How hard is it to get hired by the Secret Service?

Must pass an Applicant Physical Abilities Test. Must pass a written examination. Must qualify for Top Secret security clearance and undergo a complete background investigation including in-depth interviews, drug screening, credit check, medical exam and polygraph examination.

Is getting into the Secret Service Hard?

Getting a job with the U.S. Secret Service is far from easy, as the selection process is extremely competitive. Candidates must have either a college degree or a combination of college and law enforcement work experience, with a background in criminal investigation.

How long does it take to get hired by the Secret Service?

Typically, a full background investigation takes approximately six to nine months to complete. During this time, a wide range of information is verified. This includes employment history, police records, credit history, school transcripts, neighborhood references and military records.

Do Secret Service agents get paid well?

How much does a Special Agent make at United States Secret Service in the United States? Average United States Secret Service Special Agent yearly pay in the United States is approximately $175,000, which is 108% above the national average.

How hard is it to get into the Secret Service uniformed division?

Must pass an Applicant Physical Abilities Test. Must complete interviews and pass a written test. Must qualify for Top Secret clearance and undergo a complete background investigation including driving record check, drug screening, credit check, medical exam and polygraph examination.

How to Get a Job in the U.S. Secret Service

What will disqualify you from the Secret Service?

The ultimate disqualifier for a position with the secret service (in terms of drugs, not skills or experience) is if an applicant used or purchased MDMA, cocaine, other hard drugs while holding a security clearance.

Does the Secret Service have a GPA requirement?

Secret service agent positions typically require candidates to have earned a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0 as well as be a member of an honor's society . If you don't hold a bachelor's degree, you may be considered for a position as an agent with a minimum of three years of experience in law enforcement.

How many days off do Secret Service agents get?

Annual leave earned at the rate of 13 to 26 days per year, based on length of employment. Prior federal civilian or military service is credited, as authorized. Sick leave accumulated at the rate of 13 days per year without limit.

How many hours a day do Secret Service agents work?

While assigned to field offices, special agents are normally assigned to work a 40-hour (normal business) workweek (e.g., 9:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday. Due to the receipt of LEAP, special agents usually work an average of two additional hours per day.

What is the average age of a Secret Service agent?

The most common age range of U.S. Secret Service employees is 20-30 years. 50% of U.S. Secret Service employees are between the ages of 20-30 years. The least common age range of U.S. Secret Service employees is less than 18 years. 2% of U.S. Secret Service employees are between the ages of less than 18 years.

What is the salary of U.S. Secret Service?

The average United States Secret Service salary ranges from approximately $48,619 per year for Custom Protection Officer to $175,000 per year for Special Agent. Average United States Secret Service hourly pay ranges from approximately $13.95 per hour for Night Auditor to $25.34 per hour for Police Officer.

How to pass a Secret Service interview?

During the interview, make frequent eye contact with the interviewer, sit up straight and avoid nervous fidgeting. Try to crack a smile once in a while. When you're speaking, keep your voice even and use good grammar and appropriate language.

How are Secret Service agents chosen?

Must pass an Applicant Physical Abilities Test. Must pass a written examination. Must qualify for Top Secret security clearance and undergo a complete background investigation including in-depth interviews, drug screening, credit check, medical exam and polygraph examination.

How long is the training for Secret Service?

Unparalleled training.

Each recruit then receives 16 weeks of specialized instruction at our training facility near Washington, D.C. The 29 weeks of training cover subjects including: Access control. Police procedures.

Is Secret Service for life?

The Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, reverses a previous law that limited Secret Service protection for former presidents and their families to 10 years if they served after 1997. Former President George W. Bush and future former presidents will receive Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives.

Can you have tattoos in the Secret Service?

The Secret Service prohibits special agents from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand, and fingers (any area below the wrist bone). A tattoo of a wedding band is permitted.

Why do Secret Service wear sunglasses?

Why do agents seem to always wear sunglasses? Secret Service agents sometimes wear sunglasses to keep the sun out of their eyes, so they can increase their ability to see what people in the crowd are doing.

Do Secret Service agents get take home cars?

The Secret Service is a relatively larger organization and comparative to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) in size. A few things prospective applicants should note: All field level Special Agents are assigned a take-home vehicle.

Are Secret Service agents allowed to talk?

Although such pacts are common in the private sector to protect company secrets, Secret Service agents are not legally bound to stay silent once they leave government service. But "there is policy and there is unspoken rule," says Secret Service spokesman Jim Mackin.

Do Secret Service agents go undercover?

But much of their work happens in the shadows, with undercover agents, million-dollar bounties, and other methods that can sound like they're lifted from the pages of a spy thriller. Until recently, Richard LaTulip was one of the Secret Service's special agents who went undercover to better understand cybercriminals.

Are Secret Service agents trained to fight?

The Counter Assault Team (CAT) provides direct, tactical support to Secret Service protective details, including those of the president and vice president of the United States. CAT personnel receive advanced training in weapons handling, tactics and decision making.

What are the benefits of working for Secret Service?

Competitive starting salary. Low-cost life insurance. Employee Assistance Program. Individual or family membership in low-cost federal health benefit plans.

Does the Secret Service hire out of college?

To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who have up to six years after degree completion to apply).

Who hires the Secret Service?

The director is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of the president of the United States, and is not subject to Senate confirmation. The director reports to the secretary of homeland security, and operates with the general directions thereof.

Where is Secret Service training?

New special agent trainees undergo months of intensive training through established programs at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia.