Air Force Jobs by ASVAB Score: MAGE Requirements by AFSC
Almost every enlisted Air Force job sets its ASVAB minimum in one or more of 4 aptitude areas: Mechanical, Administrative, General and Electronics, or MAGE. Each is a percentile from 1 to 99. On airforce.com in October 2026, most aircraft maintenance jobs scored on Mechanical wanted 47, Cyber Warfare Operations wanted 70 Electronics and Contracting wanted 72 General. To enlist at all, you first need an AFQT of 31 with a diploma or 50 with a GED.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated October 14, 2026
The four MAGE areas and the subtests behind them
You take no extra test for MAGE. The Air Force adds up the standard scores you already earned on the ASVAB subtests, in 4 fixed combinations. Section 2.5.1 of the 1997 score scale report by Daniel Segall gives the formulas, and Table 5.1 of the same report repeats them alongside the Army, Navy and Marine Corps composites. The official ASVAB site's composite table, updated April 14, 2025, lists the same 4 formulas.
Air Force aptitude area formulas, from Segall (2004) Table 5.1, with the subtests airforce.com lists for each
Area
Formula on the 1997 scale
Subtests airforce.com lists
Raw sum if every subtest is 50
M, Mechanical
AR + MC + AS + 2VE
Arithmetic Reasoning, Auto and Shop, Mechanical Comprehension, Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge
250
A, Administrative
MK + VE
Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge
100
G, General
AR + VE
Arithmetic Reasoning, Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge
100
E, Electronics
GS + AR + MK + EI
General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information
200
Two of the parts are composites themselves. VE, Verbal Expression, is not Word Knowledge plus Paragraph Comprehension: it weights Paragraph Comprehension at about 0.62 of Word Knowledge, then rescales the result to the same mean-50 scale as the subtests. AS, Auto and Shop, combines Auto Information and Shop Information with equal weights. The computer test reports those 2 separately; the paper test gives them as a single Auto and Shop subtest.
The names drift. The 1997 report calls the fourth area Electrical. The airforce.com ASVAB page calls it Electronics, and individual job pages print Electronics (E), Electronic (E) and Electrical (E) for the same score. When a recruiter says "E", all 3 names mean the same composite. For how the other Services build their line scores from the same subtests, see ASVAB line scores explained.
Why MAGE scores are percentiles you cannot compute exactly
The Navy reports its composites as plain sums. The Air Force does not. Section 2.5.1 says each MAGE sum is converted to a percentile, the share of the reference group scoring at or below that sum, using the same method as the AFQT. That is why airforce.com warns that the scores "are not based on the number of questions you answered correctly".
The 1997 report printed the original conversion tables for all 4 areas in Appendix C, Tables C.1 to C.4. The Department of Defense, officialasvab.com and airforce.com do not post the conversion the Air Force applies today, and no current public source says the 1997 tables are still in use. You can compute your raw sums at home, but only your official results give the percentile a job counselor will use.
A 47 on an Air Force job page is a percentile, not 47 points. It means your composite matched or beat about 47 percent of the reference group, which is a long way from 47 questions right.
A worked example
Take a score sheet with AR 55, MK 52, WK 54, PC 50, GS 51, EI 48, AI 45, SI 47 and MC 53. The VE formula gives 53 and Auto and Shop comes to 46. The raw sums are then M 260, A 105, G 108 and E 206, and the AFQT is the 62nd percentile.
In the 1997 reference tables, those sums sat at roughly the 56th percentile for Mechanical, 59th for Administrative, 66th for General and 56th for Electronics. On those figures this applicant clears 56 Mechanical for Aerospace Propulsion and 62 General for Cyber Intelligence Analyst, but not 70 Electronics for Cyber Warfare Operations. The middle of the General table is steep: a sum of 100 sat at the 49th percentile and 110 at the 70th, so 10 standard-score points moved the percentile by 21. The operational table may differ, so read this as a demonstration of the mechanics, not a forecast of your scores.
The AFQT comes first
MAGE scores decide which jobs you can hold. The AFQT, built from Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge and Verbal Expression, decides whether you can enlist at all. The minimum depends on your education. The diploma and GED figures match what this site verified on September 29, 2026.
Air Force AFQT minimums by education, as published on airforce.com, October 2026
Your education
AFQT minimum
Where airforce.com says it
High school senior or graduate
31
ASVAB page and recruiting FAQ
GED
50
ASVAB page and recruiting FAQ
GED plus 15 or more semester hours of qualifying college credit
Every row below is copied from the job's own page on airforce.com as it read on October 13, 2026. These minimums change, so confirm any number with a recruiter before you plan around it. "And" means you need both scores; "or" means either one qualifies you. The X in an Air Force Specialty Code stands in for the skill-level digit. A few pages print a 3 in that spot instead, such as 4N031, and the tables keep each code as its page prints it.
Aircraft and equipment maintenance, as published on airforce.com, October 2026
AFSC
Job
Minimum score
2A5X1
Airlift/Special Mission Aircraft Maintenance
47 M
2A7X2
Nondestructive Inspection
42 M
2A6X1
Aerospace Propulsion
56 M
2A6X6
Aircraft Electrical Systems
41 M and 61 E
2A3X4
Fighter Aircraft Integrated Avionics
70 E
2W131
Aircraft Armament Systems
60 M or 45 E
2W2X1
Nuclear Weapons
60 M
3E0X1
Electrical Systems
43 M and 45 E
Cyber and intelligence, as published on airforce.com, October 2026
AFSC
Job
Minimum score
1B4X1
Cyber Warfare Operations
70 E
1D7X2
Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities
45 M and 60 E
1D7X3
Cable and Antenna Operations
45 M and 60 E, or 45 M and 55 E with 60 on the Cyber Test
1N4X1
Cyber Intelligence Analyst
62 G
1N3X1
Cryptologic Language Analyst
62 G
1A8X1
Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst
72 G, plus 62 on the Predictive Success Model
1N0X1
All Source Intelligence Analyst
60 A, plus a PSM score of 20
1N1X1
Geospatial Intelligence
50 G
Medical, as published on airforce.com, October 2026
AFSC
Job
Minimum score
4N031
Aerospace Medical Service
50 G, plus 36 on the TAPAS/PSM
4N1X1
Surgical Technologist
44 G, plus 23 on the TAPAS/PSM
4Y0X1
Dental Assistant
44 G
4P0X1
Pharmacy
40 A
4C0X1
Mental Health Service
57 G
4T0X1
Medical Laboratory
62 G
4A2X1
Biomedical Equipment
60 M and 70 E
Aircrew and flight operations, as published on airforce.com, October 2026
AFSC
Job
Minimum score
1A1X2
Mobility Force Aviator
60 M
1A1X3
Special Missions Aviator
60 G and 60 M
1U0X1
Remotely Piloted Aircraft Sensor Operator
64 G or 54 E
1C1X1
Air Traffic Control
55 G
1W0X1
Weather
66 G and 50 E
Special warfare and security forces, as published on airforce.com, October 2026
AFSC
Job
Minimum score
Not shown on page
Pararescue
49 G, plus 60 on the PJ selection model (TAPAS) and the Special Warfare Operator Enlistment IFT
Not shown on page
Combat Control
49 G, plus 30 on the CCT selection model (TAPAS) and the IFT
Not shown on page
Tactical Air Control Party
49 G, plus 30 on the TACP selection model (TAPAS) and the IFT
Not shown on page
Special Reconnaissance
49 G, plus the IFT
1T0X1
SERE Specialist
55 G, plus 55 on the TAPAS
3E8X1
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
No MAGE minimum printed; 54 on the Predictive Success Model
3P0X1
Security Forces
General area named; no minimum printed
Logistics and support, as published on airforce.com, October 2026
AFSC
Job
Minimum score
2T2X1
Air Transportation
35 A
2T1X1
Ground Transportation
40 M
2S0X1
Materiel Management
41 A or 44 G
2F0X1
Fuels Management
52 M or 61 E
2G0X1
Logistics Plans
56 A
3F0X1
Human Resources and Administration
59 A
6C0X1
Contracting
72 G
8G000
Honor Guard
24 G
What the tables show
Each area gates its own group of jobs. A few figures below come from airforce.com career pages that are not in the tables, such as Public Affairs and Scientific Applications Specialist.
Where each MAGE area does its work, from airforce.com career pages, October 2026
Area
Jobs it gates
Figures to know
Mechanical
Aircraft maintenance
47 for 8 of the 13 aircraft maintenance (2A) jobs that use it; 56 for engines, hydraulics and egress systems
Electronics
Avionics and cyber
70 is the most common figure; 88 for Scientific Applications Specialist is the highest minimum on any enlisted page
General
Intelligence and medical
Tops out at 72, for Contracting, Public Affairs and the airborne linguist and ISR operator jobs
Administrative
Logistics and personnel
35 for Air Transportation and Traffic Management (21 for the bands) up to 60 for All Source Intelligence Analyst
Several jobs add a second test. Pararescue, Combat Control, Tactical Air Control Party, SERE and 2 of the medical jobs set minimums on the TAPAS, a separate assessment their pages name alongside the ASVAB. All Source Intelligence Analyst and Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst set a Predictive Success Model score. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal page describes its Predictive Success Model score as generated from raw ASVAB scores combined with TAPAS, and lists no MAGE minimum at all. Cable and Antenna Operations and Cyber Systems Operations (3D0X2), a job not in the tables, accept Electronics 55 instead of 60 if you also score 60 on the Cyber Test.
The tables also show 2 gaps on airforce.com. The 4 special warfare pages give a minimum but no AFSC. The Security Forces page names the General area with no number, so ask a recruiter for the current figure.
Guaranteed job or aptitude area
In job counseling at the Military Entrance Processing Station, the Air Force reviews your scores, physical results and citizenship, according to the airforce.com FAQ. When you sign your contract and swear into the Delayed Entry Program, you reserve either a specific Air Force job or an aptitude area. The FAQ's phrase is "reserved their Air Force job or aptitude area".
A job reservation names one AFSC. An aptitude area reservation names one of the 4 MAGE areas without a specific job; under DAFMAN 36-2032, you are classified into a job during Basic Military Training based on your preferences, your qualifications, the jobs open then and Air Force needs. Either way, the FAQ says you must remain qualified to keep the reservation. Ask the recruiter for the list of jobs your 4 percentiles qualify you for that are open now, and ask which kind of reservation each one would be.
Scores stay usable for enlistment for 2 years from the test date, per officialasvab.com. If a percentile sits just under a job you want, you can retest after 1 calendar month, again after another month, and then 6 months before each later attempt.
Space Force applicants use the same test and areas
Space Force enlisted applicants take the same ASVAB and, according to spaceforce.com, apply through an Air Force recruiter. The Space Force recruiting site prints no AFQT number; Department of the Air Force policy, DAFMAN 36-2032, sets 36 for diploma holders and 50 for GED holders and lets a component accept 31. Job requirements use the same aptitude areas. The Space Systems Operator page asks for an Electronics minimum of 60, matching the 60 Electrical that airforce.com prints for 1C6X1, Space Systems Operations. The Space Force Cyber Operations page lists a General minimum of 60 to 64 depending on specialty. The full list is on the Space Force jobs by ASVAB score page.
Which subtests move which areas
Verbal Expression appears in 3 of the 4 areas and counts twice in Mechanical, so Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension count toward almost every job table above. Arithmetic Reasoning also feeds 3 areas. The technical subtests are narrower: Mechanical Comprehension and Auto and Shop feed only Mechanical, and Electronics Information and General Science feed only Electronics. If the job you want is gated on M or E, the technical subtests are where a few standard-score points move a percentile the AFQT ignores.
Frequently Asked Questions
To enlist, the Air Force asks for an AFQT of 31 if you are a high school senior or graduate and 50 if you hold a GED. Each job then sets its own minimum in one or more of the 4 MAGE areas. On airforce.com in October 2026, those job minimums ran from 21 Administrative for the bands to 88 Electronics for Scientific Applications Specialist.
MAGE is the Air Force shorthand for its 4 aptitude areas: Mechanical, Administrative, General and Electronics. Each is a sum of ASVAB standard scores that the Air Force reports as a percentile from 1 to 99. The 1997 score scale report calls the fourth area Electrical, and airforce.com uses Electronics, Electronic and Electrical on different job pages for the same score.
No. A MAGE score is a percentile, so 47 Mechanical means your Mechanical composite matched or beat about 47 percent of the reference group. It has no fixed link to a count of correct answers, especially on the adaptive computer test, where your score depends on which questions you answered and not only how many.
Partly. The formulas are published, so you can add up the raw sum for each area from your subtest standard scores. Turning that sum into a percentile takes a conversion table the Air Force does not post. The 1997 score scale report printed the original tables, but no current public source confirms they are still the ones in use, so treat the percentiles on your official results as the numbers that count.
With a guaranteed job you reserve one specific Air Force specialty when you sign your contract and enter the Delayed Entry Program. With an aptitude area you reserve one of the 4 MAGE areas, and the specific job inside that area is assigned during Basic Military Training. Either way, airforce.com says you must stay qualified to keep the reservation.
Yes. Space Force enlisted applicants take the same ASVAB, can apply through an Air Force recruiter, and have job minimums set in 2 of the Air Force aptitude areas, General and Electronics. The Space Force lists Space Systems Operator at an Electronics minimum of 60, the same number airforce.com shows for the matching specialty, 1C6X1.
Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension come first, because together they make Verbal Expression, which feeds Mechanical twice and also feeds Administrative and General. Arithmetic Reasoning is next: it feeds Mechanical, General and Electronics. After that, study for the job you want. Mechanical Comprehension and Auto and Shop count only toward Mechanical, and Electronics Information and General Science count only toward Electronics.
Sources
U.S. Air Force, airforce.com enlisted career pages, "ASVAB score requirements" and "Qualifications" sections for each AFSC listed on this page, reviewed October 13, 2026.
U.S. Air Force, airforce.com, ASVAB page, reviewed October 2026: the subtests behind Mechanical, Administrative, General and Electronics, percentile reporting, and AFQT minimums of 31 and 50.
U.S. Air Force, airforce.com frequently asked questions, requirements and eligibility and careers and benefits, reviewed October 2026: job counseling at MEPS, job or aptitude area reservation in the Delayed Entry Program, GED holders and 15 semester hours of college credit.
Segall, D. O., Development and Evaluation of the 1997 ASVAB Score Scale, Defense Manpower Data Center, July 2004: section 2.5.1 (Air Force composites), Table 5.1 (integer-weighted Service composites), Appendix C, Tables C.1 to C.4 (1997 Air Force percentile conversions).
ASVAB Career Exploration and Enlistment Testing Program, officialasvab.com, Applicant FAQs, reviewed October 2026: Service composite scores reported for job assignment, 2-year score validity, retest waits.
ASVAB Career Exploration and Enlistment Testing Program, officialasvab.com, Military Jobs page, Service composite table (page updated April 14, 2025), reviewed October 13, 2026: the Air Force Mechanical, Administrative, General and Electronic formulas.
Department of the Air Force Manual 36-2032, Military Recruiting and Accessions, 16 January 2025, incorporating Change 1, 9 December 2025: paragraphs 3.6.8.2.2.1 to 3.6.8.2.2.3 (AFQT minimums by education tier) and Table A3.1, item 18 (AF Form 3005, Guaranteed Aptitude Area Enlistment Agreement).
U.S. Space Force, spaceforce.com, enlisted Guardians page and the Space Systems Operator and Cyber Operations career pages, reviewed October 2026.