Federal Bureau of Investigation Jobs 2026 – Special Agent in Washington

Salary / Pay Package: $99,461 - $128,329 per year.

All applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a U.S. Accredited college or university and at least two years of full-time work experience (or one year with an advanced degree). You must also demonstrate Specialized Experience (SE) in gathering and analyzing information, problem-solving, organizing competing assignments, managing complex environments, and communicating orally and in writing.

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from a U.S. accredited institution.
• Two years of full-time professional work experience (one year if you have a master's or doctorate.
• Demonstrated Specialized Experience: gathering and analyzing information to make conclusions or decisions.
• Experience establishing solutions to problems, assessing vulnerabilities, and choosing best outcomes.
• Ability to organize, plan, and prioritize multiple competing work assignments.
• Consistently managing complex or evolving environments.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to prepare reports, briefings, and exchange information.
• Eligible for Top-Secret SCI Clearance.
• Must be at least 23 years old and not have reached 37th birthday on appointment (exceptions may apply.

Plan and conduct investigations of potential violations of federal laws.

• Exercise judgment, resourcefulness, and versatility in meeting investigative demands.
• Create and maintain effective liaison with federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement agencies.
• Coordinate and participate in searches, seizures, and arrests.
• Carry a firearm and be willing to use force, including deadly force, if necessary.
• Maintain physical fitness to perform law enforcement duties.
• Be available for assignment to any of the FBI's 56 field offices.
• Travel as required.

Open the USAJOBS announcement and with your USAJOBS/Login.gov account.

• Complete the federal application questionnaire.
• Attach your federal resume (using the Resume Builder) and required documents: college transcripts, SF-50 (if current/former federal employee), DD-214 (if veteran), and any Memorandum for Record for work performed outside assigned duties.
• Submit your application before the closing date: December 30, 2026.
• After submission, you will be notified for Phase I exam if you meet screening qualifications.

Salary includes base pay, Washington DC locality pay, and 25% availability pay for New Agent Trainees.

• Upon graduation from training, salary adjusts to locality of assigned office plus Law Enforcement Officers' availability pay.
• The application process includes 10 steps: application screening, Phase I test, Meet and Greet, Physical Fitness Test, Phase II test, conditional offer, background investigation, medical review, pre-Quantico PFT, and Basic Field Training Course.
• Review the Special Agent Selection Process guide before applying.
• Required documents: resume, transcripts, SF-50 (if applicable), DD-214 (if veteran), VA letter, SF-15 (optional).
• Education must be from an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Candidates must be committed to improving government efficiency and upholding the Constitution.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the principal federal law enforcement agency in the United States, responsible for investigating and enforcing federal laws, protecting national security, and combating terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime. The FBI operates under the Department of Justice and employs special agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff across 56 field offices worldwide. For this Special Agent role, the FBI seeks individuals with diverse backgrounds to bring their expertise to federal law enforcement and contribute to safeguarding the nation from evolving threats. Federal Bureau of Investigation is named as the hiring organisation for the Special Agent post.