DOJ Jobs: Careers With the Department of Justice

Careers in the Department of Justice (DOJ) help keep American citizens safe, protect their constitutional rights, and support the rule of law. The DOJ consists of many different agencies, each playing a role in this mission, from upholding federal law to housing and caring for federal inmates. 

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Regardless of the agency you work in, the DOJ offers a competitive compensation package for all employees, including:

•  Salary

• Benefits (including dental and vision)

• Tax-deferred retirement savings with matching contributions

• Life insurance

• Long-term care insurance

• 10 paid federal holidays 

This guide explores 12 careers in the following six DOJ areas: 

• Legal DOJ jobs 

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

• US Marshals Service (USMS)

• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

The list prior represents different departments within the DOJ; you may find numerous other positions available, such as those in administration and community outreach. 

*All average annual salaries are sourced from Glassdoor as of July 2024.

Legal DOJ jobs

The DOJ has many offices dedicated to pursuing justice through the court system. It’s no coincidence that the Attorney General leads the DOJ because many of its departments focus on the law, whether prosecuting individuals who have committed a federal crime or working in one of the 94 US Attorney’s offices [1].

Read more: 5 Types of Law Degrees

Trial attorney

Average annual US salary: $140,017

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 8 percent [2]

Education requirements: A Juris Doctor (JD) degree, passing the bar exam, and gaining a license to practice law in your state. Each state’s requirements may vary.

As a trial attorney for the DOJ, you will represent the them in prosecuting individuals who have violated criminal federal law. Some common duties include: 

• Preparing for trial by interviewing witnesses

• Taking deposition statements

• Gathering evidence

• Preparing evidence for trial

• Scheduling court orders

If your clients proceed to trial, you’ll argue and act as their advocate throughout the process. 

Senior counsel

Average annual US salary: $163,708 

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 8 percent [2]

Education requirements: A JD degree, passing the bar exam, gaining a license to practice law in your state, and gaining experience as a practicing attorney. Each state’s requirements for a license may vary. 

As senior counsel for the DOJ, you will work as a lead attorney within a federal office, such as the Office of the Attorney General or the Office of Legal Policy. In this role, you’ll liase between your office and other parties, offer legal counsel, and delegate tasks to your team. Your daily work will vary depending on the mission of the office you’re employed with. 

DOJ jobs at the FBI

The FBI is an agency dedicated to upholding the constitutional rights of American citizens. In addition to their mission and compensation package offered to all DOJ employees, the FBI offers its employees a number of additional benefits. These can include:

• 13 to 26 days of paid time off in addition to 15 paid days for members of the military reserves for training

• Access to 12 weeks of paid parental leave time

• Reimbursement for public transportation to commute to work

• Access to training, education, and wellness programs 

FBI special agent

Average annual US salary: $105,312

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 3 percent [3]

Requirements: To be an FBI special agent, you must be between 23 and 36 years old, hold a driver’s license, earn a bachelor’s degree, gain two years of professional experience, meet fitness requirements, and pass a background check. 

As an FBI special agent, you’ll enforce federal laws and investigate individuals who break federal law. Within the many departments of the FBI, you may be responsible for a wide range of tasks, such as: 

• Investigating terrorism or cyber crime

• Testifying in court

• Executing search warrants

• Surveilling a suspect

• Completing paperwork

In this role, you will defend the civil rights of US citizens. 

Read more: 6 FBI Cybersecurity Jobs and How to Get One

Management and program analyst

Average annual US salary: $91,533 

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 10 percent [4]

Requirements: To become a management and program analyst with the FBI, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree and gain experience in management, project management, or a related field. 

As a management and program analyst, you’ll work with an FBI department to help provide support and recommendations to improve programs or department leadership. Your projects will depend on which department you work with. In this role, you may need to be flexible and provide varied support as necessary to help your program succeed. 

DOJ jobs at the ATF

Working at the ATF means helping protect US citizens from the threat of individuals breaking federal laws regarding these substances. The ATF offers four main career paths: 

• Special agents

• Industry operations investigators

• Forensics and STEM

• Professional and technical careers

Below is more information about becoming a special agent or an industry operations investigator. 

ATF special agent 

Average annual US salary: $147,516

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 3 percent [3]

Requirements: You must be between the ages of 21 and 37, a US citizen, hold an undergraduate degree or experience in the field, have a valid driver’s license, and pass a security clearance. 

As a special agent of the ATF, you’ll be responsible for investigating individuals who may have violated federal laws concerning alcohol, tobacco, or firearms. Some typical tasks include: 

• Collecting evidence

• Interviewing witnesses

• Executing search warrants

• Managing crime scenes

• Participating in undercover operations

In this role, you will receive firearms and tactical training and training in close-quarters defensive countermeasures. 

Industry operations investigator

Average annual US salary:  $109,356

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 23 percent [5]

Requirements: To become an ATF industry operations investigator, you must be a US citizen, hold a valid driver’s license, be eligible to work for the federal government, and pass a security clearance. 

As an industry operations investigator, you will investigate individuals who hold licenses or permits under the ATF to determine whether anyone is violating federal law. Some ways you’ll investigate include conducting interviews and inspecting inventories of licensees and permittees. When applicable, you will refer cases to criminal enforcement units. You may also be responsible for education and outreach to industry members. 

DOJ jobs at the DEA

The DEA is responsible for enforcing federal laws regarding controlled substances. The DEA sorts its careers into six categories: 

• Student/entry-level

• Professional/administrative

• Intelligence research specialists

• Forensic sciences

• Diversion investigators

• Special agents

Next, learn more about careers as an intelligence research specialist or forensic chemist. 

Intelligence research specialist

Average annual US salary: $87,757  

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 23 percent [6]

Requirements: To become an intelligence research specialist with the DEA, you must be a US citizen and demonstrate effective communication and analytical skills. 

As a DEA intelligence research specialist, you’ll support the DEA’s mission of enforcing federal drug laws by working with intelligence data to develop actionable insight. In this role, some tasks include:

• Creating intelligence reports

• Analyzing threats

• Reporting your findings to the appropriate person

You may also be responsible for maintaining security or databases for your software.

Forensic chemist

Average annual US salary: $81,442 

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 13 percent [7]

Requirements: Abachelor’s degree in physical or life sciences or an equivalent amount of combined education and experience. 

As a DEA forensic chemist, you’ll enforce federal drug laws by analyzing evidence for the presence of controlled substances. In this role, you will also develop intelligence data based on your work, and you may appear in court or other legal proceedings to give expert testimony on your work. All newly hired forensic chemists for the DEA undergo a four-month training program with instruction and lab access. 

Read more: Computer Forensic Investigator: Career Guide

DOJ jobs at the USMS

The US Marshals Service offers security, support, and protection to the federal courts, judges, and personnel. You can find several types of DOJ jobs in this agency, including:

• Deputy US marshals

• Detention enforcement officers

• Aviation enforcement officers

• Federal enforcement officers

• Administrative and professional positions, and programs for students

Below, you will find more information about a career as a deputy US marshal or as a detention enforcement officer. 

Deputy US marshal 

Average annual US salary: $92,973

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 3 percent [3]

Requirements: To become a deputy US marshal, you must be a US citizen between the ages of 21 and 36, pass background, medical, and security checks, possess a driver’s license, and a combination of education and experience to equal a four-year degree or three years of professional experience. 

As a deputy US marshal, you will enforce federal court rulings, such as apprehending fugitives, seizing property or assets that criminals gained illegally, providing protections to federal judges when required, and transporting federal prisoners. In this role, you may also help support the Witness Security Program and work with other organizations, such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

Detention enforcement officer

Average annual US salary: $55,306

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 3 percent [3]

Education requirements: To become a detention enforcement officer, you must be a US citizen, pass background, medical, and security checks, possess a driver’s license, and be between the ages of 21 and 36. 

As a detention enforcement officer with the US marshals, you will maintain order in a cell block of federal prisoners. Your responsibilities will include:

• Transporting prisoners

• Managing prisoner property

• Escorting prisoners to the courtroom

• Preparing documentation

• Watching for contraband items

New detention enforcement officers undergo a three-week training program before working. 

DOJ jobs at the BOP

Working for the BOP, you’ll provide support or services to federal prisons at all levels of security. The BOP has four main employment categories, including: 

• Inmate and custody program positions (like correctional officers and training instructors)

• Health services (such as dentists or physicians)

• Operational readiness (such as maintenance professionals)

• Support and administration (like attorneys and accountants)

Below, you can learn more about careers as a correctional officer or training instructor. 

Correctional officer

Average annual US salary: $54,757

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): -7 percent [3]

Requirements: You have three choices to qualify for this role. You may earn a bachelor’s degree, gain three years of generalized full-time experience, or complete one year of specialized full-time experience. You must also be under the age of 37, pass physical screening tests, and pass a background check. 

As a correctional officer with the BOP, you’ll supervise and care for federal inmates and enforce the prison's rules and regulations. You can choose from many different facilities managed by the BOP, including:

• Minimum-security prison camps and correctional institutions

• High-security penitentiaries

• Administrative facilities

• Satellite prison camps

The exact duties you perform in your work will depend on the setting and security level of your institution. 

Training instructor

Average annual US salary: $73,001

Job outlook (projected growth from 2022 to 2032): 6 percent [8]

Requirements: One and three years of experience instructing adults in the subject you applied for. 

As a training instructor with the BOP, you will lead a vocational program for federal inmates. The BOP offers a variety of vocational training programs for inmates, including:

• Building trades, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)

• Welding

• Carpentry

• AutoCAD

• Electrical maintenance

• Landscaping

• Highway construction

• Wind turbine technology 

Learn more with Coursera.

The Department of Justice offers many career opportunities US citizens. If you’re ready to take the next step, taking an online course to learn new skills and explore potential career paths. For example, you could consider enrolling in An Introduction to American Law, a course offered by the University of Pennsylvania on Coursera, to explore whether a career in law is right for you. If you’re more interested in enforcing laws, you may be interested in Hot Topics in Criminal Justice, offered by Vanderbilt University on Coursera.