Employment

The San Diego job market offers a wide variety of employment opportunities but is highly competitive. The minimum wage for the state of California is $15.50 per hour, depending on the size of the business (effective January 1, 2023).

For federal employment opportunities on military installations in the area, visit the USAJOBS website. The Non-Appropriated Funds Human Resources Department also has opportunities on area bases. To apply for NAF job openings, visit the USAJOBS website or email nafswjobs@navy.mil  for more information.

Command Navy Region Southwest Fleet and Family Support Centers

Point Loma Fleet and Family Support Center offers the Family Employment Readiness Program. They also offer career consultant that provide information on the California Employment Development Department, local vacancies, an employment resource library, job fair information, mock interviews, resume writing, information on home-based businesses and military spouse preference. Computer labs, copiers and fax machines are also available.

For more information, please visit the Point Loma Service Center or call 619-553-7505.

Commander Navy Region Southwest FFSC classes include:

• Resume writing
• Winning interviewing techniques
• Finding federal employment
• Insights into starting a home-based business
• A spouse employment, empowerment and development workshop

Military Spouse Preference in Employment

As a military spouse, you are likely to move many times, which means that finding a job and building a career can be a challenge. Fortunately, several programs and organizations exist to help military spouses seeking employment. The Military Spouse Preference program, established under the Military Family Act of 1985, offers employment placement preference in Department of Defense civilian personnel positions to military spouses who meet certain criteria. The program applies to DOD vacancies only, and there are variations and exceptions that allow local hiring authorities to tailor their policies to meet their requirements.

To be eligible for the MSP program, you should:

• Be the spouse of an active-duty member of the U.S. military services, including the Coast Guard or full-time National Guard
• Be relocating (not for separation or retirement) to accompany your military sponsor under a permanent change of station move to an active-duty assignment; you may apply for MSP as early as 30 days prior to your reporting date at the new duty station 
• Have been married to the military sponsor prior to the sponsor's reporting date at the new assignment
• Apply for a position within commuting distance of the sponsor's permanent new duty station
• Rank among the best qualified candidates for the position

For more information, please contact your nearest FFSC Career Services Center or visit Military OneSource

Commander Navy Region Southwest Fleet and Family Support Centers

Fleet and Family Support Centers offer services for both the Transition Assistance Program and the Family Employment Readiness Program. FFSC career consultants provide extensive information to spouses and transitioning service members by providing workshops and individualized consultations on topics such as resume writing, interviewing techniques, job search strategies, etc. Our CNRSW FFSC career consultants also host career fairs each year. Additionally, there is a computer lab in our career center with copiers, fax machines, printers and scanners.   

CNRSW FFSC classes include:

• TAP (for all personnel separating or retiring) **
• Capstone programming
• Resume writing workshops
• Winning interviewing techniques
• Finding federal employment
• Insights to starting a home-based business
• Spouse Employment, Empowerment and Development Workshop

For more information, please contact the FFSC on Naval Base Point Loma at 619-553-7505.

**Retirees may attend classes up to 24 months prior to retirement and separating personnel may attend classes 12 months prior to separating. Spouses are also encouraged to attend. For enrollment, contact your command career counselor at your Command.

Military-affiliated students can take courses in their off-duty hours at or near military installations. Contact the local Command, Navy Region Southwest voluntary education region advisor at 619-556-3254 for more information. Please visit the Navy College Program online for more information.

Some colleges and universities extend in-state tuition rates to non-resident military spouses. For more information, contact your preferred school. Visit the National Military Family Association for information on scholarships. Scholarships are also offered through the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and the Defense Commissary Agency.

The San Diego County Regional Occupational Program offers occupational training programs to students who are at least 16 years of age. Teachers are credentialed and the program is accredited.

Separating or retiring military personnel and military spouses may be eligible for unemployment benefits in the state of California. Because, not every state offers unemployment benefits to military spouses, check with the state you are relocating from to determine your eligibility. The Unemployment Insurance Program provides weekly payments for workers who lose their job through no fault of their own. The amount varies by state. Visit the California Employment Development Department (EDD) website for more information.

For employment opportunities, the following resources are available:

Fleet and Family Support Center Career Center – The FFSC provides service members and their spouses with employment assistance, including resume writing, job search and interview techniques. The organization maintains updated job postings from around the world. To access these job postings, visit the Career Center or join the FFSC job distribution email list by emailing FFSCSDJobs@navy.mil. In the “Subject” line type: Add.

Navy Life Southwest posts jobs in connection with Southern California naval bases. This site has positions listed as open continuous, meaning always accepting applications; it also lists San Diego openings, meaning accepting applications for only short amounts of time.  

San Diego Military Family Collaborative (SDMFC) website offers military families access to resources throughout San Diego County. One of the resources available to military families is the job board. SDMFC collects job postings from military-friendly employers and posts them. You can access by signing up for the organization's email tree or by visiting the job board.