How to Become an FBI Agent in Utah

Utah is the 31st largest state in the US with a population of an estimated 3 million people. Salt Lake doubles as the state’s capital and largest metro city hence the FBI in Utah works out of this city.

The Utah division of the FBI has had their fair share of success with high-profile cases, some of which are:

• The case of the murderer – Ted Bundy
• Death threats against First Lady – Ladybird Johnson
• The investigation of UFO sightings in Utah

As of 2006, no other field office in the nation had arrested, convicted and sentenced more child pornography cases than the Salt Lake City Field Office.

The Salt Lake City Field in Utah is always in need of dedicated and qualified people interested in becoming FBI Agents and as such has job offers for the sparsely populated region. So if you are in Utah and you would like to know how to get into the FBI then this article is just for you.

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FBI Agent Requirements in Utah

As with every other state in the USA, there are two main career options an applicant can choose with the FBI

• Special Agent
• Professional Staffer or Support Position

Special agents are the backbone of the FBI and as such are required to undergo certain thorough and rigorous training and application regimen before they can be employed by the agency. This training is essential as it facilitates their ability to work as field experts on high profile crimes and several other investigations needing the FBI’s attention. Below is a list of requirements necessary to become an FBI Special Agent in Utah.

• Candidate must be a citizen of the United States of America or be a US Resident for 3 of the past 5 years.
• Candidate must be at least 23 years old and not more than 37 years old at the time of employment
• Candidate must have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree from an accredited 4-year university or college.
• Candidate must be willing to relocate when necessary to any area under the FBI’s jurisdiction.
• Candidate must successfully pass a written exam, a drug test, a background check, a polygraph exam, an interview and also a physical fitness test before getting hired.
• Candidates are required to have a valid US Drivers license with at least 6 months of driving experience
• Candidates who proficient in English plus some other languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Somali, and Farsi, Vietnamese, Spanish, Punjabi, Pashto, Indonesian etc. are considered better than those without.
• Candidates with 7-10 years of diverse law enforcement experience are treated with preference.
• Candidates with prior military training are also preferred.

The essential requirements to become an FBI Professional staff in Utah are;

• A high school diploma *Completion of a background check
• Previous work experience

Support Positions available in Utah

• Electronics Technicians
• Language Specialists
• Security Experts
• Intelligence Analysts
• Support Services Technicians
• Financial Analysts
• Investigative Specialists

Discover criminal justice & law enforcement programs in Utah that are a match for you!

Utah FBI Agent Education

Candidates of the FBI (Utah Inclusive) are required to meet certain degree requirements. FBI Special Agent candidates must have at least a Bachelors Degree in a relevant field and from an accredited 4 year University.

FBI Special Agent degree requirements include but are not limited to

• Bachelor of Science in Criminology
• Master of Science in Criminology

FBI Professional Staff such as experienced linguists, financial analysts, etc needs a high school diploma in any of these relevant fields.

Different Positions Within the FBI for Special Agents in Utah

• Evidence Recovery and Processing: Stationed in Utah, Montana and Idaho, the Evidence Response Teams in the Salt Lake City Division are responsible for gathering and processing physical evidence seized from crime scenes and this often includes taking pictures, gathering fingerprints, diagramming, surveying crime scenes and recovering DNA and more.
• Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL) – The RCFL in Salt Lake City is serviced by the Intermountain West RCFL which has Forensic Examiners tasked with the responsibility of retrieving evidence from digital devices and presenting their findings to investigators.
• Hazardous Materials– Salt Lake City has a HAZMAT Team who respond to criminal incidents and terrorist attacks that may involve hazardous materials. The Salt Lake City HAZMAT team often works alongside the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) experts at the FBI Headquarters.
• Bomb Recovery and Analysis– The Salt Lake City Division of the FBI has 4 Special Agent Bomb Technicians tasked with the responsibility of responding to suspicious items and explosive devices.
• Victim Assistance– The idea of the FBI Victim Assistance Program is to provide help to victims who have been affected adversely as a result of a federal felony offense. The Salt Lake City Division has a total of seven Victim Specialists.
• Tactical Support and Crisis Response– With a 25 member SWAT Team, the Salt Lake City Division boasts a highly trained, qualified and skilled crises response team who are experts in a variety of weapons such as assault rifles, snipers, and shotguns. The SWAT team works alongside the Hostage Rescue Team to combat high profile crime situations.
• Translation– Language Specialists working with the FBI have the ability to translate written documents and audio files as well as provide translation services in live interviews and undercover operations. The Salt Lake City Division has 51 professional Linguists who can translate 18 languages and 33 dialects.

Utah FBI Agent Salary

FBI Agents have varying responsibilities for about 36,000 employees and with these varying responsibilities come varying salaries but most of the FBI agents, technicians and specialists are paid according to the Governments approved General Schedule System (GS). Hence the salary between FBI Special Agents and Professional Staffs range between

• Special Agents: $455771- $59505 (as GS-10 beginner pay grade salary) to peak earnings (GS-13 Agents) of $71674 – $93175.
• Professional Staff: $33979 – $44176 (as GS7 beginner pay grade salary) to a peak earning of $84697 – $110104.

It is important at this point to note that entering pay grade for professional staff is often influenced by advanced degrees such as Masters and Ph.D. as well as substantial professional achievement, high military rank, and a few other variables.

FBI Training Programs and Schools in Utah