What do secret service agents get paid

They must also pass an in-depth background check to be considered for this position. Because of these factors, the hiring process can take anywhere from six to nine months but will vary from person to person. Secret service agents work at various locations all over the world. As a secret service agent, you may be required to travel at a moment's notice, be away from your family or home for up to 30 days at a time and work in undesirable locations.

While this may sound challenging, this type of position can be rewarding and fun for those who can adjust to the working conditions. Being a successful secret service agent requires a number of soft skills and hard skills. The most important skills an agent should have include:. Secret service agents must also have a strong desire to learn and be committed to continuously advancing their training through courses and other training resources.

There are several professions that share many similarities with secret service agents. Careers you could also consider include being an FBI agent, criminal investigator, conservation officer or U. Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries.

Upload your resume. Sign in. Career Development. This article has been approved by an Indeed Career Coach Secret service agents play a prestigious and important role within the law enforcement community. What does a secret service agent do? Provide security for government figures such as the President, Vice President and former presidents as well as their families Protect buildings or act as security at events that require a national level of protection Investigate crimes that include identity theft, counterfeit and financial fraud Investigate computer hacking attempts that take place on national telecommunication devices as well as banking infrastructure Perform undercover work Write and deliver reports related to investigations or protection services.

Average salary of a secret service agent. How to become a secret service agent. Get a degree. Apply for an open secret service agent position. Protected individuals usually include former, current, and elect presidents, vice presidents, and their families.

The Secret Service also safeguards top presidential candidates and visiting dignitaries from other nations. Moreover, the Secret Service prevents and investigates financial crimes against the government.

Established in to address currency counterfeiting during the Civil War, the Secret Service addresses counterfeiting, money laundering, and financial fraud. Additional crimes prevented and investigated by the Secret Service include security attacks, such as hacking attempts, perpetrated against government information, communication, and banking systems. Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.

Secret Service agents may perform a variety of investigation and protection duties and tasks. Agents usually begin their careers in field offices, which may be anywhere in the U. Upon completing their first assignments, special agents often pursue additional field assignments or begin working in training or headquarters offices in Washington, D.

Protection assignments include providing personal security to top former, current, and prospective political and government figures and their families. These professionals design and carry out safety plans and protocols, which may include bodyguarding important persons.

Fraud investigation assignments cover credit card and fee fraud, bank fraud and access device fraud, and money laundering. The Secret Service also investigates computer and telecommunications fraud, identity fraud, forgery, and asset forfeiture.

Secret Service agents may investigate counterfeiting crimes involving Department of Agriculture food coupons, U. Treasury checks and postage stamps, and U. Specialized professionals sometimes design and implement new systems security strategies, tools, and protocols.

Secret Service agent jobs may provide frequent, exciting travel opportunities. Agents can work at various duty stations across the U. Working in international field offices typically requires foreign language training. Upon receiving conditional employment offers, aspiring Secret Service agents must be years old or , if veterans. Eligible candidates have no criminal records or markings such as tattoos visible from the neck up or on hands below the wrist bone. The Secret Service prefers candidates with pre-law or criminal justice-related educational backgrounds.

However, locality pay often changes the salary for a Secret Service agent. For example, the salary of a Secret Service agent working in Atlanta, Georgia, includes a locality pay of Salaries for Secret Service agents working in Chicago, Illinois, include a locality pay of Secret Service agents in the investigative division may qualify at the GL-8 level if they have one year of specialized experience at the GL-7 level performing such duties as:.

Secret Service agents in the investigative division may qualify at the GL-9 level if they have one year of specialized experience at the GL-8 level performing such duties as:.

LEAP is designed to account for additional hours worked by agents during certain assignments. LEAP hours typically account for an additional 2 hours for every work day.