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Federal Agent Salary in the United States

How much does a Federal Agent make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Federal Agent in the United States is $71,030 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

However, a Federal Agent's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,477
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,264 to $79,115
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,373
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Federal Agent Salaries

A Federal Agent's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Federal Agent Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Federal Agent's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $62,970
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,064
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $87,918
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $99,361
  • Expert (over 8 years): $119,156
Levels Salary
Executive... Level Federal Agent$62,970
Federal A... Level Federal Agent$73,064
Executive... Level Federal Agent$87,918
Executive... Level Federal Agent$99,361
Executive... Level Federal Agent$119,156
View as Graph

How Do Federal Agent Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Federal Agents. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $78,644.
  • California: $78,346.
  • Massachusetts: $77,301.

Top Paying Cities for Federal Agents

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $89,590
  • San Francisco: $88,609
  • Oakland: $86,741

What Skills Can Increase a Federal Agent's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 6.86% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Microsoft Excel (Mentioned in 1.26% Job Postings): Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (Mentioned in 0.92% Job Postings): Microsoft PowerPoint is a powerful presentation software developed by Microsoft. It is a standard component of the company's Microsoft Office suite software, and is bundled together with Word, Excel and other Office productivity tools.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 6.86%
Microsoft Excel 1.26%
Microsoft PowerPoint 0.92%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Federal Agent's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $73,871
4%
Team Management $73,871
4%
Innovation $73,871
4%
Get Latest Data

Federal Agent Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Federal Agent roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 8% above the average. In contrast, Federal Agent positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Federal Agent as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Federal Agent

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$76,712$37.08%
Pharmaceuticals$76,712$37.08%
Financial Services$76,002$37.07%
Insurance$75,291$36.06%
Biotechnology$74,581$36.05%

Federal Agent Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Federal Agent's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$61,264
Average $71,030/year
$79,115
$5,105
Average $5,919/month
$6,593
$1,178
Average $1,366/week
$1,521
$29
Average $34/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $79,115 $6,593 $1,521 $38
Average $71,030 $5,919 $1,366 $34
25th Percentile $61,264 $5,105 $1,178 $29

Most common benefits for Federal Agent

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Federal Agent

Here are companies hiring for Federal Agent and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Federal Agent

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Federal Agent?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Federal Agent roles, with salaries approximately 8% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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