Counterintelligence Agent

The private sector demand for counterintelligence skills has grown fast. Insider threat programs, corporate espionage prevention, and due diligence investigations are now standard at large companies. Defense contractors need CI professionals who already hold clearances. Financial institutions need fraud investigators. Tech companies need people who can protect intellectual property.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), information security analysts earn a median salary of $120,360 per year. Private investigators and detectives earn a median of $59,780, though corporate investigation roles at major firms pay well above that. Management analysts earn a median of $99,410, and compliance officers earn $75,670.

Defense and intelligence contractors are the most direct path. Companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, Leidos, CACI, and Northrop Grumman hire former 35L agents for roles in counterintelligence analysis, insider threat programs, and security consulting. These positions often require an active TS/SCI and pay $85,000 to $140,000+ depending on location and experience. The DC Metro area, San Antonio, and Tampa are the biggest hubs for this work.

Corporate security is another strong path. Banks, tech companies, and pharmaceutical firms run internal investigation teams. Former CI agents bring interview skills, case management experience, and a structured approach to evidence collection. These roles may not require a clearance, which means your salary comes from your skills rather than your access.

If you want to stay close to the mission, consulting firms hire former CI agents to advise foreign governments, train partner nation security forces, or support ongoing intelligence programs. This work often involves travel and may require maintaining your clearance through the contracting company.

Security Clearance Jobs: Salary by Clearance Level breaks down what your TS/SCI is worth in different industries.

Federal careers are a natural fit for 35L veterans. The skills you built in the Army map directly to federal job series, and your TS/SCI clearance gives you access to positions that many civilian applicants cannot touch.

The strongest federal matches include:

• GS-0132 Intelligence - Intelligence analysis and collection management at DIA, CIA, NSA, and service-level intelligence agencies. Your CI background qualifies you for counterintelligence analyst positions across the IC.
• GS-1811 Criminal Investigator - FBI Special Agent, NCIS Agent, Army CID (as a civilian), ICE HSI, Secret Service, DEA. Your CISAC training and investigation experience count toward the qualification requirements. FBI and other agencies actively recruit former military CI agents.
• GS-0080 Security Specialist - Security specialist positions at DoD, DOE, and other agencies. Industrial security, personnel security, information security. Your CI background is a direct match.
• GS-1801 General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement - Inspector General offices, compliance and oversight roles across federal agencies.
• GS-0301 Miscellaneous Administration - Program analyst and management analyst roles in intelligence community agencies. Many CI agents move into program management.
• GS-0343 Management and Program Analysis - Policy development, program evaluation, and organizational analysis. Your experience writing threat assessments and briefing commanders translates to this work.
• GS-1810 General Investigation - Background investigators for DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency). High demand, remote work available, and your investigation skills transfer directly.
• GS-0201 Human Resources Management - Personnel security and suitability adjudication. Less obvious, but CI agents who handled personnel security investigations often qualify.
• GS-2210 IT Management - IT specialist roles with a security focus. Cybersecurity analysts and information assurance positions in the IC.
• GS-1805 Investigative Analysis - Analytical positions supporting law enforcement and intelligence investigations. Report writing and evidence analysis are core to this series.

Federal resumes are 2 pages max. They need specific details like hours per week, supervisor name, and exact employment dates. Build yours with the BMR Federal Resume Builder to get the format right.

Veterans Preference gives you 5 or 10 extra points on federal hiring assessments. Some agencies use Direct Hire Authority for intelligence and security positions, which can speed up the process. Start applying on USAJobs at least 6 months before your ETS date. Federal hiring is slow.

How to Land a GS-12 Federal Job After Military Service covers the application strategy in detail.

If you are applying to counterintelligence or intelligence positions at defense contractors, they already know what a 35L does. You probably do not need this section for those jobs.

But if you are applying outside of intelligence (corporate security, compliance, consulting, financial crime, or any non-defense role), the hiring manager will not know what "CISAC graduate" or "conducted source operations" means. The translations below reframe your 35L experience for non-intelligence industries. These are not just word swaps. They show how to present your work in a way that connects with hiring managers who have never held a clearance.

For your full resume translation, use the BMR Military Resume Builder. It handles the heavy lifting for every section.