Your initial quality of life will depend on your agency mission and office location.  Each agency handles the assignment of the first duty location differently.  Some agencies such as HSI or the Secret Service will give you a choice of locations during your initial job offer. 

For example, let's say you just successfully completed the hiring process with the Secret Service. The Human Resources Point of Contact will likely offer you a choice of four to five locations (i.e., New York, NY; Houston, TX, Portland OR; Detroit, MI).  At this point, you can accept any one of these offices as your initial duty location.  Be prepared to spend a number of years (3-5 years) at that office until you are eligible to transfer, which varies depending on the agency rules and the budget situation (Generally speaking, it is easier to transfer to high cost of living locations).  If you decide that living at one of those locations is not workable, then you can decline the choice of assignment locations.  This is the functional equivalent of turning down the final job offer and you will likely never be called again for that specific announcement (If you chose to re-apply, the entire process must be completed again).  I would encourage aspiring applicants to never decline a special agent job offer; you will always regret the decision.

Some agencies will not tell you your initial duty location until you are a couple of months into the training academy (i.e. FBI). This is obviously a huge disadvantage to the applicant but again, a new special agent should be willing to go anywhere in the country to begin their career.

Most new special agents start off between GS 7 – 10 range & can expect to work cases and perform the usual investigations within the respective agency portfolio.  Once a special agent finishes his/her probationary period and becomes a permanent employee, new opportunities for special duty assignments usually become available (i.e., undercover, SWAT, forensics).  A field level special agent can usually obtain the rank of GS-13, which is the full performance range for a criminal investigator.  Many special agents choose to stay as a GS-13 and work cases the remainder of their careers, others may decide to specialize as computer crime investigators, polygraph specialists, forensic advisers, technical surveillance agents, and even full time undercover agents.  The possibilities are truly endless and often depend on an individual's skill set. Some special agents decide to pick up collateral duties such as firearms & tactics instructor or evidence custodian.

If a special agent decides to advance, he/she can apply to become a GS-14, which is usually a supervisor; or go overseas as an attache'.  Further progression as a GS-15 often involves running an entire office.  Additional career options are also available in the Senior Executive Service.  Most positions at GS-14 and above involve purely management functions.

Many agencies also offer advanced educational opportunities. Depending on the agency, Special Agents can be selected to attend Naval Postgraduate School, Air Command and Staff College, Foreign Service Institute, National Defense University, and John Hopkins for a masters degrees or advanced foreign language training. 

FBI Profiler Myth

Hint:  No such thing.

There is no such position as a profiler, even though Hollywood has continued to perpetuate this crazy myth.  There are limited positions within the FBI at the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime but they are based on research, not  psychic flashes; and often staffed by one or two very senior PHD level federal employees. Below is a great article helping clear up this fantasy.

What's it like?

True Story

Read about the real life experiences of a retired FBI Special Agent.  From airplane hijackings, terrorist bombings and militia standoffs to overseas kidnapping cases in dangerous countries; this special agent has seen it all. 

What it like in DEA?

Inside Story

The true inside story of a former DEA Special Agent.  Infiltrating drug cartels is a skill that few possess. 

Undercover Agent work is one of the most difficult and dangerous specialties within federal law enforcement.  Few special agents have the necessary skills, mental agility and discipline to be successful undercovers.

Special Agent Work Hours

Since special agents receive an extra 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP), throughout their careers, agents can expect to work irregular schedules that require duty on weekends and holidays (especially new agents).  This does NOT mean that every weekend or holiday is ruined, however, keep in mind that criminal activity often dictates operational work hours.   Obviously the Gang Unit will get more call-outs than the White Collar Fraud unit.  Additionally, some agencies like Secret Service can require extensive shift work.  However, not all is doom and gloom.  For the most part and at the majority of 1811 agencies, special agents work Monday through Fridays, commute to the office during normal work hours, and conduct operations that are planned in advance.  Sometimes a case does get hot and things stretch out, but you also are able to go home on time on plenty of days and spend time with family. 

Special Agent Salary Calculation

2021 Example



Example 1:  Let's say you meet the minimum qualifications and applied to the ATF, which has an entry level pay grade at GS-5, Step 1. Let's also assume that you are assigned to the San Francisco Office. Your pay would be calculated as follows:

Base Pay (GS-5, Step 1): $37,141

Locality Adjustment (San Francisco-41.44%): $15,391

LEAP (25% of total salary): $13,133

Total Starting Compensation: $65,665 

Example 2:   Let's say you had a masters degree, relevant work experience, and applied to HSI, which starts new agents in the GS 7-9 range. In this case, you would qualify as a GS-9, Step 10. Let's again decide that you are assigned to the San Francisco Office. Your pay would be calculated as follows:

Similarly, the Base Pay for a GS-9, Step 10 with San Francisco locality is:  $83,897

LEAP (25% of salary): $20,974

Total Starting Compensation: $104,871

The full performance level for a special agent is a GS-13, which can take 2-5 years on the job depending on your initial qualifications. A GS-13 (Step 1) special agent can expect to initially be paid $139,107 in San Francisco.

Many agencies also offer additional financial incentives for applicants with critical language skills, specialized aviation skills, or a JD degree. Some agencies will also offer a relocation stipend to pay for moving costs.

Special Agent Online

Blogs and Forums

There are four major online blogs in which users share information & advice about the law enforcement hiring process.  Like anything in life, use your judgment in accepting this information. Unfortunately, there truly are a number of unstable personalities that regularly post junk information and endlessly quibble over stupid details.  Oftentimes it is applicants or rejected candidates sharing "rumor intelligence."  Additionally, I have noticed that most posters aren't even special agents and their advice is usually not credible.   

My Financial Experience