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Intelligence Analysts

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $93,790 Median per year · $45.09/hr Most earn $55,390–$160,540

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Study the assets of criminal suspects to determine the flow of money from or to targeted groups.
  • Gather intelligence information by field observation, confidential information sources, or public records.
  • Evaluate records of communications, such as telephone calls, to plot activity and determine the size and location of criminal groups and members.
  • Collaborate with representatives from other government and intelligence organizations to share information or coordinate intelligence activities.
  • Conduct presentations of analytic findings.
  • Prepare plans to intercept foreign communications transmissions.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 7,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals41.4%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service36.6%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals21.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Intelligence Analyst is usually not a straight-out-of-school job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree and then spend about 1 to 2 years in a related analysis role before moving into this career, so plan on roughly 5 to 6 years from high school graduation.

  1. High school diploma with strong writing, history, and math classes

    4 years

    Building research, writing, and reasoning skills now makes the bachelor's degree and the analysis work that follows much easier.

  2. Bachelor's degree in a field like international relations, political science, criminal justice, or data analysis

    4 years

    This is the education level most intelligence analyst roles ask for, and internships during college help you start building real analysis experience.

  3. Research Analyst or Junior Analyst in a related field

    1-2 years

    Working in a role that gathers and evaluates information, such as with a government agency, police department, or company's security team, builds the experience employers look for.

  4. Intelligence Analyst

    Ongoing

    You now gather, analyze, and evaluate information to help spot and prevent threats. Many government roles also require U.S. citizenship and a background check.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Intelligence Analyst

    Several years as an Intelligence Analyst of experience first

    You take on harder, higher-stakes analysis, handle more complex projects, and mentor newer analysts.

  2. Security Management Specialist

    4-6 years of experience first

    You shift from analyzing information to planning and managing security programs for an organization.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take history, government, and geography classesThese courses teach you how countries, events, and regions connect, which is the big-picture thinking analysts use every day.
  • Join Model UN or a debate clubYou will practice researching a topic, weighing evidence, and explaining your conclusions clearly.
  • Take a statistics or computer science classBasic data skills will help you work with large amounts of information later on.
  • Get a part-time job that requires careful attentionJobs like retail inventory, a library assistant, or a front desk role build the habit of noticing details and keeping accurate records.
  • Volunteer at a library or local community organizationHelping people find and sort information builds research skills and shows you can work responsibly with sensitive or private material.

In college

  • Major in international relations, political science, or criminal justiceThese majors give you the background on governments, security, and crime that intelligence work depends on.
  • Take a GIS (mapping) or data analysis courseGeographic information systems and data skills are listed as common tools in this field, so they make you a stronger candidate.
  • Study a foreign language to a high levelLanguage skills are valued in many intelligence roles and can set you apart from other applicants.
  • Look for internships with government agencies, police departments, or security firmsInternships show employers you can do real analysis work and help you build the 1 to 2 years of experience usually needed.
  • Join a student club focused on current events or policyClubs like these let you practice briefing others on complex issues and build a network of people in the field.

Tips for getting started

  • Strengthen your writing. Analysts spend much of their time writing clear reports, so practice summarizing information briefly and accurately.
  • Learn tools that analysts use, such as spreadsheets, basic database searching, and mapping software. Many schools and libraries offer free or low-cost classes.
  • Consider learning a second language. Many intelligence jobs value language skills, especially for work involving other countries.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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