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FBI Special Agent
Since its founding in 1908 as the Bureau of Investigation, the FBI has evolved into one of the most respected and sophisticated law enforcement agencies in the world. As the primary investigative arm of the federal government, the FBI is responsible for enforcing over 260 federal statutes and for conducting sensitive national security investigations. FBI activities include investigations into organized crime, white-collar crime, public corruption, financial crime, fraud against the government, bribery, copyright matters, civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, air piracy, terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, interstate criminal activity, fugitive and drug-trafficking matters, and other violations of federal statutes.
The FBI also works with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in investigating matters of joint interest and in training law enforcement officers at the FBI Academy.
Typical Day:
There is no such thing as a typical day for an FBI Special Agent. Every day is different. One day you could be testifying in federal court, the next day you could be conducting a search warrant and gathering evidence, the next day you could be executing an arrest warrant, and the next day you could be back in the office catching up on all the paperwork. As crimes occur, FBI Special Agents respond. This is definitely not a 9-to-5 career. FBI Special Agents are required to work a minimum of 10 hours per day. Basically 50 hours per week. The usual hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 till 5 with two hours of overtime every day.
Average Salaries:
Starting salary for an FBI agent is approximately $48,000 per year. You receive yearly salary increases. A senior grade Special Agent with 12 years in the FBI makes approximately $87,000 per year. You could make more, depending where you live because of locality pay.
Qualifications:
According to Wendy Osborne, "My advice to individuals interested in a career with the FBI is to make yourself diverse. Learn to speak a foreign language fluently. Take up a trade or develop a skill which would make you different from everyone else. Obtain an advanced college degree and gain some supervisory work experience."
Information Source:
For more information, see the FBI Web Site