Becoming an FBI Agent
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. It is a separate agency within the DoJ whose charter is to perform investigations and gather intelligence domestically. The mission of the FBI is to protect and defend the United States against terrorist intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the laws of the U.S., and to provide assistance and criminal justice services to other law enforcement agencies, at the municipal, state, federal, and international levels.FBI Special Agents are responsible for conducting investigations concerning national security and for enforcing federal statutes. These agents contend with criminal activities that can include terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, and domestic and international drug trafficking. They deal with crimes as wide-ranging as cyber-crime, organized crime, violent crime, white-collar and financial crime, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, and air piracy. They also handle fugitive matters, public corruption allegations, civil rights violations, bribery, and numerous other violations of federal laws and statutes.
Education, Training & Degrees for FBI Agents
A degree from an accredited four-year college is a standard requirement for employment as an FBI agent. Although the FBI emphasizes degrees in specific core disciplines, a background in one of many criminal justice disciplines can prove invaluable in qualifying for this position.FBI Agent Job Responsibilities and Desired Skills
Applicants to the FBI must fulfill a number of requirements before they will be considered as candidates:- They must be a U.S. citizen
- They must be between the ages of 23 and 37
- They must possess a four-year degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting, electrical engineering, or information technology, or a degree from an accredited law school
- They must have a minimum of three years full-time related work experience
- They must be fluent in a foreign language
- They must pass numerous physical tests, including hearing, vision and color tests, a medical history exam and a strenuous physical fitness test
- They must pass a drug screening test and a detailed background investigation, in order to receive the mandatory Top Secret security clearance
- Finally, all applicants must be available for relocation anywhere within the FBI's jurisdiction.
The FBI's current priorities for investigation are:
- Terrorist attacks (counterterrorism)
- Foreign intelligence operations and espionage (counterintelligence)
- Cyber-attacks and other high-tech crimes
- Public corruption
- Civil rights violations
FBI Salary Range and Employment Outlook
More than 30,000 people were employed by the FBI in 2006, including more than 12,000 special agents and nearly 18,000 support personnel. These included language and information technology specialists, intelligence analysts, scientists, forensic experts, and other specialists.Salary for an agent in the FBI Academy training program is approximately $43,000; entry level agents begin at the GS 10 pay scale range, with salaries ranging from about $61,000 to $70,000 per year. Executive positions within the bureau, in the GS 14 and GS 15 pay grades, can earn salaries ranging from $75,000 to more than $90,000 a year.
In the current climate of highly active anti-terrorist activity and an increased demand by citizens for additional security and protection, the outlook for hiring within the FBI is good. However, the competition for agent positions can be fierce, and meeting the requirements for application can be a daunting task.
