Every military job you can get by ASVAB score — all branches.
More than one million ASVAB tests are administered each year. Most applicants take it once, with a number on a printout, and try to figure out what it actually unlocks. This page is the answer. Enter your line scores below and we will surface every job you qualify for. Below the tool: the published minimums for every branch, the AFQT percentile bands, and an honest take on what your score actually means.
What GT, ST, and EL actually mean.
A 4-page PDF decoding every composite score across all 6 branches — real formulas, real job counts, and the honest truth that Navy and Coast Guard don’t even use a named list.
Enter your line scores
Enter the line scores you remember and we will surface jobs you qualify for across all branches. You do not need to fill every field — leave the ones you do not know at zero.
The ASVAB in 90 seconds
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a 9-subtest, computer-adaptive test (the CAT-ASVAB) administered at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS), high schools (the student ASVAB), and Military Entrance Test (MET) sites. The CAT-ASVAB version runs roughly 145 minutes. The paper-and-pencil version (rarer now) runs about 3 hours.
The 9 subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Word Knowledge (WK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), General Science (GS), Auto & Shop Information (AS), Mechanical Comprehension (MC), Electronics Information (EI), and Assembling Objects (AO).
Your AFQT (the percentile you hear most about) is derived from 4 subtests: AR, WK, PC, and MK. It is a percentile score from 1-99, calibrated against a nationally representative sample. An AFQT of 65 means you scored better than 65% of that reference sample.
The other 5 subtests do not affect your AFQT but they do affect your line scores (also called composite scores or aptitude area scores), which determine which specific jobs you qualify for. A strong AFQT with weak Auto & Shop / Mechanical Comprehension scores will open many MOSs but close most mechanic and aviation maintenance roles.
Minimum AFQT by branch (2026)
US Army
Lowest published AFQT floor of the major branches. Most desirable MOSs require GT 100+.
GED: GED applicants face an effective floor of 50; "Tier 2" caps are tight.
US Marine Corps
AFQT floor close to Army. Most Marine MOSs are GT-score driven.
GED: GED holders need higher AFQT (typically 50+) and Tier 2 quotas are limited.
US Navy
Higher floor than Army. Many ratings (electronics, nuclear, intel) require composite scores well above the AFQT minimum.
GED: GED applicants typically need AFQT 50+ and face Tier 2 quota limits.
US Air Force
Air Force in practice rarely accesses applicants below 50 even though 36 is the published floor.
GED: GED applicants typically need AFQT 65+ to be competitive (Tier 2 quotas extremely limited).
US Coast Guard
Highest minimum AFQT of the traditional services. Coast Guard accessions tend to skew higher overall.
GED: GED applicants need AFQT 50+ minimum; the Coast Guard prefers high school diploma holders.
US Space Force
Highest AFQT floor of any US service. Smallest force, most selective accessions.
GED: Coast Guard / Space Force overlap on this — tight access for non-diploma holders.
What your AFQT actually means
AFQT is a percentile, not a percentage. The DoD groups percentile ranges into categories — these have appeared in DoD reporting for decades and align with how services informally describe applicants.
Top 7% of test-takers nationally. Opens essentially every program in the military, including the most selective intel, cyber, and special-operations pipelines.
Typical: Strong students with solid math AND verbal foundations. Top of the curve.
Above-average to high. Required floor for Space Force; clears most technical Navy ratings, all Army MOSs, and most Air Force AFSCs.
Typical: Solid students. The "competitive" zone — recruiters call you back.
Average to above-average. Clears most jobs in all branches except Space Force and certain nuclear-Navy / linguist tracks. The honest "median enlisted" zone.
Typical: Average academic performer. Most enlisted accessions score here.
Below average nationally. Clears the Army and Marine Corps floors, marginal for Navy / Air Force / Coast Guard. Job options narrow significantly.
Typical: Lower-end accessions. Heavy emphasis on combat-arms and certain logistics MOSs.
Below the floor for all services. Not eligible to enlist with this score in 2026. Retake required to qualify.
Typical: Significant math or reading gaps. Retest after focused prep is the path.
Statutorily prohibited from enlistment per 10 USC § 520. No waivers.
Typical: Extremely uncommon. Requires retest with significant preparation.
Army MOS list with line score minimums
The Army uses 10 line scores. The most commonly referenced is GT (General Technical) — it gates most desirable MOSs. Combat MOSs (11-series, 19-series) use the CO line score. Intel and signal MOSs use ST. Below: the Army's main accessions MOS list with the most-cited published minimum line score for each.
Navy ratings with composite score minimums
The Navy uses rating-specific composite scores (sums of raw subtest scores) rather than the Army's named line scores. The format below is the actual Navy composite — for example, "VE+AR+MK ≥ 162" means your Verbal Expression plus Arithmetic Reasoning plus Mathematics Knowledge must total at least 162. VE is computed from WK and PC. Sums typically range from ~140 to ~225.
Air Force AFSCs with composite minimums
The Air Force uses 4 composite scores: M (Mechanical), A (Administrative), G (General), and E (Electronics). Each composite is on a percentile-like scale. Most AFSC minimums fall in the 41-72 range. Highly technical AFSCs (cyber, intel, language analyst) require G or E scores of 64-72+. Space Force AFSCs use the same composites but with higher AFQT and composite floors overall.
Marine Corps MOSs with GT score minimums
The Marine Corps uses the same line score system as the Army (GT, EL, MM, CL, etc.) but with different minimums and different MOS structure. GT is the dominant gate — most Marine MOSs are GT-keyed. Infantry (03-series) opens at GT 80; cyber and select intel MOSs require GT 110.
Coast Guard ratings with line score minimums
The Coast Guard uses an Army-style line score system but accesses fewer applicants overall and has stricter A-school waitlists for most ratings. AFQT minimum is 40 — the highest of the traditional services. Aviation Survival Technician (rescue swimmer) and most aviation maintenance ratings require A-school selection beyond the line score floor.
US Space Force — the most selective accession in the military
Space Force is the smallest US service (under 10,000 Guardians) and uses the same ASVAB / AFSC framework as the Air Force, but with significantly higher floors. The minimum AFQT is 65 — the highest of any branch. Most Space Force AFSCs require strong G (General) or E (Electronics) composites in the 64-72+ range.
Active Space Force AFSCs include: 1C6X1 (Space Systems Operations), 1N0X1 (Operations Intelligence), 1D7XX series (Cyberspace Defense Operations), and several IT and intel transfer specialties. The Space Force does not have a dedicated boot camp — Guardians complete Air Force BMT at Lackland AFB, then proceed to Space Force-specific technical training.
How to actually improve your ASVAB score
Math is where the points are
Two of the four AFQT subtests are math: Arithmetic Reasoning (word problems) and Mathematics Knowledge (algebra, geometry, basic functions). For most adult test-takers, these are the most coachable subtests. A focused 30-60 day math review using Khan Academy's free ASVAB math units, the official DoD practice tests, and the high-school-equivalent SAT/ACT math prep books will reliably move an AFQT 10-20 points. Verbal (WK + PC) is harder to coach in 60 days — vocabulary is a long-tail investment.
Free official resources
The Department of Defense runs the official ASVAB Career Exploration Program (currently at asvabprogram.com / careersinthemilitary.com), which offers free practice tests, score interpretations, and a job matching tool. Khan Academy has a complete ASVAB math review series, free. Most public libraries offer free online access to test-prep databases (LearningExpress, Cengage, Peterson's) — ask your librarian. These three resources are sufficient for most applicants. Paid prep courses are not necessary unless you have specific learning disabilities or want intensive one-on-one tutoring.
Take full practice tests, timed
The most common preparation mistake is studying individual topics without ever taking a full-length timed practice test. The actual ASVAB is timed pressure as much as content knowledge — you do not finish if you do not pace correctly. Take at least 2-3 full-length practice tests under timed conditions in the 30 days before your real test. Track your subtest-level performance after each one and target weaknesses.
Retake rules
You can retake the ASVAB. The wait between attempts is: 30 days for your first retake, 30 days for your second retake, then 6 months for any subsequent retake. Your most recent score is the one your recruiter uses — you cannot bank an old high score. Practical advice: do not retake until you have completed structured prep and your full-length practice tests are consistently scoring higher than your original test. Otherwise you are spending the 30-day cooldown for nothing.
"Qualifying" versus "competitive"
There is a real difference between qualifying for a job and being competitive for it. Recruiters use both terms; they mean different things. "Qualifying" means your score clears the published minimum. "Competitive" means your score is high enough that, given current demand for that MOS / rate / AFSC, a slot is likely available to you. A 31 AFQT may qualify you for 11B Infantry on paper but make you uncompetitive for any technical MOS even if you clear the line score. Always ask your recruiter the question two different ways: "Do I qualify?" and then "Are slots open and am I competitive?" The answers can differ.
Common ASVAB questions, answered directly
What's a good ASVAB score?
A "good" AFQT score depends on your goal. To enlist at all, you need at least 31 (Army) or 36-40 (Air Force/Coast Guard). To be competitive for technical jobs, 50+ is the practical floor — most desirable MOSs, ratings, and AFSCs require composite line scores that effectively require an AFQT of 60+. To open every program in the military, including Space Force and the top intel and cyber pipelines, aim for 80+. AFQT is a percentile — 50 means you scored better than 50% of a nationally representative sample.
What's the minimum ASVAB score to join the Army?
The minimum AFQT to enlist in the US Army is 31 for high school diploma holders. GED holders face an effective floor of 50 due to "Tier 2" recruiting quotas, which are filled first by diploma holders. The 31 AFQT alone gets you in the door — it does not guarantee you a desirable MOS. Most Army MOSs require line score minimums (CO, ST, GT, etc.) that effectively require an AFQT of 40-50+ to clear.
Can I retake the ASVAB?
Yes. You must wait at least 30 days between your first and second attempt. The third attempt requires another 30-day wait after the second. Any subsequent retest requires a 6-month wait. Your most recent score is the one your recruiter uses — you cannot "keep" an older high score after testing again. Practical advice: do not retake the ASVAB unprepared. The score most likely to move is your math performance (AR and MK), which directly affects AFQT. Plan 30-60 days of focused math review before a retest.
How long is my ASVAB score valid?
ASVAB scores are valid for 2 years for purposes of enlistment. After 2 years, you must retest if you have not enlisted. If you are already in the military and reclassing to a new MOS, your existing line scores may still be used — but the 2-year window is the general rule for accessions.
What's the difference between AFQT and line scores?
AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) is your overall percentile score, calculated from 4 subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Word Knowledge (WK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Mathematics Knowledge (MK). It is what determines if you can enlist at all. Line scores (or "composite scores" or "aptitude area scores") are combinations of multiple subtests used to determine which specific job you qualify for. The Army has 10 line scores (GT, CO, EL, ST, CL, FA, GM, MM, OF, SC). The Air Force uses 4 composites (M, A, G, E). The Navy uses rating-specific composites. You can have a strong AFQT and still not qualify for a specific job if your line score for that job is too low.
Does the military pay for ASVAB prep?
No — not directly. The military does not pay civilian applicants for ASVAB preparation. However, the Department of Defense offers free official practice resources through the official ASVAB Career Exploration Program at official-asvab.com (formerly asvabprogram.com), which is run for the DoD. There are also free practice tests at military.com and through library partnerships with major test-prep publishers. Once you are enlisted, the Army has free in-service test-prep programs (e.g., the FAST class — Functional Academic Skills Training) for soldiers seeking to improve scores for reclassification or commissioning.
What ASVAB score do I need for Special Forces?
Army Special Forces (18-series MOS, including the 18X enlistment option) requires a GT line score of at least 110. The minimum AFQT is the Army standard of 31, but in practice, candidates with a GT of 110+ typically have an AFQT in the 60s or higher. Special Forces selection is far more than the ASVAB — physical fitness (current ACFT standards, swimming, ruck marches), language aptitude (DLAB), psychological screening, and Selection (SFAS) all gate the pipeline. The ASVAB is just the entry ticket. Navy SEALs use a different composite (GS+MC+EI ≥ 165 OR VE+MK+MC+CS ≥ 220), and Air Force Special Warfare AFSCs have similar G-composite minimums.
Can a 35 AFQT get me into the Air Force?
Probably not. The published Air Force AFQT floor is 36, so a 35 is below the line on paper. Even if a recruiter accepts an exact-floor score, the Air Force has historically been selective about Tier 1 (high-school-diploma) accessions at the floor. In practice, the Air Force rarely accesses applicants below an AFQT of 50, even with the published 36 floor. If your AFQT is 35, your realistic options are: (1) retake the ASVAB after focused math prep, or (2) consider Army or Marine Corps, both of which have lower floors (31 and 32 respectively).
I scored low. What now?
If your AFQT is below your target branch's floor, you have two paths. First: focus your retake prep on math. The Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) and Mathematics Knowledge (MK) subtests carry the most AFQT weight, and they are the most coachable areas for adult test-takers. 30-60 days of focused review using free Khan Academy math, official ASVAB practice from the DoD, and at least 2-3 full-length practice tests will typically move an AFQT 10-20 points. Second: if you have a GED rather than a high school diploma, the math is harder — Tier 2 quotas are small, and even a respectable AFQT may not get you in. Earning a high school diploma equivalent through a community college or completing 15 college credits may move you to Tier 1 status with most branches.