FBI Special Agent: Pay & Requirements

Overview

Sourced

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

O*NET definition of Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) · Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed.

114,300

in government (SOC 33-3021)

100%

of this occupation works for government

$93,790

median pay in government

Federal

levels of government

Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 33-3021, including ATF Special Agent, CIA Officer (intelligence), DEA Special Agent, Deputy U.S. Marshal.

Titles employers use

Criminal InvestigatorDetectiveInvestigatorPolice DetectiveCSI (Crime Scene Investigator)Fugitive DetectiveFugitive InvestigatorNarcotics DetectiveNarcotics InvestigatorSpecial Agent

How people usually get in Editorial

degree + Phase I/II tests + fitness test + Quantico. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 33-3021)

Education needed to enter: High school diploma or equivalent
Related work experience: Less than 5 years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

High School Diploma or the equivalent

23%

Post-Secondary Certificate

26%

Some College Courses

20%

Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree

12%

Bachelor's Degree

19%

Share of surveyed workers in Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) naming each level as required to be hired, 26 respondents, O*NET survey August 2026. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

How to get hired

Sourced

The education typically required to enter the occupation ranges from a high school diploma to a college degree. Most police and detectives must graduate from their agency's training academy before completing on-the-job training. Other requirements vary, but candidates usually must be at least 21 years old and able to meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Police and Detectives”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 33-3021: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Medium Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Federal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

GS-5/7 entry (Pathways / recent grad)
Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
GS-14/15 (competitive)
Senior Executive Service
within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
special rates: LEO (LEAP 25%), FAA ATC AT-bands, TSA SV bands, VA Nurse I–V

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$118,390

State

$79,690

Local

$78,280

All government

$93,790

Private sector

$83,130

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	41,630	$79,100	$101,400	$118,390	$160,620	$180,860
State	23,890	$52,190	$62,250	$79,690	$101,500	$118,850
Local	48,780	$49,490	$61,110	$78,280	$99,030	$124,420
All government	114,300	$55,380	$69,350	$93,790	$120,560	$160,540
Private sector	120	$61,510	$67,660	$83,130	$98,620	$105,810

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

44%

Irregular

46%

Seasonal

10%

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

33%

More than 40 hours

67%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2026). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.4.8
Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.4.8
Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.4.7
Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.4.7
Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.4.6
Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.4.6
Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.4.6
Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.4.6
Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.4.6
Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.4.5

The 10 most important of 30 core tasks for Detectives and Criminal Investigators, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2026.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

Exams by name

Sourced

Exam	Administered by	Used in	Type	Official page
FBI Special Agent Phase I Test Computerized, proctored three-hour exam with five assessments: Logic-Based Reasoning, Figural Reasoning, Personality Assessment, Preferences and Interests, and Situational Judgment; must be scheduled and completed within 14 days of invitation.	Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)	Federal Bureau of Investigation	written	Official page
FBI Special Agent Physical Fitness Test (PFT) Full-body assessment of four events; candidates need at least 10 total points with at least one point in each event; one first attempt plus two additional attempts within six months of the Meet & Greet.	Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)	Federal Bureau of Investigation	physical	Official page

Each exam is checked against its administrator's official page. Employers choose which exam they use; confirm with the hiring agency.

Source: Exam administrators and hiring authorities (per record), Official exam administrator pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
District of Columbia	2,980	$94,220	$160,760	$195,190
Maryland	1,010	$71,200	$126,730	$188,700
California	12,610	$78,280	$124,840	$165,510
Delaware	140	$65,830	$122,050	$164,510
New Jersey	3,080	$73,100	$116,300	$165,570
Washington	1,850	$84,500	$115,790	$162,860
Alaska	140	$79,680	$114,940	$183,680
Hawaii	440	$92,520	$113,940	$165,030
Virginia	3,180	$62,730	$112,760	$195,190
Massachusetts	1,300	$76,150	$110,150	$179,030
Oregon	520	$81,990	$107,450	$158,060
Vermont	190	$65,690	$106,330	$153,670
Colorado	1,930	$73,010	$105,480	$161,550
Arizona	5,250	$60,590	$102,340	$142,380
New York	9,600	$62,130	$101,240	$166,800
Nebraska	290	$68,900	$100,530	$155,210
Pennsylvania	3,370	$63,770	$97,580	$154,360
Connecticut	940	$78,990	$95,240	$130,540
Nevada	590	$60,920	$94,470	$152,480
Montana	500	$58,670	$92,410	$144,000
West Virginia	220	$48,450	$92,410	$171,250
Illinois	3,270	$53,960	$91,190	$157,060
Wisconsin	1,640	$70,060	$91,040	$103,130
Michigan	2,220	$71,590	$90,650	$164,670
Texas	18,870	$52,510	$90,510	$132,850
New Hampshire	290	$74,690	$89,290	$174,050
Rhode Island	360	$75,910	$88,450	$159,140
Maine	550	$63,290	$88,310	$120,430
New Mexico	2,020	$47,480	$86,840	$111,970
North Dakota	420	$58,350	$82,290	$129,230
Wyoming	170	$62,230	$81,880	$149,280
Oklahoma	1,220	$51,420	$80,430	$136,120
Minnesota	1,970	$59,710	$80,000	$115,210
Iowa	410	$58,930	$79,560	$141,650
Ohio	2,140	$56,840	$79,300	$151,200
Utah	550	$48,040	$78,920	$149,280
South Dakota	250	$60,210	$77,730	$149,280
Tennessee	1,860	$49,660	$77,090	$149,280
Florida	6,440	$50,050	$77,060	$162,450
Kansas	1,060	$49,610	$75,740	$114,030
Missouri	1,600	$49,190	$75,650	$151,720
Idaho	630	$53,120	$72,520	$125,550
Kentucky	720	$51,640	$71,670	$149,280
Indiana	1,280	$45,480	$70,340	$127,790
Alabama	1,340	$43,060	$66,290	$150,780
Georgia	5,070	$46,790	$65,430	$149,030
North Carolina	3,360	$50,260	$63,280	$137,550
South Carolina	1,470	$50,960	$62,760	$149,280
Louisiana	1,740	$39,020	$60,450	$131,730
Mississippi	810	$41,260	$58,640	$136,120
Arkansas	560	$41,380	$54,500	$144,890

51 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
Not yet collected

FBI Special Agent

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

How to get hired

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

Exams by name

By state

Not yet collected