The Salary of a Department of Treasury Special Agent
A U.S. Department of Treasury special agent would have been an employee of the U.S. Secret Service. Today, however, following expansion of the Secret Service's powers under the U.S. Patriot Act to combat terrorism, the service is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As well as protecting the president and presidential families, the service investigates counterfeiting, financial crimes, and computer-based attacks on the country's financial and telecommunications infrastructure.
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Starting Salary
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Special agents are generally hired at the GL-7 or GL-9 federal government grade levels. In 2010, the starting salary range was $43,964 to $74,891, according to the U.S. Secret Service website.
Qualifications for the GL-7 level are a bachelor's degree, received with the traditional signs of high academic achievement, such as graduating in the upper one-third of the class, having a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, or having a 3.5 GPA or higher average in courses required for the college major. Having one year of graduate study or one year of experience assisting in activities such as law-enforcement investigations also qualifies.
Qualifications for the GL-9 salary level are a master's degree or other graduate degree, or at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-7 level, in activities such as independently carrying out investigations; conducting surveillance and operations, raids or seizures; arresting, interviewing and interrogating persons suspected of breaking the law; and properly organizing evidence, according to the Secrete Service.
The service also offers new hires a one-time recruitment bonus of 25 percent of their annual pay if they test at a required proficiency in a foreign language. In addition, the Foreign Language Cash Award Program pays up to an additional 5 percent of annual salary to those who routinely use one or more foreign languages in their official duties.
LEAP
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Special agents also receive law enforcement availability pay (LEAP), equal to 25 percent of the their annual salary, in compensation for the amount of overtime agents are expected to work while assigned to field offices. Special agents are normally assigned to a 40-hour work week, but with the receipt of LEAP, they work an average of two additional hours daily, according to the Secret Service website. Actual hours vary according to the job the agents are assigned to accomplish.
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Benefits
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As federal employees, U.S. Secret Service special agents are eligible to receive health, life and long-term care insurance; a flexible spending account; a thrift saving plan; a retirement plan; vacation and sick leave; pay for federal holidays; and participation in a benevolent fund.
Job Outlook
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Agents' salaries increase according to the time they've worked at a certain grade level and if they meet knowledge and skills requirements -- with training provided by the agency -- the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes. Salary for management positions starts at GL-13. People interested in working for federal-security agencies can expect competition for jobs, according to the BLS. Overall, applicants to security jobs with the federal government will have the most competitive edge if they are bilingual, have a bachelor's degree and have legal investigative experience.
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References
Resources
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