How much money does an entry level fbi agent make

FBI agents investigate federal crimes, collecting evidence, conducting interviews, and analyzing data. Their jobs include desk work, fieldwork, testifying in federal court, and traveling. They receive muchh and locality pay on top of their salaries, along with benefits that include retirement, health and life insurance, vacation, and sick leave. This guide contains detailed information on salary, earning potential, and benefits that will help you decide if a career as an FBI agent is right for you. The rates consist of grades GS or GL and steps within each grade, with pay increases pursuant to length of time employed. Salaries are affected by degrees earned, experience, and the locality in which agents work. The table below summarizes typical salaries at various points in an agent’s career and includes a link to locality pay tables. New hires with bachelor’s degrees but no prior government service earn salaries at the GL, Step 1 level. Those with prior government experience are eligible to start at a higher step within the GL range. New agents undergoing training also earn locality pay for the Washington, D. Once training is completed, they may be assigned to a field office with a different locality pay rate. The table below features a few examples of what FBI agents can expect to earn based on years of service. The LEO locality pay tables give a more comprehensive view of earnings for FBI agents based on several factors including location, years of service, mobey job title. Source: PayScale.

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The prestige that accompanies a position in this hallowed institution is complemented by highly lucrative salaries that exceed most of those found in other law enforcement or intelligence agencies. The General Schedule system has 15 levels with each level broken up into 10 steps. In order to advance to the nest GS level, an employee must first obtain all ten steps. The slowest rate of progression is stipulated as one year for steps 2, 3, and 4, two years for steps 5,6, and 7 and three years for steps 8, 9, and These salaries are almost always adjusted to reflect the higher cost of living associated with a job posting. Employees may also receive significant bonuses for extended work hours, extended availability, and occupational hazards. Due to the rigorous screening process and challenging professional duties for its Special Agents, these employees are provided a number of salary advantages not typically found in other categories of FBI employees. As law enforcement officers, FBI Agents also merit retirement after 20 to 25 years of service rather than the typical 30 years required of most federal employees. Agents may cap their career at the GS step 10 if they remain as active field personnel. Although not quite as prestigious as the Special Agent position, many professionals are employed in a variety of roles that support critical FBI operations. These white collar careers include jobs as an intelligence analyst, linguist, surveillance specialist, scientists, and administrators. While these positions do not require the qualifications that Special Agents jobs require, many of them do have steep professional and academic requirements. In general, these jobs allow entry at the GS-7 level or higher, with a promotion potential of GS

Education Requirements

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the country’s principal law enforcement agency and is charged with defending the United States from terrorism and enforcing federal laws. A candidate needs the right education, background and personal qualities to even have a shot at becoming an FBI agent. The job is both stressful and prestigious, and successful agents are rewarded with salaries that exceed those found in other law enforcement professions. The main role of an FBI agent involves investigating crimes and enforcing federal laws. On any given day, she may be interviewing witnesses, conducting surveillance activities, participating in arrests or working undercover. The jobs can be dangerous as they may involve the investigation of serious criminal activities, such as human trafficking, cybercrime and terrorist threats. Fluency in a language such as Arabic, Russian, Farsi or Chinese is extremely helpful to support these activities, and the FBI often seeks out people with specific language skills for intelligence work. You must be a U. You’ll also need at least a bachelor’s with a 3. Many applicants have a master’s degree or higher in law, criminal justice, political science, computer science or a similar subject. The admission process is arduous and involves fitness tests, exams, psychometric tests and interviews. If you get through those, you’ll receive orders to report to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, to be trained as an agent trainee. FBI agent salaries are paid according to the General Schedule, a pay system that covers the majority of white-collar federal employees. FBI agents work in the law enforcement industry as the primary investigative arm of the Department of Justice. They generally work full time, around 50 hours per week, although many work more than that, including weekends and holidays. Once qualified, you could get posted to any of the FBI’s 56 field offices in the states or overseas. The job requires top-secret security clearance, and agents are expected to maintain the integrity, honesty, judgment, mental health and reliability required to be granted access to classified information. FBI agents enjoy a highly structured salary progression through the General Schedule system. Each level is divided into 10 steps and to move up a level, you must obtain all 10 steps. It could take anywhere between a few months and two years to progress through each step. In addition to their basic salary, FBI agents may receive a 25 percent bonus for unscheduled duty. The law enforcement profession is generally estimated to grow by 7 percent by , which as about as fast as other occupations. This translates to an additional 53, jobs, 5, of which will be in the detective and criminal investigation sector. While the public will always need protecting from crime, the job outlook for FBI agents is largely dependent on the federal law enforcement budget. This may rise or fall with the political climate. Her articles have appeared on numerous business sites including Typefinder, Women in Business, Startwire and Indeed. Find her at www.

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Working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation is a prestigious and noble career path. Luckily, by taking the right to steps to prepare for a career in the FBI and going through each step of the application process, you can increase your chances of becoming an FBI agent. To become an FBI agent, you’ll need to be an American citizen between the ages of 23 and 37 when you apply. To make yourself a more competitive candidate, study a critical foreign language too, such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, or Hebrew.

For tips on how to apply to the FBI, keep reading! This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 13 references. Categories: Intelligence and Security Careers. Tim Koishibayev. Log in Facebook Loading Google Loading Civic Loading No account yet?

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Article Edit. Learn why people trust wikiHow. It also received 17 testimonials from readers, earning it our reader-approved status. Learn more Earn a 4-year degree from an accredited institution. In order to be eligible to become an FBI agent, you have to complete a 4-year degree from a college or university. Your degree can be in any subject, although the institution has to be accredited by an institutional association recognized by the U.

Complete 3 years of professional work experience in your field. All FBI applicants need to have worked in a job in their field for at least 3 years prior to beginning the application process.

The more relevant experience you can acquire, the stronger your application will be. Study a foreign language to make yourself a more competitive applicant. However, it is an important skill that the agency considers very valuable. To make yourself the most competitive, study a critical foreign language and gain at least a working knowledge of it.

Spanish is also considered a critical foreign language. The license also needs to be valid in the U. Candidates to the FBI have to be between the ages of 23 and They also need to be American citizens or citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands. All other applicants must be younger than Submit an online application form. The application will ask you to provide details about your residential history, education, and work experience. Be as detailed as possible and make sure that all of your information is accurate.

Pass the basic knowledge exams in Phase 1. This phase consists of written exams that cover basic information in subjects like mathematics, reading comprehension, and writing, as well as assess your skills in logical reasoning and situational judgment.

Phase 1 Testing is carried out at an FBI facility. Make sure you arrive at the facility on-time and well-rested on the day of your exams. Note that, based on which Entry Program you intend to go through, you may be required to complete additional testing in a relevant field, such as computer science or law.

Complete the written exam and oral interview in Phase 2 Testing. The written exam tests writing skills, while the interview will assess your communication skills and response clarity. For the interview, the panel will you ask you 13 questions designed to assess your decisiveness, integrity, adaptability, attitude, and cognitive skills. Be open and honest with the agents interviewing you.

Wait to receive a Conditional Letter of Appointment. The letter will contain all of the relevant information about the next steps in the process of being hired as an FBI agent. This is because the FBI only grants these letters based on the critical skills that the agency needs at any given time. If you did not pass Phase 2, the FBI will notify and alert you that you might be eligible to for a one-time retest. There are a set of physical standards that all FBI applicants who receive a Conditional Letter of Appointment must be able to meet.

These are different for male and female applicants. Female applicants must be able to perform sit-ups in a minute, pushups in a row, complete a meter sprint in Carry out a polygraph exam as part of your background check. Be sure you are completely honest during this exam, as lying on a polygraph exam will result in your dismissal as a potential FBI agent.

Things that come up in a background check that might disqualify you include a criminal record, poor credit history, or any evidence that you lied on part of your application. The medical exam is administered to those applicants who successfully complete the fitness test and background check. The exam includes a vision test, hearing test, and blood pressure test. Move on to the FBI training academy. Once you pass your medical exam, you will then be scheduled to undergo training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

This training will take place over 17 weeks. If you study criminal investigation and forensic science would I still be able to become an F. I agent? Samuel C. Those would be good majors to pursue if your plan is to become an FBI agent. Yes No. Not Helpful 0 Helpful Yes, gender doesn’t matter! As long as you have or will meet the requirements to becoming an FBI agent, you can apply.

Not Helpful 14 Helpful After you file your application it can take anywhere from 6 months to several years. Not Helpful 3 Helpful Joining the FBI agency requires an applicant to be a U. Not Helpful 16 Helpful If I am already in law enforcement, will that make it easier to become an agent? If you are in the law enforcement, it should be easier to become an agent, as long as you have met the requirements in the application. Call up and ask for advice on what pathway would be best for you to pursue.

Not Helpful 9 Helpful Diversified is like the opposite of specialized skills, meaning you’re able to do a variety of skilled tasks in various areas of interest or expertise. The FBI wants well-rounded applicants, with unspecified degrees or diverse backgrounds that reflect the ability to pick things up and run with them, using initiative and lateral thinking.

Think a sport plus a degree or two plus some volunteering experience plus social media skills plus trekking across a mountain pass for one summer. These aren’t actual exact requirements but are given as an example of looking well-rounded — in other words, don’t just do a degree, so plenty of other real life things too! If they consider it necessary, they may use a lie detector test. However, it’s not commonly cited as a requirement, so it might only be needed for training purposes, such as learning how to cheat one if you’re in the field.

That should give you plenty of options to choose how much money does an entry level fbi agent make. As long as you meet the goal of completing four years of college with the required major and possess a bachelor’s degree, the college won’t matter as long as it wasn’t a degree.

However, the competition is fierce, so do really well at your studies, wherever you may do your degree. Not Helpful 8 Helpful It is good to earn your diploma, but if you join the FBI agency, you must earn a Bachelor’s degree. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Already answered Not a question Bad question Other. Tips It might be helpful for you to be proficient in using firearms before you begin training at Quantico. Try to get an internship with the FBI — it’s a great way to get your foot in the door.

Consider taking courses in foreign languages while you are in the application process. It sometimes takes well over a year to get an interview. In that time you can increase your chances by expanding your language skills. Once out of college, apply to positions in law enforcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Justice, charged with defending the United States from domestic terrorism and enforcing federal laws. It employs over 35, individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills who investigate crimes related to over categories of federal law. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is frequently recruiting for new special agents throughout the country. Individuals with FBI experience may also find opportunities in the private sector including employment by government contractors and corporations. The main job activities of an FBI special agent involve investigating crimes and enforcing federal laws. This can include interviewing sources and conducting surveillance activities, such as monitoring court authorized wire-tapping or working undercover. FBI special agents must be willing to participate in arrests, raids, search warrants, and other dangerous activities. They may be involved in the investigation of large-scale criminal activities such as organized crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, and cybercrime. Additionally, the FBI is involved in investigating incidents such as airplane hijackings and terrorist threats. The job of an FBI agent can be stressful and cause hardships. Although the scheduled workweek might be 50 hours, many work more than. A special agent is considered on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week and may work holidays. Further, agents how much money does an entry level fbi agent make be often placed in atypical situations, including dealing with people in traumatic situations and crime scenes that can be grisly and involve death.