Intelligence Analysts

These professionals spend their days collecting, processing, and analyzing data from geographic information systems, law enforcement databases, and intelligence networks. They use this information to predict and stop organized criminal efforts, including acts of terrorism. The role requires strong investigative interests, as analysts must identify specific objects, actions, or events and think creatively to solve complex problems.

On a daily basis, analysts work extensively with computers to update their knowledge and process information. Communication is a major part of the job, requiring workers to share findings with supervisors, colleagues, and external organizations while building strong professional relationships. Success in this field relies on skills like critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, and sound decision-making. Analysts must have a solid understanding of law and government, public safety, security, and telecommunications. Key personal traits for this career include integrity, attention to detail, dependability, cautiousness, and intellectual curiosity.

To enter this field, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that a high school diploma is the typical minimum education. However, most professionals in this career require considerable preparation, which usually means earning a bachelor's degree and gaining several years of work experience in a related field.

Students interested in this career path often choose college majors such as criminal justice and corrections, security science and technology, intelligence, command control and information operations, or environmental and natural resources management and policy. To enhance their credentials, analysts can pursue professional certifications. Examples of these certifications include the Certified Business Intelligence Professional - Business Core from The Data Warehouse Institute, the Certified Data Science Practitioner from CertNexus, and the Intelligence Planner Certification Program offered by the Defense Intelligence Agency PMO.

The median annual pay for intelligence analysts is $93,790, though this figure represents the broader occupational group of detectives and criminal investigators. Within this group, the lowest 10% of earners make less than $55,390, while the highest 10% earn more than $160,540.

There are 114,430 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 0.2%, which represents little or no change. Despite this flat growth, about 7,800 job openings are expected to become available each year.