Also called: Intelligence Analyst, Political Analyst (Intelligence)
Pieces together secret and public information to explain threats and warn U.S. leaders.
Intelligence analysts at the CIA, DIA, or FBI read reports from spies, intercepted messages, satellite photos, and news, then write assessments like 'Is this country preparing to invade?' Their analysis can reach the President. Writing clearly and fast is essential.
Federal GS or agency pay scale; DC-area locality pay is higher.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's degree, U.S. citizenship, and a Top Secret security clearance (background check and often a polygraph).
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Military. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: International Relations, Political Science, History, Foreign Languages, Economics.
Growing about average. Approximate.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI sifts reports and drafts assessments; analysts who judge reliability and write warnings stay needed, but junior triage shrinks.
Classes: AP World History, A foreign language, AP Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-3021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.