How to Become an FBI Agent

Agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) protect U.S. citizens’ security and the country’s political interests. Since the agency’s founding in 1908, agents have caught spies, infiltrated organized crime operations, and combatted global terrorism. These professionals investigate interstate crimes, support state and local law enforcement, and serve American interests abroad through U.S. embassies.

Agents may spend their days conducting surveillance, monitoring online activities, or carrying out arrests. Becoming a special agent for the FBI is a long and challenging path, but the financial, personal, and professional rewards can be significant.

The FBI is the primary U.S. federal agency that oversees law enforcement and domestic intelligence. The agency can investigate specific crimes or support state and local law enforcement officials. FBI agents often investigate interstate criminal acts such as cybercrime, terrorism, public corruption, or organized crime.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the FBI maintains 56 field offices in major cities and 350 smaller offices across the U.S. The agency also operates in about 60 American embassies around the world. In total, about 35,000 people work for the FBI, including agents, IT specialists, scientists, and linguists.

The FBI offers various career paths, including those listed below.

The FBI recognizes the following core competencies as necessary for success in special agent and other FBI roles:

Depending on the day, FBI agents may conduct surveillance, gather and analyze data, monitor online activities, collect evidence, and conduct arrests. The FBI also operates branches around the world to keep tabs on foreign governments.

Daily tasks also depend on an agent’s specialty. One agent might focus on financial fraud, while another investigates cybercrimes. They often work with state and local law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties.

Many FBI special agents work at the official FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. Others work in regional offices around the country in cities like Albuquerque, Indianapolis, Seattle, and Miami. The FBI can call on agents to change locations at any time, requiring them to relocate.

Depending on their caseload, FBI agents may work late nights, holidays, and weekends. For one case, they might visit several locations — or even several cities and states — to gather information, interview witnesses, and make arrests.

The hiring process for special agents is long and challenging. Even after securing employment, you must complete an 18-week basic training program.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and two or more years of full-time work experience or an advanced degree and one year of full-time experience. Degrees must come from a U.S.-accredited college or university. Although the FBI does not require any particular field of study, a bachelor’s in criminal justice or a related field can help prepare candidates for this role.

The FBI does not waive the bachelor’s degree requirement for any applicant. The agency accepts applicants with various types of work experience beyond law enforcement and military work.

For the first 18 weeks of their training, agents go to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. This intensive, 800-hour experience focuses on four concentrations: academics, case exercises, firearms training, and operational skills.

Academic topics include law, ethics, leadership, interrogation, forensic science, and more. Operational skills training covers physical fitness, electronic surveillance, and tactical driving.

New trainees also spend 100 hours learning firearm techniques, such as marksmanship and safety. Real-life cases present scenarios that test new recruits’ skills in investigations, arrests, and presenting evidence in court.

The U.S. uses the General Schedule (GS) to pay some employees, which bases salaries on grade levels. Workers are assigned a grade based on their experience, background, education, and accomplishments. Grades range from GS-1 to GS-15. All new FBI agents are assigned to grade 10 and earn $81,000- $129,000 annually.

An agent’s salary depends on several factors besides GS pay grade, including their location, availability pay, and previous grade status in another government role.

Besides earning a salary, FBI agents can take advantage of many benefits. These include benefits that many other employers offer, such as a pension plan, 401K, insurance, and paid time off. However, FBI agents also receive other perks like opportunities to work abroad, relocation reimbursement, and sabbatical programs. Agents can retire after 20 years of service.

Anyone employed by the FBI as an agent is a “special agent.” Many federal and state agencies use the term “special agent” to refer to investigators or detectives who are not uniformed police officers. Some agencies may use “agent” instead of “special agent.” The FBI uses the two terms interchangeably.

Most FBI agents are allowed to tell their family members where they work but are not usually allowed to discuss specifics. Expectations may be different for agents working covertly. Some FBI agents who are parents and need extra flexibility can receive part-time assignments. The agency also offers 12 weeks of leave for the birth or adoption of a child.

The FBI is a highly selective employer. To qualify, you must meet strict standards of academic experience, moral conduct, and physical fitness. You must also be willing to conduct arrests and use deadly force when required. The agency accepts fewer than 20% of its qualified applicants.

Being in the FBI can pose a significant risk, and some agents have even lost their lives in the line of duty. You must work a minimum of 50 hours per week, and the job can be tedious, lonely, or stressful, creating relational hardships and mental health concerns.

You may be disqualified from working as a special agent at the FBI if you have non-U.S. citizenship; a felony, sex crime, or domestic violence misdemeanor conviction; or wilfully engaged in actions that could overthrow the U.S. government. Other disqualifiers include failure to pay alimony or child support, defaulting on a federally funded student loan, and failing to file income tax returns.