Below you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about becoming an FBI employee. In addition to the questions and answers here, please also see the other sections of this website that are devoted to frequently asked questions about specific jobs:

• Special Agent FAQs
• National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• About the FBI
• Application Process
• Background Investigation
• Compensation and Benefits
• General Career Information

About the FBI

1. What is the role of the FBI?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a law enforcement and domestic intelligence agency charged with protecting and defending the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats; upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of the United States; and providing leadership and criminal justice services to federal, state, municipal, and international agencies and partners.

Our priorities are to:

• Protect the United States from terrorist attack
• Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage
• Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes
• Combat public corruption at all levels
• Protect civil rights
• Combat transnational and national criminal organizations and enterprises
• Combat major white-collar crime
• Combat significant violent crime
• Support federal, state, county, municipal, and international partners; and
• Upgrade technology to successfully perform the FBI�s mission

While the FBI remains committed to other important national security and law enforcement responsibilities, the prevention of terrorism takes precedence.

2. What is the FBI culture like?

The FBI culture is based on a long and rich tradition of serving the United States and its citizens. From prosecuting gangsters in the thirties, to breaking up spy networks during World War II, to dismantling organized crime syndicates in the sixties and seventies, to pursuing white collar criminals in the eighties and nineties, to fighting terrorists today � the FBI has always been at the forefront of ensuring public safety. FBI employees are extremely proud of the work they do and proud to work at the FBI. Our employees strive for excellence in all aspects of our mission. In pursuing our mission and priorities, our employees will be true to, and exemplify, the following core values:

• Rigorous obedience to the Constitution of the United States
• Respect for the dignity of all those we protect
• Compassion
• Fairness
• Uncompromising personal integrity and institutional integrity
• Accountability by accepting responsibility for our actions and decisions and the consequences of our actions and decisions; and
• Leadership, both personal and professional

3. What types of career opportunities are there in the FBI?

The FBI employs over 30,000 professionals in a wide range of different fields. FBI professionals include Accountants, Architects, Budget Analysts, Chemists, Graphics Designers, Intelligence Analysts, Lawyers, Linguists, Pilots, Police Officers, Security Specialists, Software Engineers, Special Agents, and more. No matter your field of expertise, there is a good chance the FBI employs professionals just like you.

We invite you to learn more about the different types of jobs available in the FBI by visiting the Career Paths portion of this website and by learning more about the mission and types of work performed in each FBI Headquarters Division.

4. Where are jobs with the FBI available?

FBI Headquarters is located in Washington, D.C. The several thousand Special Agents and Professional Staff personnel who work at Headquarters direct, organize, and coordinate FBI activities around the world. The core investigative and intelligence work of the FBI is accomplished in our 56 Field Offices and their 400 satellite offices, known as resident agencies. Field Offices are located in major metropolitan areas and are responsible for all FBI operations in their defined geographic region.

Career opportunities are available at FBI Headquarters and in many of our Field Offices. Please check our job postings to see which locations currently have openings.

5. Does the FBI offer Internships?

Yes. Please see the Internship Programs portion of this site for more details on the numerous internship opportunities available with the FBI.

6. How diverse is the FBI?

In order to be the most effective intelligence and law enforcement organization possible, we need our workforce to reflect the diversity of American society. We also need a workforce with a rich diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Therefore, we place a great premium on recruiting and developing a diverse workforce. By many measures, the FBI is a very diverse organization � over 25% of our workforce is comprised of minorities, over 45% of our workforce is female, and we employ individuals with an amazing variety of different backgrounds (e.g., teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists, investment bankers, pilots, scientists, police officers, engineers, accountants, photographers, military, etc., etc.). We take our commitment to diversity very seriously, and we continue to strive to recruit a highly capable, diverse workforce.

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Application Process

7. What actions will disqualify me from consideration for jobs with the FBI?

There are specific elements that will automatically disqualify you from consideration for employment with the FBI. The FBI Employment Disqualifiers are:

• Conviction of a felony
• Some use of illegal drugs (see the FBI Employment Drug Policy for more details)
• Default of a student loan (insured by the U.S. Government)
• Failure of an FBI-administered urinalysis drug test
• Failure to register with the Selective Service System (for males only)

Please note that if you are disqualified by any of the above tests, you are not eligible for employment with the FBI. All of these disqualifiers are extensively researched during the FBI Background Investigation Process. Please make sure you can meet all FBI employment requirements and pass all disqualifiers before you apply for a position with the FBI.

8. How do I apply for a position with the FBI?

To apply for a position with the FBI please register with our job system (FBIjobs), review our current vacancy advertisements, and select the job you wish to apply for. For help registering with our job system, and to learn more about the application process and how to create a Federal Resume, please see How To Apply.

9. What degrees or prior experiences are most desirable?

Because of the wide variety of jobs for which we recruit, there is no one degree or type of prior experience that is most desirable. Depending upon the career path in which you are interested, however, certain degrees and experiences are more applicable than others. For example, most candidates hoping to become Scientists at the FBI Laboratory need to have a degree and/or work experience in forensic science, in particular biology or chemistry. Please use our Job Matcher tool to find divisions and jobs that might be a good fit for you based on your background and interests.

10. When is the best time to apply?

The FBI recruits for highly talented individuals all year long. Our inventory of job postings frequently changes, however, as new jobs are posted and old advertisements close. Therefore, it is a good idea to review our job postings regularly to see if we have posted a new job in which you are interested. You can also set up your email notification preferences when you register on our website and we will notify you of FBI vacancies that match your interests and geographic preferences.

Given the FBI�s unique security requirements and the length of the background investigation process, it is best to apply at least six to nine months, or more, before you hope to begin employment with the FBI.

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Background Investigation/Security Questions

11. How does the background investigation process work?

Because of the sensitive nature of the FBI�s missions, all FBI positions require at least a Top Secret Security Clearance. Before employees can start work with the FBI, they must undergo an intensive background investigation that includes a polygraph examination, a test for illegal drugs, credit and records checks, and extensive interviews with former and current colleagues, neighbors, friends, professors, etc.

Applicants who have received a conditional job offer and submitted all of the required background investigation forms will be contacted by an Applicant Coordinator at the FBI Field Office closest to their residence. The Applicant Coordinator will schedule a time for the applicant to come to the FBI Field Office for a Personnel Security Interview (PSI), polygraph examination, and a test for illegal drugs. The Applicant Coordinator will be able to provide further details about the remainder of the background investigation.

12. How long does the background investigation process typically take?

There is no �typical� background investigation process. Each applicant is unique in terms of life experiences and background. Factors that influence the length of the clearance process include the speed and comprehensiveness with which an applicant fills out the required paperwork, and the location and number of investigative interviews required (e.g., a person with several prior employers and residences will likely take longer to investigate than a person with only one prior residence or employer).

The clearance process can take anywhere from several months to a year or more. Please factor in the length of the background investigation process when planning to apply for any position with the FBI. Please review the Background Investigation portion of this site for more information on the FBI Background Investigation process.

13. If I have taken illegal drugs in the past, can I still work for the FBI?

The FBI's illegal drug policy is both clear and explicit. You are considered ineligible for employment if you have used marijuana during the last three years, or more than 15 times in your life. In addition, you are disqualified if you have used any illegal drug(s) or combination of illegal drugs, other than marijuana, more than five times altogether, or anytime during the last ten years. No exceptions will be made to the policy, and your answers are subject to verification by urinalysis and pre-employment polygraph examination(s). Please review the FBI Employment Disqualifiers and the FBI Employment Drug Policy to ensure you are eligible to apply for employment with the FBI.

14. Will I have to pass a polygraph?

15. If I have traveled or lived abroad, will that hinder my receiving a security clearance?

No. Many of the positions at the FBI are internationally oriented, and experience living or traveling abroad is often viewed as a positive experience. However, there are cases where national security concerns may arise. Additionally, extensive foreign experience may delay the background investigation process if there is difficulty verifying information on the application.

16. I am a citizen of another country. May I apply?

No. All FBI employees must be United States citizens. If you are a U.S. citizen and hold dual citizenship with another country, the FBI Security Division will have to review your file to make a determination if you are eligible for employment with the FBI.

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Compensation and Benefits Questions

17. How does the FBI pay scale work for white-collar employees?

Most FBI �white-collar� personnel are paid according to the U.S. Government�s General Schedule (GS). The GS scale consists of 15 job grades (with 15 being the highest) and each grade has ten steps (with ten being the highest). Therefore, the highest paid GS employee is a grade 15, step 10. Job grades are determined by level of responsibility and difficulty, and steps are determined by length of tenure and job performance. Each grade and step combination has a specified salary as determined by the U.S. Government�s Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Review this year's General Schedule base salary table.

The government also pays an additional locality adjustment rate that is based upon labor market conditions in the region in which you work. Locality pay rates range anywhere from an additional 12.5% to 28.7% of base salary depending upon your locality pay area. Review a complete set of this year's locality pay tables (i.e., base salary + locality adjustment).

Some FBI employees are also eligible for additional compensation, such as overtime pay, danger pay, availability pay, bonuses, and other allowances.

18. What job grade (i.e., GS level) am I eligible to apply for?

Job grade requirements are based on level of education and previous experience. In general, in order to be eligible to apply for a higher graded position, you must have worked in the next lower grade for at least one year. For example, in order to be eligible to apply for a GS 14 position, you must have worked in a GS 13 position for at least one year. Alternatively, if you are coming from the private sector, you must be able to demonstrate that you have performed GS 13 equivalent work for at least one year. At certain grade levels, educational achievement can sometimes be substituted for work experience. In addition, a combination of educational achievement and work experience can sometimes qualify you for even higher grades.

19. How does the FBI pay scale work for blue-collar employees?

FBI �blue-collar� personnel are paid according to the U.S. Government�s Federal Wage System (FWS). The FWS is a uniform pay-setting system that covers Federal blue-collar employees who are paid by the hour. The system's goal is to make sure that Federal trade, craft, and laboring employees within a local wage area who perform the same duties, receive the same rate of pay. One of the other key statutory principles underlying the FWS is that employee pay rates are to be maintained in line with prevailing levels of pay for comparable levels of private sector work within a local wage area. There are approximately 130 local wage areas. Learn more about the FWS and review complete FWS wage schedules.

20. What kinds of benefits do FBI employees receive?

Full-time FBI employees receive excellent benefits, including health insurance benefits, life insurance benefits, retirement benefits, time-off benefits, and more. For detailed information on all of the FBI�s benefits programs, please see the Benefits at the FBI portion of this website.

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General Career Information

21. How much do FBI employees travel?

Some FBI employees travel on business very frequently, and some rarely if ever travel. More information on travel may be found within the Vacancy Announcement for your position(s) of interest.

22. Will I have any choice over initial office of assignment and future office transfers?

Special Agents and members of the Intelligence Career Service (Intelligence Analysts, Language Analysts, Investigative/Surveillance Specialists) sign mobility agreements when they join the FBI. Per the terms of the agreement, these employees can be transferred based on the needs of the FBI. For all other jobs, candidates apply to vacancies in specified locations.

Newly appointed Special Agents are assigned to one of the FBI's 56 Field Offices based on current staffing and/or critical specialty needs. New Special Agents are given the opportunity to rank their desired locations. While consideration is given to these preferences, the first office assignment is based upon the staffing needs of the FBI. All Special Agents are subject to transfer at any time to meet the organizational and program needs of the FBI. Special Agents accept the possibility of transfer as a condition of their employment.

Newly appointed Intelligence Analysts are assigned to FBI Headquarters or to one of the FBI's 56 Field Offices based on current staffing and/or critical specialty needs. Intelligence Analysts are given the opportunity to rank their desired locations. While consideration is given to these preferences, the first office assignment is based on the staffing needs of the FBI. All Intelligence Analysts are subject to transfer at any time to meet the organizational and program needs of the FBI. Intelligence Analysts accept the possibility of transfer as a condition of their employment.

Investigative/Surveillance Specialists are assigned to one of the FBI�s 56 Field Offices based on current staffing and/or critical specialty needs. All Investigative/Surveillance Specialists are subject to transfer at any time to meet the organizational and program needs of the FBI. Investigative/Surveillance Specialists accept the possibility of transfer as a condition of their employment.

Because of the nature of the work, in most cases, Language Analysts can work in a local FBI facility and do not have to relocate or transfer. Language Analysts work at FBI Headquarters and in the FBI�s 56 Field Offices.

23. Do I have to go through training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA?

Only Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Language Analysts, and Investigative/Surveillance Specialists begin their careers with intensive training programs at the FBI Academy. All other employees receive extensive on-the-job training when they begin work.

24. How much training will I get?

The FBI is firmly committed to providing training and career development opportunities for all of its employees. Many employees receive substantial on-the-job training and mentoring, and all employees may take advantage of outside training opportunities provided by professional organizations, private sector vendors, academic institutions, and other government agencies. Through the FBI�s University Education Program, employees have the opportunity to obtain an academic degree and/or certification. All employees also have access to the FBI Virtual Academy � an online catalog of self-paced courses in a variety of topics. In addition, FBI employees have access to in-house seminars given by prominent speakers on a wide variety of topics.

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