How Much Does an FBI Agent Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$93,790
FBI agents in the U.S. earn a median of $93,790 a year, or $45.09 an hour. Half of FBI agents earn more than $93,790 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $160,540.
Pay percentiles for FBI agents
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26.63 | $55,390 |
| 25th | $33.33 | $69,330 |
| 50th (median) | $45.09 | $93,790 |
| 75th | $57.94 | $120,520 |
| 90th | $77.18 | $160,540 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Detectives and Criminal Investigators (SOC 33-3021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for FBI agents
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $160,760 | $77.29 | +71% |
| Maryland | $126,730 | $60.93 | +35% |
| California | $124,840 | $60.02 | +33% |
| Delaware | $122,050 | $58.68 | +30% |
| New Jersey | $116,300 | $55.92 | +24% |
| Washington | $115,790 | $55.67 | +23% |
| Alaska | $114,940 | $55.26 | +23% |
| Hawaii | $113,940 | $54.78 | +21% |
| Virginia | $112,760 | $54.21 | +20% |
| Massachusetts | $110,150 | $52.96 | +17% |
| United States | $93,790 | $45.09 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many FBI agents are there?
BLS counts about 114,430 FBI agents employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Detectives and Criminal Investigators”. The most jobs are in Texas (18,870), California (12,610) and New York (9,600).
The mean (average) annual wage is $99,430, higher than the median of $93,790.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $7,816
- Biweekly
- $3,607
- Weekly
- $1,804
- Daily (8 hours)
- $361
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do FBI agents make an hour?
The median hourly wage for FBI agents is $45.09. The middle 50% earn between $33.33 and $57.94 an hour.
Which state pays FBI agents the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for FBI agents at $160,760, +71% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for FBI agents?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of FBI agents earn less than $55,390 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.