Intelligence Analysts: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Intelligence Analysts

Intelligence Analysts 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.

Salary
$89300
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Intelligence Analysts 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.

  • Validate known intelligence with data from other sources.
  • Gather, analyze, correlate, or evaluate information from a variety of resources, such as law enforcement databases.
  • Prepare comprehensive written reports, presentations, maps, or charts based on research, collection, and analysis of intelligence data.
  • Study activities relating to narcotics, money laundering, gangs, auto theft rings, terrorism, or other national security threats.
Read more about what does an Intelligence Analyst really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$85020 per year

Average hourly wage
$41 per hour


Intelligence Analysts with little to no experience tend to make between $43800 and $57560 while the more experienced ones can earn over $107000 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
DC $59 $122,460
AK $57 $118,360
CA $52 $107,120
HI $51 $107,010
NJ $49 $102,600

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as an Intelligence Analyst is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Intelligence Analysts are DC, AK, CA, HI and NJ.

However, a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as an Intelligence Analyst is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Bachelor’s degree

We asked other Intelligence Analysts what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelor’s Degree followed by an Associate’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
Criminal Justice/Police Science
Criminalistics and Criminal Science
Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing
Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management
Read more about how to become an Intelligence Analyst and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being an Intelligence Analyst.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally
Suitable for people who values achievements and are results-oriented
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Demand for this career is growing very slowly

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
70%

Is this job meaningful
72%


70% of Intelligence Analysts said they were satisfied with their job and 72% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Thinkers and The Entrepreneurs

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.



Learn more about Intelligence Analysts

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Intelligence Analysts job description, Intelligence Analysts salary, Intelligence Analysts information, what is the job of an Intelligence Analyst like, pros and cons about Intelligence Analysts, colleges and universities for Intelligence Analysts, is Intelligence Analysts the right career for me, careers in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Similar careers

Chief Investigator, CIA Agent (Central Intelligence Agency Agent), Counter Intelligence Agent, Counterintelligence Analyst, Crime Analyst, Criminal Intelligence Analyst, Criminal Intelligence Analyst Supervisor, Criminal Intelligence Specialist, Criminal Research Specialist, Detective and Intelligence Analyst

Additional resources