Federal Bureau of Investigation Jobs 2026 – Special Agent – Psychology/Counseling Background in Washington

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

All applicants must have two years of full-time work experience and a bachelor's degree, or one year of full-time work experience with an advanced degree (master's or doctorate). You must also demonstrate Specialized Experience (SE) as defined below.

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Bachelor's degree or higher from a U.S. accredited college or university.
• Two years of full-time professional work experience (or one year with an advanced degree).
• Specialized Experience: gathering and analyzing information to make conclusions; establishing solutions to problems; organizing and prioritizing competing assignments; managing complex environments; communicating orally and in writing.
• Eligible for Top-Secret SCI clearance.
• Able to legally possess and carry a firearm.
• At least 23 years old and not reached 37th birthday on appointment (exceptions may apply).
• Valid driver's license with at least six months driving experience.
• Available for assignment to any of the FBI's 56 field offices.
• Consent to background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph.

Plan and conduct investigations of potential federal law violations.

• Exercise judgment, resourcefulness, and versatility in investigative demands.
• Create and maintain liaison relationships 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 for law enforcement duties.
• Travel may be 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), and any applicable Memorandum for Record or veterans' documents.
• Do not attach a cover letter or picture files (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP).
• Submit your application before the closing date: December 30, 2026.

Salary includes base pay, locality pay for Washington D.C. area, and availability pay (25% of base+locality). Upon training, salary adjusts to assignment location.

• This position is exempted from the federal civilian hiring freeze.
• Candidates must be committed to the ideals of the American republic and upholding the rule of law and the Constitution.
• Federal employees receive a complete benefits package.
• Review the Special Agent Selection Process guide before applying.
• Contact Human Resources New Agent Staffing at [email protected] with questions.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens and consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the principal federal law enforcement agency in the United States, responsible for investigating violations of federal law and protecting national security. The FBI's mission includes counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cybercrime, and criminal investigations. For this Special Agent role, the FBI seeks candidates with psychology or counseling backgrounds to bring unique insights into human behavior. The FBI offers a structured career path with opportunities for advancement and specialized assignments across 56 field offices nationwide. Federal Bureau of Investigation is named as the hiring organisation for the Special Agent

• Psychology/Counseling Background post.