Which is Government law enforcement agency is the best to work for and why? Hours? Income?

Question

For example: DEA, ICE, ATF, FBI, Treasury, CIA, etc. I would like to make at least 60K a year. I hear they have good pay increases per year, but it also is 50 or more hours per week.

Answer 1

I know this probably isnt the answer you're looking for. Trust me, in my career searches I always ask hopeing for wonderfully cleancut answer. Unfortunatly the truth is this:

Hours depend on what your job is. You could be an assisant or an aid and be in at 7 or 8 everyday and leave at 4 or 5. Or you could be a special agent doing investigations or doing survellance and work anywhere from 12 hours a day to days on end without a break. It depends what you're doing.

Same with jobs. A hostage rescue team member, jumping out of helicopters and jumping in windows and risking his life everyday is going to be making more then a special agent digging through dusty files pretending he/she is on cold case files and going to solve something special.

So none of that helped you but if you will allow me to I'd like to give you the best advice I can. That is to do what you love. Do what you WANT to be doing. To be happy and making 5k less a year is WAY better then doing your 2nd or 3rd choice just to bring in a couple extra bucks. If you hate drugs with a passion, join the DEA. If cyber crime and intelligence and terrorism is what you want to stop then look into the Department of Homeland security, Federal Beurau of Investigation, National Security Agency, whatever. Just do what you want.

Answer 2

It really depends on what kind of work you are looking to do and how qualified you are to do it.

I'm working for CBP now and have met Agents from DEA, ICE, ATF, Departments of State and Commerce, NCIS, CGIS, etc...

Each agency does something different (although there is cross-over) and has different requirements.

If you want to be the guy who tracks down counterfeiters, your going to like the Secret Service, breaking down doors is ATF, catching fugitives from justice is the US Marshal's, etc.

Just because you think the job is cool doesn't mean you're qualified to do it...If you aren't "top of the class" you probably won't be hired by the FBI (unless you have a special skill such as languages)...If you have a narcotics history your aren't going to make it into the DEA.

Your question is really too broad to answer with any more detail.

Best bet, contact the local field-office for each of the agencies you are looking at and ask them.

Good luck.

Answer 3

There is no best agency to work for, it involves high risk to life and limb, like in any law enforcement job. You go out in the morning, realizing that you may not be going home in one piece or alive for that matter.

Answer 4

if your concerned about money and hours, get an education and look into the healthcare field.

if your wanting some petty power get a badge , and if you think you want an adrenaline rush, better than a badge join the military

in Iraq...the bad guys shoot back

dont do the crime if you cant do the time

Answer 5

What is the best career for me? You question is as vague as mine. None of us knows enough about you to answer with any accuracy.