What Is the Typical Salary Range for FBI?

By Business & Finance Last updated Tuesday, April/30/2024

White Collar Pay

White collar careers in the FBI include scientists, agents and managers, and are paid according to the U.S. Government General Schedule (GS). This table has 15 grades to account for difference in experience, and 10 steps within each grade, to account for skill levels. In both cases, higher numbers equal higher designations. For example, the lowest Grade 1, Step 1, job earns $17,803 per year according to the Pay Tables for 2011. The highest Grade 15, Step 10, makes $129,517 per year.

To be eligible to apply for a specific grade, requires having worked in the next lower grade for at least one year. For example, to apply for a GS-14 position means having worked at the GS-13 level for a year. Education, or education and experience can sometimes substitute for work experience, depending on the grade. The government also pays locality adjustments based on the prevailing wages in cities in which FBI employees work. As of January 2011, for example, working in Atlanta, Georgia, includes an additional locality payment of 19.29 percent, which increases the Grade 1, Step 1 pay to $21,237 per year.

Blue collar pay covers those in the craft, trade and labor professions, and is based according to the U.S. Government's Federal Wage System (FWS). Pay matches the prevailing levels of about 130 local wage areas, but is divided into as many as 19 grades and three levels, with five steps per level. For example, in Los Angeles the lowest Grade 1, Step 1 of the WG non-supervisory level makes $11.09 per hour. The highest Grade 19, Step 5 of the supervisory level WS makes $47.77 per hour.

Full-time FBI employees receive a comprehensive benefits package available to all government employees. This includes health insurance, life insurance, and a retirement plan that includes a pension, savings plan disbursements and social security. Paid vacation ranges from 13 days a year for those with less than three years of service to 26 days for 15 years. Sick leave of 13 days each year, military leave of up to 15 days for attending drills and 10 paid holidays are also available. Rounding out the benefits are training programs, flexible scheduling and events organized by the FBI Recreation Association.