The Average Salary of an Investigation Agent
The job title "investigation agent" often refers to investigators in the public sector, meaning those who work for the government. But the term sometimes also refers to those conducting investigations in the private sector, such as private investigators. Salaries for government investigation agents are significantly higher than those of their private-sector counterparts, with government investigation agents also earning location and overtime pay, as well as bonuses and other financial compensation.
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Public and Private Investigators
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An investigation agent is most often viewed as a federal agent who works for the public through a government agency, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). There are also investigators who work in the private sector, often called private investigators or private detectives, who perform investigative tasks for individuals and businesses. Sometimes retired federal investigation agents start second careers as private investigators.
FBI Agent
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The average base salary for a new FBI agent is $43,441. Agents are also paid a "locality" fee for their assigned location, which is 12.5 to 28.7 percent of their base salary, as well as "availability" pay for overtime, which is 25 percent of their merged base and locality pay. Combining these payments, a new agent's average salary is $61,100 to $69,900. According to PayScale.com, in January 2011 the average base salary for FBI agents is $51,370 to $105,415.
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DEA Agent
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The DEA enforces U.S. controlled substance laws and directives. New DEA agents earn an average starting salary of approximately $49,746 to $55,483, depending on their experience, education and special skills. In addition, the agent earns a locality payment, which varies depending on the assignment location, plus a 25 percent availability pay. After four years, DEA agents are qualified for promotion, with average salaries climbing to $92,592 or more per year, according to the DEA.
CIA Agent
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According to Simplyhired.com, which calculates average salaries based on job listings containing "CIA agent," the average base salary in January 2011 for a CIA agent is $65,000, with salaries differing widely based on the agent's experience, education, location, trade, as well as additional pay benefits. In comparison, a January 2011 job ad on the CIA website for a full-time special agent in the Office of Inspector General in Washington, DC, metropolitan region advertises a starting salary of $74,872 to $155,500.
Private Investigator
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Private investigators make, on the average, considerably less than investigation agents in the public sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a private investigator in May 2008 was $41,760, although this figure can vary significantly based on the geographical region and the investigator's specialized skills. This average salary parallels Mysalary.com survey findings that report the January 2011 average private investigator salary to be $41,117.
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References
- Federal Bureau of Investigation: Special Agent Frequently Asked Questions
- PayScale: Salary Snapshot for FBI Agent Jobs
- DEA Special Agents: Questions & Answers
- Simplyhired.com: Average CIA Agent Salaries
- Central Intelligence Agency: Inspector General - Special Agent/Investigator
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Private Detectives and Investigators
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