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Thank you for expressing interest in a career with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Please take a moment to click on the links below to access information regarding DEA positions and the application process.
Special Agent
As a DEA Special Agent, you will work as part of an elite criminal investigative team that transforms the power of your talent into action. That action makes a difference for the security and well-being of our nation and the world every day. A few work assignments include:
Conducting complex narcotics/drug related criminal investigations.
Carrying out surveillance of criminals engaged in drug related activities.
Infiltrating illicit drug trafficking organizations.
Identifying and apprehending drug traffickers.
Arresting law violators engaged in criminal drug related activities
Preparing evidence for prosecution officials.
To apply we invite you to contact your local recruiter. Click to find the recruiter for your area. Your recruiter will contact you with additional application instructions. For more information about the Special Agent Position and other careers at DEA please visit our website at https://www.dea.gov/careers.
Diversion Investigator
As a DEA Diversion Investigator, you will enforce the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act (CDTA) regarding the manufacture, distribution and dispensing of legally produced controlled substances and listed chemicals in order to prevent the diversion of controlled substances and listed chemicals into the illicit market, while ensuring an adequate, uninterrupted supply of pharmaceutical controlled substances and listed chemicals to meet the legitimate medical, commercial and scientific needs of the public.
As a DEA Intelligence Research Specialist, you will support counter drug investigations within the U.S. and abroad while working behind the scenes to protect our communities. Intelligence Research Specialists use their analytical skills and insights to combat drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.
Forensic Sciences careers at DEA include Forensic Chemists, Fingerprint Specialists and Forensic Computer Specialists who provide scientific support to DEA Special Agents and law enforcement personnel.
Forensic Chemists analyze evidence for the presence of controlled substances using state-of-the-art instrumentation, provide expert testimony in courts of law, support DEA Special Agents and Diversion Investigators in their criminal and regulatory investigations, and develop intelligence data used to determine trends in local and international drug trafficking.
Fingerprint Specialists use state-of-the-art examination techniques for development and comparisons of latent prints, support DEA Special Agents in their investigations, assist with clandestine laboratory investigations, provide testimony in Federal, state and local courts of law, and conduct training for
DEA Forensic Chemists and law enforcement officials.
Digital Forensic Examiners recover and analyze digital evidence, provide expert testimony in courts of law, provide investigative support to law enforcement, and conduct training for law enforcement personnel.
For more information about Forensic Sciences careers at DEA please visit our website at https://www.dea.gov/careers.
Salary and Wages
The General Schedule (GS) pay system covers the majority of civilian white-collar Federal employees (about 1.5 million worldwide) in professional, technical, administrative, and clerical positions. While the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Pay Schedules specifically cover Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs).
