The Top Employers For Veterans

Gallery: The Top 15 Employers For Veterans

15 images

The unemployment rate among those referred to as "Gulf War Era II Veterans" -- veterans who have served on active duty since 2001 -- fell to 7.2% in 2014, according to data released last month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the jobless rate among all veterans dropped to 5.3%.

As of 2014, 21.2 million people–9% of the civilian population over the age of 18–are veterans, defined as men and women who have previously served on active military duty in the U.S. armed forces and are now civilians.

Many companies are eager to capitalize on the technical, leadership, and process management skills of those with military experience. To determine the top employers for veterans, compensation information site Payscale.com took a look at companies hiring the most veterans for work in which military experience is highly relevant.

This ranking is focused exclusively on employers seeking skilled labor. As a result, some major American employers, such as Wal-Mart, do not appear on this list, despite the fact that they employ greater numbers of military veterans in unskilled capacities.

Within the list, companies are ranked by how many veterans they employ.

Lockheed Martin takes the top spot this year, unseating three year list leader Booz Allen Hamilton . In fact, Aerospace and Engineering firms claim the top three spots this year, with Boeing and Northrop Grumman taking second and third place.

In pictures: The Top 15 Employers For Veterans

Jobs available at these companies and General Electric , which also makes the list, include software developer, senior systems engineer, and systems administrator, well-compensated roles that pay anywhere from $58,000 to $78,000 per year for professionals with five to eight years of experience.

Booz Allen takes fourth place this year, representing the Weapons and Security industry alongside companies like SAIC, BAE Systems, and L-3 Communications. Among others, these companies seek intelligence analysts and management consultants, roles that pay from $71,000 to more than $100,000 per year.

Veterans seeking government jobs will find demand in the medical field, with jobs like licensed practical nurse and medical support assistant paying those with five to eight years of experience more modest salaries in the $30,000s and registered nurses earning closer to $60,000.

The Top 15 Employers For Veterans

1. Lockheed Martin Corp.

Industry: Aerospace/Engineering

2. The Boeing Company

Industry: Aerospace/Engineering

3. Northrop Grumman Corporation

Industry: Aerospace/Engineering

4. Booz Allen Hamilton