🟢 Status: OPEN — Closes December 30, 2026 | Nationwide & Worldwide Assignments | Source: USAJOBS.gov
FBI Special Agent Jobs 2026 — Federal Bureau of Investigation | Multiple Backgrounds | Apply on USAJOBS
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the US Department of Justice (DOJ), is recruiting Special Agents for 2026 across multiple professional background tracks. The FBI is America’s premier federal law enforcement and domestic intelligence agency — and becoming a Special Agent is one of the most prestigious federal career paths available to US citizens. This announcement is open through December 30, 2026, with a starting salary of $99,461 per year at GS-10 and promotion potential to GS-13 ($158,860/yr).
The FBI recruits Special Agents with diverse professional backgrounds across seven specialized tracks: Law/Legal, Accounting/Finance, STEM, Cybersecurity/Technology, Healthcare/Medical, Education/Teaching, and Law Enforcement/Military. Each track is a separate USAJOBS announcement — applicants should apply to the track that best matches their background.
Job Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Special Agent |
| Agency | Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) |
| Department | US Department of Justice (DOJ) |
| Job Series | GS-1811 Criminal Investigator |
| Location | Washington, DC | New York, NY | Los Angeles, CA | Chicago, IL | Miami, FL | Houston, TX | Phoenix, AZ | Atlanta, GA + 56 Field Offices Nationwide |
| Work Schedule | Full-Time — must be available 24/7 for urgent matters |
| Appointment Type | Permanent — Career Appointment |
| Pay Scale & Grade | GS-10 Entry — Promotion potential to GS-13 |
| Salary Range | $99,461 – $158,860 per year (base + locality) |
| Opening Date | December 31, 2025 |
| Closing Date | December 30, 2026 — Open All Year |
| Who May Apply | US Citizens — Open to Public |
| Security Clearance | Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) required |
| Drug Test | Required — must be drug-free for minimum 3 years prior to application |
| Polygraph | Required |
| Psychological Assessment | Required |
| Physical Fitness Test | Required — FBI Physical Fitness Test (PFT) |
| USAJOBS Control No. | 833381100 (General) | Multiple track-specific announcements available |
| USAJOBS Link | Click Here to Apply |
About the Role
As an FBI Special Agent, you will investigate violations of federal law across a broad range of criminal and national security matters — including terrorism, espionage, cybercrime, public corruption, organized crime, financial fraud, violent crime, and civil rights violations. You may be assigned to a Field Office, resident agency, or overseas legal attaché (Legat) at a US Embassy. All Special Agents carry a firearm, hold arrest authority, and must be prepared for physically demanding undercover, surveillance, and tactical operations.
FBI Special Agents work in close coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement; US Attorneys’ Offices; the intelligence community; and international partners. The breadth of the FBI’s jurisdiction — and the gravity of the cases — make this one of the most challenging and rewarding law enforcement careers in the world.
“Special Agents are the heart of the FBI. Their work protects the American people from the most serious threats we face — foreign and domestic.” — FBI Director
FBI Special Agent Background Tracks
| Track | Best For | USAJOBS Link |
|---|---|---|
| Law / Legal | Attorneys, paralegals, legal professionals | Apply Here |
| Accounting / Finance | CPAs, auditors, financial analysts, bank examiners | Apply Here |
| STEM | Engineers, scientists, mathematicians, researchers | Apply Here |
| Cybersecurity / Technology | IT professionals, network engineers, cyber analysts | Apply Here |
| Healthcare / Medical | Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, healthcare professionals | Apply Here |
| Education / Teaching | Teachers, professors, school administrators | Apply Here |
| Law Enforcement / Military | Police officers, military veterans with LE experience | Apply Here |
| General (All Backgrounds) | All qualified US citizens with 2+ years experience | Apply Here |
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct criminal and national security investigations including surveillance, interviews, wiretaps, and undercover operations
- Collect, preserve, and analyze evidence in compliance with federal rules of evidence and FBI standards
- Prepare detailed investigative reports, affidavits for search and arrest warrants, and court filings
- Testify before federal grand juries and in federal court proceedings
- Execute search warrants, arrest warrants, and participate in tactical operations with SWAT teams when required
- Develop and maintain confidential human sources (informants) to support active investigations
- Coordinate with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community
- Conduct financial investigations, asset tracing, and money laundering analysis in financial crime cases
- Respond to time-sensitive national security threats including terrorism and espionage matters
- Maintain firearms proficiency and physical fitness standards throughout career
Qualifications & Requirements
Minimum Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | US Citizen required — no dual citizenship permitted in most cases |
| Age | Must be at least 23 and no older than 36 at time of appointment (exceptions for veterans and federal law enforcement officers) |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year US college or university in any field |
| Experience | Minimum 2 years of full-time professional work experience OR 1 year if you hold an advanced degree (Master’s or Doctorate) |
| Driver’s License | Valid driver’s license required |
| Physical Fitness | Must pass the FBI Physical Fitness Test (PFT): sit-ups, push-ups, 300m sprint, pull-ups, 1.5-mile run |
| Vision | Uncorrected vision must be 20/200 or better in each eye, correctable to 20/20 |
| Drug-Free | Must be drug-free for at least 3 years prior to application (10 years for marijuana) |
| Background Investigation | Pass comprehensive TS/SCI background investigation — most extensive in federal government |
| Polygraph | Pass required FBI polygraph examination |
| Psychological Exam | Pass required psychological assessment |
Salary & Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Salary | $99,461/yr (GS-10, Step 1) + locality pay — approximately $115,000–$130,000 in major cities |
| Promotion Potential | GS-11 → GS-12 → GS-13 ($158,860/yr) over 3–5 years with satisfactory performance |
| Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) | Additional 25% of base salary for required availability |
| Retirement | Law Enforcement FERS — eligible to retire at age 50 with 20 years of service or at any age with 25 years |
| Paid Time Off | 26 days vacation + 13 days sick leave per year |
| Health Insurance | FEHB — FBI pays a portion of premium for agent and family |
| TSP | Thrift Savings Plan with 5% government match |
| Paid Training | 21-week paid New Agent Training at FBI Academy, Quantico, VA — all expenses covered |
| Relocation | Paid relocation upon initial assignment and subsequent transfers |
| Firearms & Equipment | All firearms, tactical gear, vehicle access, and credentials provided |
How to Apply
Step 1 — Create your USAJOBS account at usajobs.gov
Step 2 — Identify the background track that best matches your professional experience (see table above)
Step 3 — Click the link for your track and complete the full online application
Step 4 — Submit all required documents: federal resume (4+ pages), college transcripts, DD-214 (if veteran)
Step 5 — If selected, you will complete a written exam, phase II interview, physical fitness test, polygraph, medical exam, and full background investigation
Step 6 — Upon conditional appointment: complete 21-week paid New Agent Training (NAT) at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia
⚠️ Important: FBI Special Agent positions are highly competitive. The process from application to academy can take 12–24 months. Apply as early as possible. The FBI strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, and candidates with language skills in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Veterans’ Preference
Veterans with honorable discharge qualify for 5-point or 10-point hiring preference. Veterans who are preference eligible are exempt from the maximum age-36 requirement. Military experience in intelligence, law enforcement, military police, JAG Corps, cyber/signals, or financial management makes candidates especially competitive. Submit DD-214 and VA disability rating documentation with your application.
About the FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and federal law enforcement arm of the United States, operating under the Department of Justice. Founded in 1908, the FBI employs approximately 37,000 people including approximately 13,000 Special Agents at 56 Field Offices and 400+ Resident Agencies across the US, and 63 overseas Legat offices. The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States by investigating federal crimes and national security threats with integrity, lawfulness, and the highest professional standards.
Disclaimer
FederalJobsAlert.us is an independent job notification website. This listing is sourced from USAJOBS.gov for informational purposes only. Always verify the latest details and apply directly at usajobs.gov/job/833381100. We are not affiliated with the FBI, DOJ, or any US government agency.
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