Federal Bureau of Investigation Jobs 2026 – Special Agent – Law/Legal 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). Specialized Experience (SE) is required, defined as gathering and analyzing information, solving problems, organizing competing assignments, managing complex environments, and communicating effectively.

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have a bachelor's degree or higher from a U.S. accredited college or university.
• Possess full-time professional work experience (two years with bachelor's, one year with advanced degree).
• Be eligible for a Top-Secret SCI Clearance.
• Be able to legally possess and carry a firearm.
• Be at least 23 years old and not have reached your 37th birthday on appointment (exceptions may apply).
• Meet the FBI's Employment Eligibility requirements.
• Meet medical and physical requirements.
• Possess a valid driver's license with at least six months driving experience.
• Be available for assignment to any of the FBI's 56 Field Offices.

Plan and conduct investigations of potential violations of federal laws.

• Exercise judgement, resourcefulness, and versatility in meeting investigative demands.
• Create and maintain effective liaison relationships with federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international law enforcement agencies.
• Coordinate and/or participate in searches, seizures, and arrests.
• Carry a firearm and be willing to use force, including deadly force, if necessary.
• Maintain a level of physical fitness to ensure readiness required to perform law enforcement duties.
• Advise on law enforcement and intelligence operations, investigations, and policies from a legal perspective.

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

• Complete the federal application questionnaire.
• Attach your federal resume (use the Resume Builder) and required documents (transcripts, SF-50 if applicable, etc.).
• Review the Special Agent Selection Process guide before applying.
• Submit your application before the closing date (12/30/2026).

This position is exempted from the federal civilian hiring freeze.

• Salary includes base pay, locality pay for Washington D.C. area, and availability pay (25% of base+locality). Upon graduation, salary adjusts to office assignment locality.
• Applicants must consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph.
• Travel may be required.
• DO NOT attach a cover letter.
• Uploaded documents must be readable; do not upload picture files (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP).
• For current or former federal employees, include SF-50 and any Memorandum for Record for additional duties.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the principal federal investigative agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Its mission is to protect the United States from terrorist attacks, foreign intelligence operations, cyber attacks, and other criminal threats. The FBI employs Special Agents from diverse professional backgrounds, including law and legal fields, to conduct investigations and uphold federal law. For applicants, the FBI offers a challenging career with complete federal benefits, structured pay scales, and opportunities for advancement across 56 field offices nationwide.