Investigates violent crime involving firearms, explosives, arson and bombings, plus illegal firearms trafficking and tobacco diversion. BLS does not publish separate figures for detectives and criminal investigators; it counts them within detective and criminal investigator (SOC 33-3021), whose median pay is $93,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 33-3021
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
ATF Special Agent in four numbers
- Median pay
- $93,790a year, or $45.09/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $55KTop 10% $161K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.2%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7,800120,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025120.5K
- Projected 2035120.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 120.5K Projected 2035 120.7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: ATF Agent, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agent, Firearms Special Agent, Special Agent, ATF.
Pay
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make?
Every atf special agent in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$93,790
Middle half earn $69,330 to $120,520
- 10th
- $55,390
- 25th
- $69,330
- 75th
- $120,520
- 90th
- $160,540
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,390 |
| 25th | $69,330 |
| Median | $93,790 |
| 75th | $120,520 |
| 90th | $160,540 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $93,790
- Median hourly wage
- $45.09/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $99,430
- People employed
- 114,430
Versus all US occupations
At $93,790, Detectives and Criminal Investigators earn 84% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $42,810 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $74,060, this is 27% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $160,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $55,390, a gap of 2.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 68% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $160,760, and still leads at $146,277 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Detectives and Criminal Investigators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $160,760 | $146,277 | 2,980 |
| 2Maryland | $126,730 | $120,742 | 1,010 |
| 3California | $124,840 | $112,753 | 12,610 |
| 4Delaware | $122,050 | $122,285 | 140 |
| 5New Jersey | $116,300 | $106,888 | 3,080 |
| 6Washington | $115,790 | $108,202 | 1,850 |
| 7Alaska | $114,940 | $112,291 | 140 |
| 8Hawaii | $113,940 | $103,628 | 440 |
| 9Virginia | $112,760 | $111,529 | 3,180 |
| 10Massachusetts | $110,150 | $104,154 | 1,300 |
Job outlook
Is ATF Special Agent a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | +0.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Detectives and Criminal Investigators to change 0.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,800 openings are projected each year, 6.5% of the 120,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an ATF Special Agent
Applicants must be U.S. citizens within the agency's age limits, with a bachelor's degree, qualifying experience or a combination. Selection includes an assessment test, physical task test, panel interview, polygraph, medical exam and background investigation.
Training takes place at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers in Glynco, Georgia, through the Criminal Investigator Training Program and ATF's own Special Agent Basic Training at the ATF National Academy. Agents are assigned to field divisions and may later qualify for specialties such as fire investigation or explosives.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does an ATF Special Agent do?
ATF special agents focus on violent crime and the tools behind it. They investigate illegal firearms trafficking and straw purchases, armed violent offenders, bombings, arson and the criminal misuse of explosives. They use crime gun tracing and ballistic imaging leads from NIBIN to connect shootings and identify trafficking patterns.
Agents conduct undercover operations, surveillance and arrests, often with local police. Some specialize as certified fire investigators or certified explosives specialists and respond to major fires and bombings through national response teams. They work closely with federal prosecutors and testify in court.
Day-to-day tasks
- Investigate illegal firearms trafficking and straw purchases
- Target armed violent offenders and gangs
- Investigate arson and bombing incidents
- Trace crime guns and follow up on ballistic imaging leads
- Conduct undercover operations and surveillance
- Execute search and arrest warrants
- Work with prosecutors and testify in federal court
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Agents work from field offices nationwide, with irregular hours, call-outs to fire and explosion scenes, undercover work and arrests. Scenes can be hazardous and physically demanding. Travel is common, and agents must be willing to relocate.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.5
- Speaking4.3
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing3.8
- Active Learning3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.5 |
| Speaking | 4.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness4.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Coordination3.6
- Persuasion3.4
- Negotiation3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Service Orientation3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.4 |
| Negotiation | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software
- Geographic information system
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an ATF Special Agent?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIE) built on O*NET's Detective and Criminal Investigator profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | ATF Special Agent |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative5.0
- Realistic4.7
- Conventional4.7
- Enterprising4.3
- Social2.7
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to ATF Special Agent
O*NET related occupations
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
Police Identification and Records Officer
$93,790median a year
Most earn $55K to $161K
+0.2%High school - Protective Service
First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives
$106,040median a year
Most earn $63K to $165K
+3.3%High school - Protective Service
More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with detectives and criminal investigators highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- ATF Special Agent$93,790
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| ATF Special Agent | $93,790 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists ATF Special Agent appears on
Questions
ATF Special Agent: frequently asked questions
How much do Detectives and Criminal Investigators make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for detectives and criminal investigators. It counts them within detective and criminal investigator, whose median pay is $93,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $69,330 and $120,520, and the top 10% earn $160,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an ATF Special Agent?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Detectives and Criminal Investigators. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first.
Is ATF Special Agent a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.2% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 7,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an ATF Special Agent do?
ATF special agents focus on violent crime and the tools behind it. A typical task: investigate illegal firearms trafficking and straw purchases. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Detectives and Criminal Investigators the most?
The highest state medians for Detectives and Criminal Investigators are District of Columbia ($160,760), Maryland ($126,730), California ($124,840) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an ATF Special Agent?
O*NET scores Detectives and Criminal Investigators highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.