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FBI Agent
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the place to be if you want to work with high-security investigations on a day to day basis. The work of an FBI agent can be intense and exciting at times, but it can also get tedious and mind-numbing. It just depends on the cases each agent has to work on and how it progresses. If you have been looking for a well-paying criminal justice career that you can truly be proud to be a part of, you may want to consider a role as an FBI special agent. Before you can determine if this is a good career path though, you need to make sure you know what an FBI agent does and how much he or she makes from those efforts. The FBI job description below should give you the basic information you need to figure out if this is the right path for you.
FBI Agent Job Duties
There is no way to predict what you will be doing on a day to day basis in the FBI. Every FBI agent has a different set of tasks that he or she is responsible for in a case. If you are an expert in a certain area, you may end up with responsibilities related to that expertise. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the luck of the draw. Some common job duties for FBI agents include:
- Testifying for a case in court
- Running background checks
- Meeting with other FBI agents
- Meeting with information leads
- Making arrests
- Issuing search warrants
- Gathering evidence from a crime
- Filing paperwork about a case
You may have an entirely different set of tasks to cover for an investigation you are working on, but those responsibilities should all come up at some point in time. Most FBI agents work odd hours to gather evidence and connect clues in an investigation. If you’re looking for a 9-5 job that is predictable and monotonous, this is not going to be a good fit for you.
FBI Agent Salary Levels
As with most jobs at the federal level, there is a pretty high pay rate associated with working in the FBI. Every FBI agent has a slightly different salary based on his or her title, job responsibilities, location, expertise, and more. Nevertheless, the statistics reveal a pretty high salary across the board. Here are some common salary ranges you can expect as an FBI agent based on factors associated with your job.
Salary by Location
- Washington, D.C.: $40,268 – $153,007 per year
- Virginia: $50,676 – $197,265 per year
- Texas: $12,365 – $121,407 per year
- New York: $50,043 – $137,020 per year
- Georgia: $43,398 – $58,958 per year
- Florida: $10,033 – $100,505 per year
- California: $51,583 – $140,405 per year
Salary by Experience
- Less than 1 year: $40,000 – $102,409 per year
- 1-4 years: $33,433 – $92,715 per year
- 5-9 years: $40,877 – $124,507 per year
- 10-19 years: $48,047 – $144,295 per year
- 20+ years: $60,820 – $155,704 per year
If you work in a good location and actually stick with the job for a while, there is no reason why you couldn’t make over $100,000 a year as an FBI agent.
How to Become a FBI Agent
If the information below has enticed you enough to pursue this career, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree to get started. You will also need to pass a series of examinations to determine if you have the physical and mental capacity to handle this kind of work. Some degree programs to explore include:
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Sociology
- Bachelor of Commerce in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
- Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
If you pass all the exams to become an FBI agent, you will have to go through a training program to officially work for the FBI. After that, you just have to find an agency in need of your assistance.
