FBI/CIA Agent

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Work Tasks

• Investigate criminal violations of federal, state, and local laws and recommend legal action if enough evidence is found
• Investigate organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, fraud against the government, bribery, and copyright violation
• Investigate civil rights violations, kidnapping, drug trafficking, bank robbery, air piracy, and terrorism
• Gather facts and collect evidence, analyze evidence in labs, conduct interviews, examine records, record findings, and testify in court
• Work at FBI/CIA headquarters in Washington, D.C. or offices located around the U.S.A.; may work in other countries
• Work with reports and records, firearms, court transcripts, intelligence reports, and scientific and technical data

Salary, Size & Growth

• $70,000 average per year ($33.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (110,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.7% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: US citizen, 23 to 36 years old, good vision, and a 4-year degree plus work experience
• Employers Prefer: A law degree, a 4-year degree in accounting, or a master's degree and able to speak a needed foreign language well
• Skills/Courses: After 16 weeks of training, there is a 1 year probation period.