What is the FBI starting pay?
Score: 0/5 (0 votes)The starting salary for an FBI Special Agent typically ranges between $99,000 and $128,000 during your first year. This entry-level figure is based on the GL-10 pay grade and is composed of three main factors:
How much do first year FBI agents make?
Special agents receive a starting salary of $43,705 while in the 16-week training program at the FBI Academy located at Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, the salary ranges from $53,743 to $58,335 depending upon the locality pay of their geographic assignment.
Is 30 too late to join FBI?
Be at least 23 years old. Apply before your 36th birthday unless you have veteran's preference or federal law enforcement experience. You must complete the SASS process and enter on duty no later than the day before your 37th birthday.
Who gets paid more, CIA or FBI?
Neither agency inherently pays more across the board, but the FBI generally offers higher entry-level base pay because new agents are hired under a specialized law enforcement pay scale (often starting at the GL-10 grade). However, CIA officers frequently have higher overall earning potential at the mid-to-senior levels due to specialized skill bonuses and overseas assignment pay.
Is getting hired by FBI hard?
How Does the FBI Hire Agents? The FBI accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, making jobs within the bureau highly competitive. Applicants typically begin their candidacy through one of the FBI's various entry programs, all of which are tailored to specific FBI career tracks.
Average Salary of an FBI Agent | How much do FBI Agents earn?
What disqualifies you from being FBI?
Automatic disqualifiers to becoming an FBI agents
Failure to register with the Selective Service System, if applicable. Failure to pass a urinalysis drug test administered by the FBI. Default on a U.S. government student loan. Participation in drug use while holding a security clearance.
How old is the youngest FBI agent?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sets the minimum age for a new FBI special agent recruit at 23 years; yet, there are records of FBI agents as young as 14 years old. Some of these youngest special agents joined the Bureau by being at the right place at the right time.
Do FBI agents have to retire after 20 years?
An FBI agent can retire after reaching 20 years of service between ages 50 and 57. And when they retire, the agent receives a pension for life from the Federal Government. There's a complicated formula to compute your retirement salary involving your years of service and the average of your top three years of salary.
Is FBI a stressful job?
Yes, being an FBI agent is considered a high-stress career due to long hours, dangerous field assignments, and heavy responsibility. While it offers, rewarding,, and prestigious work, agents often face intense, unpredictable schedules, significant paperwork, and emotional, high-stakes investigations.
What is the most elite FBI unit?
The FBI's Hostage Rescue Team is an elite group of agents who pass a challenging selection process and training course. They deploy in any environment or conditions to respond to hostage situations, barricaded suspects, high-risk arrests, undercover operations, and surveillance operations.
What degrees are best for FBI jobs?
12 degree options for FBI agents
- Criminal justice. Criminal justice is one of the most popular degree options for FBI agents. ...
- Criminology. Criminology is a subset of sociology that studies criminal behavior. ...
- Sociology. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Computer science. ...
- Cybersecurity. ...
- Public safety administration. ...
- International studies.
Do FBI agents travel a lot?
Yes, FBI agents travel frequently, but the amount of travel depends heavily on their specific assignment, squad, and seniority. While some agents are based primarily in local field offices or labs, others travel constantly for casework, multi-agency task forces, and special operations.
How long is FBI training?
FBI Special Agent training lasts approximately 18 weeks (about 850 instructional hours) at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. This Basic Field Training Course (BFTC) requires trainees to live on campus while undergoing intensive instruction in academics, physical fitness, defensive tactics, and firearms proficiency.
How much do undercover FBI agents make?
As of May 13, 2026, the average annual pay for an Undercover Agent in Los Angeles is $71,527 a year.
What are the FBI requirements?
To qualify for a position like an FBI Special Agent, applicants must be U.S. citizens, between 23 and 36 years old, and hold a bachelor's degree with at least two years of full-time professional work experience. Candidates must pass an exhaustive background check, polygraph, drug test, and physical fitness evaluation.
Where in the US does FBI pay most?
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Fbi Agent Jobs. We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Fbi Agent job is above the national average. Topping the list is San Mateo, CA,, with San Francisco, CA, and Sunnyvale, CA, close behind in the second and third positions.
What does 1042 mean for cops?
The law enforcement profession is one that is steeped in tradition. One such tradition is the use of “Ten Codes” on the police radio. One “Ten Code” that is not as familiar to the general public is “10-42”. This particular code is used to indicate an officer's end of tour.
Can I wear a jacket that says FBI?
False procurement of Federal Government uniforms and impersonating government a official(s) is a violation of local, state and federal laws. This sale of this jacket is restricted to active personnel only. Do not attempt to purchase if you are not employed by the (DOJ) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Agency.
What is Kash Patel doing?
Kash Patel serves as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a position he has held since being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in February 2025.
What disqualifies you from being in the FBI?
EMPLOYMENT DISQUALIFIERS The specific elements that automatically disqualify candidates for FBI employment include but are not limited to: • Use of illegal drugs in violation of the FBI Employment Drug Policy • Conviction of a felony • Default on a student loan insured by the U.S. government • Failure of an FBI- ...
How many days off do FBI agents get?
FBI agents and employees receive between 13 and 26 days of annual leave (vacation) per year, depending on their years of service. Additionally, they are provided with 11 paid federal holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Are FBI agents more powerful than cops?
Neither FBI agents nor local police are universally "more powerful," as they operate in completely different jurisdictions and derive their authority from different levels of government. While federal law technically supersedes state law, local police hold primary law enforcement power within their communities.
Is $70,000 a year a good pension?
It will depend on your personal circumstances, especially where you live, but $70,000 may be enough for some households. Whether your assets can generate $70,000 per year is a bit more difficult to answer, though. Here are a few important things to consider.
How much does a 20 year E7 make in retirement?
A retired E-7 (Sergeant First Class / Chief Petty Officer) with 20 years of active-duty service typically receives a gross retirement pension between $2,900 and $3,125 per month. Annually, this translates to roughly $35,000 to $37,500 before taxes, depending on whether they retire under the High-36 or Blended Retirement System (BRS).
Is $400,000 enough to retire at 62?
Yes, $400,000 can be enough to retire at 62, but it will require a very modest lifestyle. With a standard 4% withdrawal rate, this portfolio generates only $16,000 annually. To make this work, you will likely need to rely on additional guaranteed income, such as Social Security.