Working For The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA Agent)

The Central Intelligence Agency is the primary agency in the United States that is responsible for providing the government with global intelligence for the ever-changing social, economic, political, military, and technological environments throughout the world.

The main goal and mission of a CIA agent is to protect the United States’ national security.

CIA Careers

According to the CIA.gov careers section, there are myriad job types available including:

CIA Careers

Central Intelligence Agency

  • Security positions
  • IT positions
  • Business positions
  • Analytical positions
  • Language positions
  • Clandestine service positions
  • Science positions
  • Engineering positions
  • Technology positions
  • Student Opportunities

IT, Business, and Security Positions

There are a number of opportunities for employment with the CIA in the fields of IT, Business, and Security.

Some of the positions in this area include working in budget, accounting and finance, auditing, information management, information technology, contracts and acquisitions, legal services, investigations, library services, data science, education and training, public affairs, sign language, and engineering, as well as many other areas.

Analytical Positions

Some of the analytical positions that a person may pursue include counterterrorism, analytic methodologist, economics, leadership, military, open source officers, and intelligence collection analysts.

There are also data scientists who are employed by the CIA.

Clandestine Service

The clandestine service positions at the CIA are some of the most elite positions in the agency.

People working in these positions provide vital information to the government of the United States in order to protect the national security of the country.

There are both field-based positions and positions based in Washington D.C.

Language Positions

For those individuals who are fluent in foreign languages, there are numerous linguist positions available with the CIA.

Understanding languages from around the world is an important aspect of what the CIA does.

Linguists provide information to the agency by interpreting foreign media and teaching the language to other individuals within the agency.

Application Process

CIA Careers

CIA Careers

The application process for a job with the CIA is quite extensive.

The process will depend on a person’s individual circumstances and can take anywhere from two months up to over a year to complete.

In order to begin the process a person will explore the current positions that are available with the agency and determine what positions they meet the requirements for.

The majority of positions at the CIA will require an individual to have at least a bachelor’s degree in the subject area of the position that they are applying for.

Graduate degrees in a specific subject area are recommended in order to increase a person’s chances of becoming employed by the CIA.

Military service may also qualify an individual for some of the positions that are available with the CIA.

During the application process a person will be required to provide information about their background and expertise, this includes their education and work experience.

Any certifications or licenses should be provided to the CIA as well.

A person should also be prepared to fill out a personal evaluation form.

This will include information about background investigations, security clearances, selective service, polygraphs, drug use, alcohol use, employment issues, military discharges or any disciplinary proceedings, any delinquent federal debt, criminal convictions, and any employment or association with the Peace Corps.

Salary Information by State

State Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Alabama1,220$76,990$37.02$144,870$40,320
Alaska130$121,770$58.54$171,790$73,800
Arizona5,250$94,190$45.29$133,450$59,010
Arkansas580$63,040$30.31$135,430$39,250
California10,980$115,910$55.72$162,490$74,130
Colorado1,930$99,780$47.97$147,740$64,000
Connecticut1,010$100,530$48.33$148,680$74,320
Delaware**$101,440$48.77$166,610$59,370
Florida6,010$88,610$42.60$155,940$45,800
Georgia4,930$71,610$34.43$139,530$39,950
Hawaii430$121,000$58.17$153,650$89,840
Idaho470$83,270$40.04$135,430$56,210
Illinois2,920$95,820$46.07$155,440$56,890
Indiana1,110$74,780$35.95$135,430$48,530
Iowa380$84,090$40.43$137,400$54,890
Kansas1,010$70,570$33.93$103,330$43,930
Kentucky620$78,850$37.91$147,740$40,300
Louisiana1,460$73,680$35.42$139,530$40,670
Maine500$87,010$41.83$121,120$57,970
Maryland980$119,900$57.65$177,340$64,930
Massachusetts1,210$112,480$54.08$170,810$66,880
Michigan2,070$99,450$47.81$158,270$66,750
Minnesota1,870$85,390$41.06$114,080$55,310
Mississippi770$64,580$31.05$127,210$36,140
Missouri1,610$80,910$38.90$142,650$44,780
Montana450$91,590$44.04$134,600$60,850
Nebraska280$93,840$45.12$144,890$63,790
Nevada570$95,380$45.86$143,620$54,860
New Hampshire400$88,460$42.53$152,340$57,700
New Jersey3,360$107,910$51.88$158,270$64,960
New Mexico1,810$82,700$39.76$104,920$49,750
New York9,030$118,350$56.90$178,000$65,500
North Carolina3,170$71,870$34.55$127,210$47,950
North Dakota390$82,240$39.54$123,120$50,400
Ohio2,050$88,170$42.39$145,750$54,250
Oklahoma1,170$82,610$39.71$127,210$47,390
Oregon470$106,320$51.11$158,500$74,110
Pennsylvania3,390$98,160$47.19$148,410$63,230
Rhode Island360$96,290$46.29$151,400$73,940
South Carolina1,210$73,600$35.38$143,620$47,350
South Dakota220$84,000$40.38$135,430$56,010
Tennessee1,780$76,680$36.87$139,530$44,830
Texas16,460$88,300$42.45$136,120$47,530
Utah500$87,620$42.12$147,740$47,720
Vermont190$99,200$47.69$147,740$67,160
Virginia3,420$106,850$51.37$177,340$54,510
Washington1,630$114,450$55.02$159,740$76,400
West Virginia220$92,110$44.28$158,680$41,640
Wisconsin1,510$88,660$42.63$106,940$65,310
Wyoming160$84,910$40.82$139,530$57,620
Puerto Rico570$81,910$39.38$151,840$30,910

Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States

The top earning state in the field is Alaska, where the average salary is $121,770.

These are the top 10 earning states in the field:

  • Alaska - $121,770
  • Hawaii - $121,000
  • Maryland - $119,900
  • New York - $118,350
  • California - $115,910
  • Washington - $114,450
  • Massachusetts - $112,480
  • New Jersey - $107,910
  • Virginia - $106,850
  • Oregon - $106,320
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Detectives and Criminal Investigators, OCC Code 33-3021, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Michael Morales

About Michael Morales

Michael Morales is the Webmaster and Editor in Chief for Legalcareerpaths.com. With a strong background in Web Publishing and Internet Marketing, he currently works as an independent consultant. A former paramedic and ems educator, he enjoys punishing himself doing triathlons and endurance sports. Michael currently lives in sunny Northern California, home of the highest tax rates in the world.

3 Responses to Working For The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA Agent)

  1. Avatar
    Margaret Rivas #

    I’ve always been intrigued by the world of intelligence, and hearing firsthand experiences from CIA agents is both fascinating and eye-opening.

  2. Avatar
    Drew Hill #

    Wow, working for the CIA sounds like a thrilling yet demanding career path. It’s inspiring to see individuals dedicated to serving their country in such a crucial role.

  3. Avatar
    Bob Collins #

    I appreciate the honesty about the challenges of balancing secrecy with personal relationships. It’s a reminder of the sacrifices many CIA agents make to keep us safe.

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