Criminal Investigator (special Agent)

Summary

Joining the Secret Service as a Special Agent will allow you to perform critical protective and investigative assignments. The Special Agent position starts at a base salary of $48,371.00 (GL-07, step 1), with promotion potential to $117,034.00 (GS-13, step 10).

This position is covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) which is an additional compensation of 25% of the basic pay rate.

For more information on the Secret Service click .

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applicants must successfully complete the Special Agent Entrance Examination (SAEE) to receive consideration for this position. If you do not report to take the SAEE, or you fail the exam, there is a three-month waiting period before you can reapply and retest. This includes applying to multiple job opportunity announcements; only the first test score will be applied.

Duties

During the course of their careers, Special Agents carry out assignments in both investigations and protection and may be assigned to multiple duty stations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Duties include:

Conducting criminal investigations pertaining to financial obligations of the United States.

Providing protection for various protectees.

Planning and implementing security designs for National Special Security Events.

Any Offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Personnel Management guidance and U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

For more information about the Special Agent position, .

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of Employment:

U.S. Citizenship.

Effective May 7, 2025, all applicants are required to have their REAL ID driver's license.

Be at least age 21 at the time of application and less than age 37 at the time you receive a conditional offer of employment, unless you have previous service in a Federal Civilian Law Enforcement position covered by special law enforcement or firefighter retirement provisions, including early or mandatory retirement. Applicants with veterans' preference must receive a conditional offer of employment prior to reaching age 40 to continue in the application process.

Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position. Disclose any prior drug use, attempted use, and/or experimentation.

Carry and use a firearm. Maintaining firearm proficiency is mandatory. You will be ineligible to occupy this position if at any time you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, unless you received a pardon, or your conviction was expunged or set aside.

Complete 13 weeks of intensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, GA, 1 - week of training at the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) in Hoover, AL and 20 - 21 weeks of specialized training at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, MD. Failure to pass the training program may result in separation from the Secret Service. Click to review standard.

Sign a mobility agreement stating your willingness to accept assignments anywhere within the United States and overseas.

Certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so, if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959.

Possess uncorrected visual acuity of no worse than 20/100 binocular, possess corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye.(Note: Lasik, ALK, RK, and PRK corrective eye surgeries are acceptable eye surgeries for special agent applicants. Applicants will be considered eligible for the special agent position provided specific visual tests are passed. The following are waiting periods for visual tests: Lasik-2 months after surgery, PRK-6 months after surgery, ALK and RK-one year after surgery).

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment Continued:

Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 25 decibels (A.S.A. or equivalent I.S.O.) in either ear in the 500,1000 and 2000Hz ranges.

Obtain a Top-Secret Clearance and retain it during your career.

Use your official name on your application as it appears on your valid government identification (i.e., REAL ID driver's license, State ID, Passport).

You are minimally qualified for the GL-07 Level (starting base salary $48,371) if you possess one of the following:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with superior academic achievement (S.A.A.) which is based on class standing, grade-point average, or honor society membership as described below.

Maintained a grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; OR

Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision; OR

Be a member of a national honor (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Please submit a college transcript(s) showing your grade point average for all four years of undergraduate study, including all transferred courses.

NOTE: GPAs are rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an honor society.

At least one full year of graduate level education (i.e., 18 semester hours); OR

At least 1 year of specialized experience in, or related to, the investigative methods, protective methods, and law enforcement techniques that provide the specific competencies to successfully perform the position's duties. Experience also includes exercising initiative; attention to detail; judgment in collecting, assembling and developing facts, evidence or other pertinent data; the ability to analyze and evaluate data or evidence to arrive at sound conclusions including applying new information; and the ability to partner with or lead others in the accomplishment of mission activities.

You are minimally qualified for the GL-09 Level (starting base salary $53,945) if you possess one of the following:

A master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as LL.B. or J.D.) or two full years of progressively higher graduate education, in a related field, leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university; OR

Have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-7 level such as experience applying law enforcement, protective, or investigative techniques in the performance of job duties; identifying problem areas and proposing and implementing solutions; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; and leading meeting or seminars on behalf of a professional or academic group; setting work priorities and allocating resources; partnering with other individuals from within and outside the organization; OR

A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of graduate level study.

You are minimally qualified for the GS-11 Level (Starting base salary $63,163) if you possess one of the following:

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M.; OR

Have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-9 level such as experience in, or related to planning and conducting complex criminal investigations to determine violations of Federal laws and regulations; collecting and assembling facts to identify logical conclusion; gathering, analyzing, and evaluating evidence or data; conducting interviews and interrogations; making arrests; conducting searches and seizures; taking responsibility for own actions and those of team members to ensure the goals and deadlines for the team are met; partnering with or leveraging networks or relationships from outside the organization, experience managing complex projects including setting priorities and determining resource requirements; OR

A combination of specialized experience, as described above, and related graduate level education, beyond the first full year of doctoral level study. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Qualified applicants will only be referred at the highest grade level for which they qualify.

Applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase 1 assessments (see below) to receive a Conditional Job Offer. In addition, applicants must successfully complete and pass Phase II (see below) to receive final consideration for employment.

Phase I:

National Crime Information Center (NCIC)

Special Agent Entrance Exam (SAEE)

Applicant Physical Abilities Test (APAT)

Interview

Phase II:

Credit Check

Security Interview

Polygraph examination

Drug screening

Medical examination

Background investigation (a top-secret security clearance)

The Secret Service follows stringent guidelines relating to illegal drug usage. An applicant's history is reviewed and a determination for employment is made according to our guidelines. For more information regarding the U.S. Secret Service drug guidelines, please click to view our Drug Policy.

As part of the application process the applicant will be required to complete the United States Secret Service Applicant Physical Abilities Test (APAT). It is a physical fitness assessment which consists of four components (push-ups, sit-ups, Illinois Agility Run and a 1.5 Mile Run). The APAT is designed to measure the current level of general physical fitness of an applicant, which serves as an indicator of an applicant's ability to safely complete a vigorous physical training program. It evaluates the applicant's ability to perform the physical tasks required on the job by measuring muscular and dynamic strength, endurance, flexibility, aerobic capacity and other factors related to physical aptitude. The standards are anticipated to be the same regardless of age, gender or position.

For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click

Additional information

*Recruitment Incentive: Applicants may be eligible for a $40,000 recruitment incentive in accordance with regulatory requirements. The first installment of $15,000 will be paid following successful completion of Secret Service Criminal Investigator training. A second installment of $10,000 will be paid following one year of service post training and an acceptable performance rating. The final installment of $15,000 will be paid after a third year of service post training and an acceptable performance rating. Provision of these payments require the execution of a three-year Continued Service Agreement (CSA) with the agency. Newly hired employees who resign from the USSS prior to the expiration of the CSA will be required to repay the recruitment incentive. (NOTE: Eligibility is limited to "Newly appointed" Federal employees as defined by ).

Applicants selected for this position will be required to sign a CSA before being assigned to an initial training class. The CSA will commit the applicant to a specified period of employment with the Secret Service upon the successful completion of training.

Applicants will be required to travel to all phases of the hiring process at their own expense. If a final job offer is extended, relocation expenses will not be authorized for first duty location.

The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).

If you are deemed minimally qualified for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, to sign, and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entering Phase 1 of the hiring process. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

General Medical Requirements: As determined by OPM the duties of this position require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of fingers, wrist, elbows, shoulders, hips and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs and feet must function sufficiently in order for applicants to perform the duties satisfactorily.

Since the duties of this position are exacting and involve the responsibility for the safety of others under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any condition that would hinder full efficient performance of the duties of this position or that would cause the individual to be a hazard to himself/herself or to others is disqualifying.

There are also specific medical requirements for this position and any chronic disease or condition affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, nervous, genitourinary and other systems that would impair full performance of the duties of the position may also be disqualifying. Click for more information.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will receive a conditional job offer.

You will automatically be considered for all grade levels to maximize your consideration for this position.

The competencies needed to perform this job are:

Investigative methods

Protective methods

Law enforcement techniques that provide the specific competencies to successfully perform the position's duties

Exercising initiative

Attention to detail

Judgment in collecting, assembling and developing facts, evidence or other pertinent data

Ability to analyze and evaluate data or evidence to arrive at sound conclusions including applying new information

Ability to partner with or lead others in the accomplishment of mission activities.

Veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher (this position is not considered scientific/professional). Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. For information on veterans' preference, please

Your on-line application will be rated on the extent, quality, and relevance of the following: your experience, education and training, and competencies. All applicants are evaluated on competencies related to law enforcement methods and techniques, protective methods and techniques, investigative