Special agent earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level special agent earnings begin at:

$77.41 per hour

$161,010 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level special agent earnings begin at:

$59.83 per hour

$124,440 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level special agent earnings begin at:

$47.11 per hour

$97,980 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level special agent earnings begin at:

$37.66 per hour

$78,330 per year

10th percentile

Starting level special agent earnings begin at:

$29.62 per hour

$61,600 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Special agent salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Jersey $99,880
New York $99,630
Hawaii $99,580
Colorado $97,980
Massachusetts $97,980
Illinois $97,300
Connecticut $94,670
Virginia $93,520
Vermont $91,580
Arizona $91,350
Puerto Rico $88,880
Montana $83,640
Michigan $81,850
Wisconsin $81,850
Texas $81,170
New Hampshire $80,140
Iowa $78,710
Minnesota $78,670
Pennsylvania $78,540
Nevada $78,330
Rhode Island $78,330
West Virginia $78,250
Ohio $77,580
Delaware $77,480
New Mexico $77,480
Maine $76,910
North Dakota $76,730
Nebraska $73,550
Utah $69,010
Wyoming $68,730
Florida $67,930
Idaho $64,610
Kentucky $64,610
South Dakota $63,960
Alabama $62,380
Oklahoma $61,190
Tennessee $61,190
Indiana $60,850
Georgia $60,550
Missouri $60,520
Kansas $60,500
Louisiana $57,660
North Carolina $55,910
South Carolina $51,770
Mississippi $48,040
Arkansas $47,580
District of Columbia $133,930
Alaska $133,600
Maryland $113,360
California $104,060
Washington $101,860
Oregon $100,330

How do special agent salaries compare to similar careers?

Special agents earn 13% less than similar careers in Massachusetts. On average, they make less than judges but more than forensic science technicians.

Career Median Salary
Judge salary $171K
Compliance manager salary $140K
Hearing officer salary $131K
Customs inspector salary $98K
Special agent salary $98K
Detective salary $98K
Coroner salary $81K
Forensic science technician salary $82K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)