Federal law enforcement work is often considered dangerous and very stressful. In addition to the obvious dangers associated with criminal confrontations, law enforcement officers must be constantly vigilant and prepared to deal appropriately with a range of other threatening situations. Many law enforcement officers face situations that result in death and suffer from criminal behavior and accidents. Careers in law enforcement often have an impact on the personal lives of public servants. Building a career in law enforcement is both challenging and rewarding. Sworn law enforcement officers have the authority to carry firearms, make arrests and take an oath to enforce the law. Different agents have different job titles, career opportunities, and responsibilities, which we`ll summarize in our guide below. $57,000 is the average annual salary of a detective with moderate experience and the minimum college education. The more education a person receives in addition to the experience they gain while working, the keys to success are for someone who wants to pursue a career as a detective. Detectives with a positive reputation for diligence and dedicated to their work are in high demand.
With the right attitude, experience and training, the detective can find the job they are looking for. These are just three of the federal law enforcement careers that are developing. But there are many more, including judicial officials, police officers and probation officers. Manager training and postgraduate degrees will go a long way toward advancing in the highest-paying law enforcement careers of detective, captain, commander and police chief. As this is a highly competitive position, it is recommended that you continue your education through an advanced university degree (University of San Diego). Law enforcement professionals who want to work in federal jobs generally find that a graduate degree makes them more competitive and allows them to earn a higher salary. The University of San Diego offers a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership, which is offered 100% online. This multi-dimensional, law enforcement competency-based degree examines leadership, management, organizational theory, critical issues, community evaluation, budget and finance, public safety law, and conflict resolution, in addition to criminal justice issues.
To learn more about our nationally accredited program, visit our program page. Many organizations operate at the federal level. Other well-paying law enforcement careers are available in federal agencies: The DEA is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with combating drug trafficking and distribution in the United States. The DEA is solely responsible for coordinating and conducting drug investigations in the United States, at home and abroad. Learn more about the DEA Special Agent Entrance Exam and how to prepare. Border Patrol agents have one primary goal, which is to keep U.S. borders as secure as possible.
Officers do not need to have a degree, but it is recommended to have a bachelor`s degree in homeland security, or at least criminal justice. It is also beneficial to have some work experience, whether in law enforcement or as a security guard. Work experience combined with training provides the skills a border guard needs to succeed. The FBI`s Police Selection System (POSS) is a difficult process to find only the most capable candidates. Learn how to prepare for the FBI Police Entrance Exam here. Defense attorneys are in demand in almost every federal state. From small municipalities to large cities, qualified criminal defence lawyers are always in demand. Depending on the location and cost of living in the area, the average salary of a criminal defense attorney can range from $95,000 to $100,000 per year. The more experience a criminal defense lawyer has, the more he or she will earn. Their performance in the courtroom also contributes to what a defense attorney can earn over time. U.S.
Marshals are key players in the federal judicial system and are responsible for enforcing the laws of the federal courts. As such, U.S. marshals are tasked with a range of tasks, including judicial security, prisoner transportation, fugitive investigations, prisoner services, special missions, property forfeiture, and witness security. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, some federal agents, such as DEA special agents and U.S. intelligence agents, often travel on very short notice. They may move several times during their career. Some special agents from agencies such as the Border Patrol work outdoors on rough terrain for long periods of time and in all weathers. The highest paying enforcement position would be in a leadership role in a federal law enforcement agency. So what is the highest paying enforcement work? According to Executive Order 13901, issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations earns an annual salary of $197,300. There are attractive careers in federal law enforcement for the public service because the jobs are difficult and require a lot of personal responsibility.
Many law enforcement positions are eligible for the Law Enforcement Retirement Program (POS), where they can retire after 20 years of service at age 50 or 25 years of service at any age. The number of qualified candidates exceeds the number of vacancies in the application of the federal law due to the attractive benefits and salaries offered. This leads to higher hiring standards and employer selectivity. Competition for higher-paying jobs is significant with state and federal agencies and police departments in wealthier areas. The best chances are for candidates with military police experience, college training in police science, or both. A law enforcement officer can work in three basic jobs: uniformed officer, investigator/detective and support staff. The day-to-day activities and tasks of police officers and detectives vary by field, but they all have one thing in common in addition to our safety: writing reports and keeping well-kept records of the incidents they handle. This is especially important when they have to testify in court, for example. Here are some details about each type of job you might be interested in. The primary role of uniformed division officers is to provide general law enforcement and protection services to Federal Reserve facilities, whether owned or leased.
Federal Reserve officials respond to police, firefighting, and medical incidents in and around assigned facilities. Check USAJobs regularly for open positions. Federal Reserve policy candidates must pass the NPOST written exam in addition to a battery of physical evaluations. Federal law provides special rates of pay for federal employees working in law enforcement. In addition, special constables and federal inspectors receive a law enforcement standby allowance equal to 25% of the officer`s rank and seniority, which is granted because of the large amount of overtime these officers are expected to work. In some regions where local wage levels were higher, wages were slightly higher. Since federal agents may be eligible for a special law enforcement benefits package, applicants should ask their recruiter for more information. When approaching your job search with the government, keep these tips in mind.
To find available government jobs, visit the Government Job Search Military.com page. The ATF has primary responsibility for investigating violations of federal laws related to firearms, explosives, arson, and diversion of alcohol and tobacco. With approximately 2,600 specialized agents, ATF operates 25 field services divisions in the United States and has foreign attaché offices in about half a dozen countries. We haven`t found a test preparation course for the ATF entrance exam we recommend yet, but we are working on it. Learn more. The three types of law enforcement jobs listed above are used by law enforcement agencies at all three levels of government. The three basic levels are local, state, and federal. The duties and responsibilities of all officers differ according to their specific position and the level at which they operate.
Below are the basic details on the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer at each level. All law enforcement officers, regardless of their specific job title or the level at which they work, should keep impeccable records. They are responsible for writing reports and keeping records of all accidents, as these may be required if they testify in court. The following list is from FederalJobs.net, which states that “most federal agencies use federal law enforcement agencies in one capacity or another” and that there are more than 40 job streams in the law enforcement category. During your job search, you may also want to consider the professions that directly support these positions. Receive special job alerts, offers, and insider tips on how to make the most of your military experience in the civilian workforce. Most civil servants work 40 hours a week and are overpaid.