What is a drill sergeant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScoreDrill SergeantUS Average
Salary
7.6

Avg. Salary $100,889

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
2.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.36%

Asian 1.76%

Black or African American 12.52%

Hispanic or Latino 14.36%

Unknown 3.91%

White 66.10%

Gender

female 13.76%

male 86.24%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Drill Sergeant career paths

Key steps to become a drill sergeant

  1. Explore drill sergeant education requirements

    Most common drill sergeant degrees

    Bachelor's

    42.4 %

    Associate

    33.7 %

    High School Diploma

    11.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific drill sergeant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Safety Procedures18.94%
    Physical Fitness Training13.56%
    Individual Training11.19%
    Professional Development8.63%
    Weapons Training6.55%
  3. Complete relevant drill sergeant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New drill sergeants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a drill sergeant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real drill sergeant resumes.
  4. Research drill sergeant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all land and training area use, ammunition use / forecasting, requisitioning, allocations, and inspection.
    • Orchestrate squadron recognition programs, manage enlisted promotion recommendations and alleviate all airmen quality force issues.
    • Distribute ammunition to other units.
    • Exhibit positive leadership for trouble youth/boot camp participants.
  5. Prepare your drill sergeant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your drill sergeant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a drill sergeant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Drill Sergeant Resume templates

    Build a professional Drill Sergeant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Drill Sergeant resume.
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    Drill Sergeant Resume
    Drill Sergeant Resume
    Drill Sergeant Resume
  6. Apply for drill sergeant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a drill sergeant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Drill Sergeant Job

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Average drill sergeant salary

The average Drill Sergeant salary in the United States is $100,889 per year or $49 per hour. Drill sergeant salaries range between $73,000 and $138,000 per year.

Average Drill Sergeant Salary
$100,889 Yearly
$48.50 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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