The FBI accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, making jobs within the bureau highly competitive. Applicants typically begin their candidacy through one of the FBI's various entry programs, all of which are tailored to specific FBI career tracks.
The FBI Exam Pass Rate
The FBI Entrance Exam has a 30% passing rate.
- Approximately 95% of applicants for roles in the FBI are unsuccessful. - The application and recruitment procedure includes rigorous testing to ensure that the applicants have the personality and aptitude needed for the role.
Minimum Qualifications
A bachelor's degree or higher from a U.S.-accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
As of Mar 14, 2025, the average annual pay for a Fbi Agent in the United States is $68,989 a year.
The FBI Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is a mandatory assessment for candidates applying to become FBI Special Agents. It evaluates strength, endurance, and overall fitness to ensure candidates can handle the demands of FBI Academy training and the role itself.
How Does the FBI Hire Agents? The FBI accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, making jobs within the bureau highly competitive. Applicants typically begin their candidacy through one of the FBI's various entry programs, all of which are tailored to specific FBI career tracks.
Is there an FBI agent age limit? Yes, candidates must be at least 23 years old and younger than 37 at the time of appointment, with limited exceptions for those with prior federal law enforcement experience.
Tattoos/Body Art/Branding:
Tattoos, brands, and body markings are prohibited on the head, face, neck, tongue, lips, and scalp. Hand tattoos are limited to one ring tattoo on one finger on each hand.
All attendees stay in dorms in the FBI Academy complex located at a Marine Base just outside of Washington D.C. The cost of training is paid for by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The approximate cost to train an applicant is $50,000.
#2: Be Honest. The questions you'll be asked during the polygraph examination are based on the application form you completed at the beginning of the application process. And while there are answers that could disqualify you from consideration for the role, honesty and consistency are the most important things.
However, once assigned to a field office, new special agents are generally not transferred unless they request voluntary transfer, apply for management positions, or transfer as a result of an emerging or existing critical need.
Entry-level salary
All FBI agent salaries start at the GS-10 level, which doesn't include locality pay or COLA. Agents generally only qualify for GS-10 when they're in training at Quantico, Virginia.
While LEOSA affords qualified active and retired law enforcement officers the privilege to carry a concealed firearm in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all other U.S. possessions (except the Canal Zone), it does contain some restrictions.
If a crime is committed that is a violation of local, state, and federal laws, does the FBI “take over” the investigation? No. State and local law enforcement agencies are not subordinate to the FBI, and the FBI does not supervise or take over their investigations.
The FBI requires applicants to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college. Although there are no specific requirements for the type of degree you should have, certain majors are better suited to this job. Some of the best degrees for becoming an FBI agent include: Criminal justice and law.
The FBI assigns agents to different stations depending on where they need them. This may also mean that you receive little notice when it comes time to move. FBI agents and their families often move to new cities on short notice, at least until they have some more seniority within the organization.
The FBI test only has a 30% passing rate. It is not only important to pass the exam but it is important to score well. Your score will be kept in your file and used to help decide if you are a worthy candidate. Let's make sure you know what to expect on the FBI Special Agent Test and give you some FBI test prep.
In terms of academic institutions, the FBI has partnerships with certain colleges through the Collegiate Hiring Initiative. For example, they have relationships with The United States Military Academy (West Point), The United States Naval Academy (Annapolis), and The United States Air Force Academy.
Facial piercings are not permitted, except for female trainees, who are authorized to wear earrings. Tattoo(s) determined to be disruptive to the learning environment must be covered by similarly colored long sleeves or a long-sleeve shirt to wear under the uniform polo shirt. Must be clean-shaven throughout training.
Having ADHD and taking prescribed medications for it is not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it's not an item in your “pro” column, either. Consider the consequences of being involved in a shooting and having amphetamines, prescribed or otherwise, show up in your mandatory post-shooting tox screen.
Answer: The FBI has far more power than the CIA, particularly when it comes to ordinary Americans. They primarily operate in the United States and can arrest people. Their mandate is much broader than the CIA's, and they have far more leeway in following the law because no one is looking into them.