). Outstanding individuals may be able to advance beyond these levels.
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Ambassadors
- Architects
- Aviation Safety Inspectors
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Bailiffs
- Bank Examiners
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Bodyguards
- Border Patrol Agents
- Campaign Workers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Citizenship Reclamation Specialists
- City Managers
- Civil Engineers
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Congressional Aides
- Construction Inspectors
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Customs Officials
- Demographers
- Deputy U.S. Marshals
- Drone Pilots
- Economists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Emergency Management Directors
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- EPA Special Agents
- FBI Agents
- Federal and State Officials
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Flight Instructors
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Foreign Service Officers
- Fraud Examiners, Investigators, and Analysts
- Futurists
- Gunsmiths
- Health and Regulatory Inspectors
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Interpreters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Laser Technicians
- Lobbyists
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Meteorologists
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Officers
- National Park Service Employees
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Optical Engineers
- Park Rangers
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Policy Analysts
- Political Consultants
- Political Scientists
- Press Secretaries
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Recycling Coordinators
- Regional and Local Officials
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Technicians
- Secret Service Special Agents
- Security Consultants
- Security Guards
- Space Pilots
- Space Systems Operators
- Traffic Engineers
- Translators
- Transportation Planners
- Urban and Regional Planners