Every Air Force AFSC Listed, With the ASVAB Scores You Actually Need (2026)

The Air Force has over 130 enlisted AFSCs (Air Force Specialty Codes), but your ASVAB score eliminates most of them before you ever talk to a recruiter. That is the part nobody tells you upfront.

Your AFQT score gets you through the door. A 31 with a diploma (50 with a GED) qualifies you to enlist. But the Air Force AFSC list you actually qualify for depends on four composite scores most recruits have never heard of: Mechanical (M), Administrative (A), General (G), and Electronics (E). The MAGE system.

Every AFSC requires a minimum score in one of those four composites. Some jobs need a G of 33. Others need a G of 72. Same test, wildly different career paths.

This guide lists the major enlisted Air Force specialty codes across every career group, with the exact composite and minimum score for each one. No vague “score high” advice. Actual numbers.

If you are still unfamiliar with how the ASVAB works, start with our guide to the ASVAB and come back here once you know your subtest scores.

The list below covers operations, maintenance, support, and medical AFSCs, plus the bonus-eligible jobs the Air Force is throwing money at in FY2026. Every score listed comes from current Air Force qualification standards.

Your recruiter will hand you a dream sheet. What you put on it determines the next 4-6 years of your life. Know your options before that conversation happens.

1. How Air Force AFSC Codes Work (and What MAGE Scores Mean)

Every enlisted Air Force job has a 5-character AFSC code. Once you understand the format, you can decode any job in the Air Force AFSC list on sight.

Take 1N0X1 (All Source Intelligence Analyst):

• 1 – Career group (Operations)
• N – Career field (Intelligence)
• 0 – Specific career field subdivision
• X – Skill level (X is a placeholder in published codes)
• 1 – Specific shredout (All Source)

The skill level digit follows a set progression: 1 (helper) after basic training, 3 (apprentice) after tech school, 5 (journeyman) after on-the-job training, 7 (craftsman) for NCOs, and 9 (superintendent) for senior NCOs. When you see “X” in published AFSC codes, it means the code applies across all skill levels.

MAGE Composites

Your ASVAB produces 9 subtest scores. The Air Force combines specific subtests into four composite scores. These composites, not your AFQT, determine which AFSCs you qualify for.

G is the most common composite requirement across Air Force AFSC codes. If you score well on Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension, the majority of career fields open up.

For a deeper breakdown of how these subtests map to your scores, see our guides on ASVAB scores explained and ASVAB scoring and results.

2. Operations AFSCs (1-Series): Intelligence, Cyber, Aircrew, and Special Warfare

The 1-series contains the highest-profile and most competitive enlisted Air Force jobs. Intelligence analysts, cyber warfare operators, aircrews, and special warfare operators all fall here. If you are chasing a TS/SCI clearance or an aircrew slot, this is your section.

Most 1-series AFSCs require a G composite, and the minimums are steep compared to other career groups.

Cyber Warfare Is Different

Cyber Warfare Operations (1B4X1) does not use MAGE composites at all. Qualification requires the EDPT (Electronic Data Processing Test), a separate 90-minute logic and reasoning exam with a minimum score of 70. The EDPT tests pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and abstract logic. It has nothing to do with your ASVAB subtests.

You take the EDPT at MEPS or your recruiter's office, and it is a standalone pass/fail gate. A perfect ASVAB score will not help you if you cannot pass the EDPT.

Language Analyst AFSCs

Both 1N3X1 and 1A8X1 require the DLAB (Defense Language Aptitude Battery) in addition to the G 72 minimum. The DLAB tests your ability to learn a new language, not any language you already speak. Scoring well on the DLAB opens the door; the language you get assigned depends on Air Force needs.

Intelligence AFSCs (1N series) are consistently high-demand. If you score a G 64 or higher and can pass a TS/SCI background investigation, 1N0X1 is one of the most available bookings in the Air Force.

Check your MAGE composites against these requirements using our ASVAB Score Calculator. For context on what the top scores look like, see our breakdown of the highest ASVAB score.

3. Maintenance and Logistics AFSCs (2-Series): Aircraft Maintenance, Avionics, and Munitions

The 2-series is the largest career group in the Air Force. If the Air Force flies it, someone in a 2-series AFSC maintains it. This group uses M (Mechanical) and E (Electronics) composites almost exclusively.

The good news: most aircraft maintenance AFSCs require only an M 47, which is achievable for average ASVAB scorers. The barrier to entry is low. The work is demanding.

The M 47 vs. E 70 Gap

There is a significant jump between the two score tiers in this group. An M 47 gets you into most hands-on aircraft maintenance jobs. An E 70 is required for avionics (2A0X1) and missile systems (2M0X1), which involve more electronics theory and troubleshooting with advanced test equipment.

If you are sitting at an M 50 but an E 55, the aircraft maintenance path is open. The avionics and missile path is not. That distinction matters when you are building your dream sheet.

Missile and Space Systems

Missile and Space Systems Maintenance (2M0X1) is FY2026 bonus-eligible, driven by the Air Force's ICBM modernization program (the Sentinel program replacing Minuteman III). The E 70 requirement filters out a large portion of applicants, which keeps demand high. If you have the Electronics composite, this AFSC offers job security for decades.

Ground Transportation (2T1X1) has the lowest requirement in the group at M 40 and leads to a CDL (Commercial Driver's License), which translates directly to civilian logistics and fleet management roles.

If your M or E scores are close to these thresholds, a targeted study plan can close the gap. See our ASVAB study guide for subtest-specific strategies, or plug your current scores into the calculator to see where you stand.

4. Support AFSCs (3-Series): Security Forces, Civil Engineering, Cyber Systems, and Services

The 3-series has the widest score range of any career group, from a G 33 (Security Forces) all the way up to E 70 (Cyber Transport Systems). This group covers base operations: police, fire, construction, IT, HR, finance, legal, and public affairs.

The Air Force AFSC list for 3-series support jobs includes something for nearly every score range.

The Security Forces Reality

Security Forces (3P0X1) has a G 33 minimum, the lowest of any AFSC on the Air Force AFSC list. That is not a coincidence. The Air Force needs a large security force across every installation, and the low threshold ensures a steady supply of qualified recruits.

Security Forces is a legitimate career path that leads to civilian law enforcement and federal security jobs. But if you scored well enough for other AFSCs and end up in Security Forces because your dream sheet was thin, that is on you.

Cyber and IT

Cyber Systems Operations (3D0X2) and Cyber Transport Systems (3D1X2) are the IT backbone of the Air Force. Both lead to CompTIA certifications the Air Force pays for. Civilian network engineers and cybersecurity analysts routinely earn six figures. The G 64 and E 70 minimums reflect the technical aptitude required.

EOD

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (3E8X1) is bonus-eligible in FY2026. The G 57 gets you in the door, but the training pipeline is physically and mentally demanding, similar to special warfare attrition rates. EOD techs are among the most respected enlisted specialists in the Air Force.

For score benchmarks across all these roles, see what is a good ASVAB score. If you want to practice before your test, try our ASVAB practice test.

5. Medical AFSCs (4-Series): Medics, Surgical Techs, Lab, and Dental

The 4-series is a direct pipeline to civilian healthcare careers. The Air Force trains you, certifies you, and the credentials transfer to the civilian sector the day you separate.

Most medical AFSCs require a G 44, which makes them accessible to a wide range of ASVAB scorers. Lab roles bump the requirement to G 55. No medical AFSC requires a security clearance.

Why Medical AFSCs Are Underrated

The 4-series does not get the same attention as intelligence or cyber, but the return on investment is hard to beat. You train for 4-12 months depending on the AFSC, earn a nationally recognized certification, and walk into a civilian job market that is perpetually short-staffed.

Diagnostic Imaging (4R0X1) is one of the strongest long-term plays. Radiology techs earn $55,000 to $75,000 in the civilian sector. The Air Force covers training that would cost $30,000+ at a civilian program.

Medical Laboratory (4T0X1) and Histopathology (4T0X2) require a G 55, reflecting the additional science and analytical aptitude needed. Both lead to lab certifications that are in high demand at hospitals and reference labs nationwide.

The pharmacy tech certification from 4P0X1 is another undervalued outcome. Pharmacy techs earn $35,000 to $45,000 out the gate, and the cert transfers to retail, hospital, and compounding pharmacy settings.

If your G composite is in the 44-55 range and you want a career with immediate civilian transferability, the 4-series deserves a hard look. For strategies to improve your General composite, check our ASVAB study guide. For a full breakdown of what your scores mean, see ASVAB scores explained.

6. High-Demand and Bonus-Eligible AFSCs for 2026

The Air Force's FY2026 enlistment bonus budget hit $141 million, tripled from the prior year. Over 25,000 airmen are bonus-eligible. That kind of money signals exactly where the Air Force is struggling to fill seats.

Why These AFSCs Pay Bonuses

The pattern is straightforward. Bonuses exist where the Air Force cannot retain or recruit enough people.

Cyber Warfare (1B4X1) competes directly with private sector cybersecurity jobs paying $100K+ for the same skill set. The Air Force cannot match that salary, so bonuses close the gap.

Language analyst AFSCs (1N3X1, 1A8X1) require rare aptitude. Not many recruits pass the DLAB at the level needed for critical languages like Mandarin, Arabic, or Farsi. Small qualified pool, persistent demand.

Special warfare AFSCs (Combat Controller, Pararescue, TACP) have the highest bonuses because 60-80% of candidates wash out during the training pipeline. The Air Force needs a large funnel of recruits to produce a small number of operators.

Missile and Space Systems (2M0X1) is driven by the Sentinel ICBM modernization program, the largest nuclear weapons project in decades. The Air Force needs technicians now and for the next 20 years.

Security Forces (3P0X1) appears on the bonus list because of chronic manning shortages across installations, not because the job is hard to qualify for. The low G 33 minimum means almost everyone qualifies. The challenge is getting people to choose it.

All bonuses require a 6-year enlistment contract. The money is paid after you complete training, not at the time of signing. If you wash out of a pipeline, you do not receive the bonus and may be reclassified into a different AFSC.

See which bonus-eligible AFSCs match your scores with our calculator. For a breakdown of enlisted pay and rank progression, see Air Force ranks.

7. How to Match Your ASVAB Score to the Right AFSC

Reading through the full Air Force AFSC list is step one. Turning it into an action plan is step two.

What the Minimums Do Not Tell You

Meeting the minimum composite score does not guarantee you get the job. AFSC availability changes monthly based on Air Force manning levels, training seat capacity, and separation rates. A recruiter can only book you into a slot that exists in the system at the time you are ready to ship.

That is why listing 8-10 AFSCs matters. If your top choice has no open slots for three months, your second or third choice might ship next week. A short dream sheet gives you fewer options and more waiting.

When to Retake the ASVAB

If you are within 5-10 points of a composite minimum for an AFSC you want, a retake is worth considering. You can retake the ASVAB after 30 days, then again after another 30 days, then every 6 months after that.

Focused study on the specific subtests that feed your weak composite can move the needle significantly. If your G composite is short, study Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. If your E composite is low, focus on Electronics Information and Math Knowledge.

Beyond the ASVAB

Some AFSCs have qualification factors the ASVAB does not measure. TS/SCI clearance AFSCs require a clean background investigation that can take 6-12 months. Aircrew AFSCs require a flight physical. Special warfare AFSCs require a PAST (Physical Ability and Stamina Test). Cyber Warfare requires the EDPT.

Know the full qualification picture for your target AFSCs before you commit.

If you have not taken the ASVAB yet, start with our practice test to estimate your scores, then build your dream sheet from the results. Our ASVAB study guide covers subtest-specific strategies to boost the composites that matter most for your target AFSCs.

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