Home / Federal careers / GS-1811
Criminal Investigator
Federal special agent position conducting criminal investigations of alleged violations of federal laws at agencies including FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, HSI, and other federal law enforcement.
What GS-1811 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1811, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, forensics, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in criminal investigation, law enforcement, or related investigative work.
Special Requirements:
- Must be able to pass medical examination and meet physical fitness requirements
- Must be able to carry firearms
- Subject to random drug testing
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
This is a two-grade interval series. Positions follow the GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 progression pattern.
| Grade | Education | Experience | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field from accredited college/university | 3 years progressively responsible experience, 1 year equivalent to GS-4 | Equivalent combinations qualifying |
| GS-7 | 1 full year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 | Combinations of graduate education and experience |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-7 requirement) and experience |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-9 requirement) and experience |
| GS-12+ | Not applicable | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade | N/A |
Superior Academic Achievement (for GS-7):
- Upper third of graduating class in college/university or major subdivision
- GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on official transcript, OR 3.5 or higher in major field
- Election to membership in national scholastic honor society
Graduate Education: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours the school determines represents 1 year of full-time study. If unavailable, 18 semester hours satisfies the 1-year requirement.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-1811
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Mineman
GS-1811 Criminal Investigator covers ATF Special Agent (Explosives) and FBI Special Agent (bomb tech path). The MN explosives credential plus active clearance plus Veterans' Preference is one of the strongest profiles ATF reviews.
Skills that carry over: Explosives handling, Threat assessment, Investigation, Federal LE academy readiness.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-13.
Intelligence Specialist
GS-1811 Criminal Investigator is federal special agent series. Highly competitive. Navy ISs who supported NCIS counterintel on active duty have a real path. NCIS, FBI, HSI, DSS, DCIS all in this series.
Skills that carry over: Investigations, Counterintelligence, Surveillance, Interview and interrogation.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
Investigator
The closest federal match. CGIS IVs trained at FLETC under the same Criminal Investigator Training Program GS-1811 special agents complete. Criminal casework, evidence handling, and ROI writing satisfy the core 1811 qualification standard.
Skills that carry over: Criminal investigations, Evidence and chain of custody, Investigative interviewing, Report of Investigation writing.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Investigate federal crimes and violations
- Conduct surveillance operations
- Execute search and arrest warrants
- Interview suspects and witnesses
- Gather and preserve evidence
- Prepare cases for prosecution
Key competencies
Criminal Investigation
Expertise in conducting criminal investigations.
Case Development
Ability to build cases for prosecution.
Interviewing
Skill in interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects.
Evidence Handling
Knowledge of evidence collection and chain of custody.
Legal Knowledge
Understanding of criminal law and procedures.
Firearms Proficiency
Skill in use of assigned firearms.
Report Writing
Ability to prepare detailed case reports.
Collaboration
Skill in working with other agencies and prosecutors.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1811
What is a Criminal Investigator (Special Agent)?
A GS-1811 Criminal Investigator, commonly called a Special Agent, investigates federal crimes for agencies like FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, HSI, NCIS, and dozens of other federal law enforcement agencies. These agents conduct surveillance, execute warrants, interview suspects, gather evidence, carry firearms, make arrests, and prepare cases for federal prosecution.
How much does a federal Special Agent make?
Federal Criminal Investigators earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $138,296 (GS-14 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. However, special agents also receive Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP)—an additional 25% of base salary. A GS-13 special agent earns approximately $112,000-$146,000 total compensation. Journey level is typically GS-13.
What are the requirements for GS-1811 positions?
GS-1811 requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, plus meeting medical/physical fitness standards, ability to carry firearms, and passing background investigation. Age limits apply—typically must be under 37 at appointment. Each agency has specific requirements: FBI favors accounting, law, or languages; DEA values prior law enforcement; ATF seeks firearms expertise.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1811?
Military experience is highly valued for special agent positions. Veterans with military police, criminal investigation (CID/NCIS/OSI/CGIS), combat arms, or intelligence experience are excellent candidates. Military discipline, weapons proficiency, security clearances, and investigative experience directly transfer. Veterans preference also provides significant hiring advantages.
What is the career progression for Criminal Investigator?
Criminal Investigators follow accelerated progression—GS-5/7/9/11/12/13 over approximately 3-4 years. Journey level is GS-13 for most agencies. Supervisory Special Agents reach GS-14. Career paths include specializing in specific crime types (cyber, terrorism, financial), transitioning to headquarters policy positions, or advancing to Special Agent in Charge (SAC) roles.
How do I apply for GS-1811 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Special Agent" or "Criminal Investigator" under series 1811. FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, HSI, IRS-CI, and agency OIG offices hire agents. Applications are highly competitive—highlight relevant experience, language skills, specialized knowledge, and physical fitness. Be prepared for extensive background investigation and polygraph examination.
Ready to apply for GS-1811?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.