NCIS Special Agent: A civilian federal agent who investigates crimes involving the Navy and Marine Corps. Typical pay $118k.
Inspector General Special Agent: Investigates fraud and waste inside government programs, like Medicare scams or stolen disaster aid. Typical pay $115k.
Export Enforcement Special Agent: A federal agent who stops companies and smugglers from illegally sending advanced chips, weapons parts, and military technology to foreign adversaries. Typical pay $125k.
EPA Criminal Investigation Special Agent: A federal agent who investigates environmental crimes like illegal toxic dumping, smuggled refrigerants, and faked pollution data. Typical pay $120k.
CBP Air & Marine Interdiction Agent: Federal agents who fly planes and helicopters or drive fast boats to catch drug smugglers and illegal border crossings. Typical pay $125k.
Witness Security Inspector: A deputy U.S. marshal who hides and protects witnesses who testify against gangs and cartels, giving them new names and lives. Typical pay $125k.
FDA Criminal Investigations Special Agent: Investigates fake medicines, tainted food, counterfeit COVID tests, and illegal online pharmacies that put people in danger. Typical pay $125k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Deputy U.S. Marshal: Hunts fugitives, protects federal judges, transports prisoners, and runs the Witness Protection Program. Typical pay $100k.
CBP Officer: Inspects travelers and cargo at airports, seaports, and land borders entering the U.S. Typical pay $90k.
Border Patrol Agent: Patrols the land and coastal borders between ports of entry to stop illegal crossings and smuggling. Typical pay $85k.
Federal Air Marshal: Flies undercover on commercial airplanes to protect passengers from hijackings and attacks. Typical pay $95k.
U.S. Capitol Police Officer: Protects Congress, its members, and the Capitol complex in Washington, D.C. Typical pay $100k.
Federal Protective Service Officer: Protects federal buildings like courthouses, IRS offices, and Social Security offices nationwide. Typical pay $80k.
CBP Agriculture Specialist: Inspects travelers' bags and cargo at the border for pests and diseases that could destroy U.S. crops. Typical pay $80k.
ICE Deportation Officer: A federal officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement who arrests, detains, and removes people ordered deported. Typical pay $80k.
ATF Industry Operations Investigator: Inspects gun dealers, manufacturers, and explosives businesses to make sure they follow federal laws. Typical pay $85k.
DEA Diversion Investigator: Investigates doctors, pharmacies, and drug companies that let prescription painkillers and other legal drugs leak onto the black market. Typical pay $90k.
FBI Surveillance Specialist: An unarmed FBI employee who secretly follows and watches suspects in spy and terrorism cases. Typical pay $80k.
Federal Reserve Police Officer: Guards Federal Reserve banks, which hold huge vaults of cash and gold, and protects Fed leaders. Typical pay $75k.
U.S. Mint Police Officer: Protects U.S. Mint facilities, including Fort Knox and its gold reserves, plus the coins and workers at mints in Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and West Point. Typical pay $75k.
VA Police Officer: A federal police officer who protects veterans, staff, and visitors at VA hospitals and clinics. Typical pay $68k.
Nuclear Materials Courier: An armed federal agent who drives and guards the secret truck convoys that move nuclear weapons and materials across the US. Typical pay $85k.
Supreme Court Police Officer: Protects the nine justices, the Supreme Court building, and the crowds who gather outside for big decisions. Typical pay $95k.
Starter: fastest way in
TSA Officer: Screens passengers and bags at airport security checkpoints. Typical pay $50k.
Border Patrol Processing Coordinator: Helps Border Patrol agents process migrants in custody by taking fingerprints, photos, and records, and caring for people in short-term facilities. Typical pay $50k.
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.