CIA Careers, Benefits, Review

CIA is the premier agency responsible for providing global intelligence on the ever-changing political, social, economic, technological and military environment. Here, your paramount goal and mission will be to protect the national security of the United States. Virtually any job you can imagine is available at CIA — plus, some you can’t even imagine.

Life at CIA 

CIA offers a wide array of exciting career opportunities and a dynamic environment. We're on the forefront of world-altering events as they happen. Working here isn't just a job - it's a mindset and a lifestyle.

When you work at CIA, you are part of a family of service - a diverse and inclusive group of professionals who are proud to be the nation's first line of defense. The Agency works hard to create a culture of acceptance where everyone is valued for their unique backgrounds and ideas. Here, you'll find a supportive environment to help you grow and excel, both professionally and personally.

Benefits

CIA believes in the importance of family and a rewarding life outside of work. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to reflect the dedication and contributions of our employees.

• Paid Leave
• Alternative Work Schedules & Hours
• Personal & Family Support
• Agency Resource Groups
• Health Insurance
• Fitness & Recreation Programs
• Professional Liability Insurance
• Salary
• Retirement
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Plans
• Voluntary Investment Plan
• Commuter Benefits
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program
• Education & Training
• Foreign Language Incentive Program
• Uniformed Services Rights

Learn more about our benefits at https://www.cia.gov/careers/working-at-cia/benefits/.

Because the CIA’s work encompasses a wide range of disciplines, there are career opportunities for people with virtually any background. Learn more at https://www.cia.gov/careers/. 

The CIA’s core work is divided between five directorates – each focusing on a different element of our mission. These Directorates work together with Mission Centers and our Enterprise Functions to collect, analyze and disseminate intelligence information to US senior policymakers.  

Directorate of Analysis
This directorate helps provide timely, accurate and objective all-source intelligence analysis of national security and foreign policy issues to senior policymakers in the US government.

Directorate of Digital Innovation
This directorate focuses on accelerating innovation across the Agency’s mission activities with cutting-edge digital and cyber tradecraft and IT infrastructure.

Directorate of Operations
This directorate serves as the CIA’s clandestine and the national authority or the coordination, deconfliction and evaluation of clandestine operations across the Intelligence Community of the United States.

Directorate of Science & Technology
This directorate leverages STEM expertise, effective targeting, bold technology and superb tradecraft to solve our nation’s most pressing intelligence problems.

Directorate of Support
This directorate provides the essential support needed to ensure everyone across the Agency has what they need to accomplish their critical missions.

Enterprise Functions
The Enterprise Functions span a variety of specialties, such as congressional affairs, human resources, information management, internal oversight, legal issues, military affairs, protocol and public affairs. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We know our nation’s strength comes from the diversity of its people. At the CIA, we achieve our greatest accomplishments because we draw on the talents from all parts of our society – bringing together a wide range of perspectives. This inclusive approach is especially critical in the national security arena where we must address challenges from areas and cultures across the globe. We are continually striving to make our workforce reflect the world in which we live – it’s what drives us forward and helps us solve our toughest challenges.

Attracting Diverse Talent

We employ comprehensive recruitment strategies and outreach to ensure we attract a diverse pool of potential employees from a wide spectrum of the population. To achieve this goal, we continually strengthen our relations with:

• Colleges and universities
• Diverse professional organizations
• Heritage-based groups
• Minority-serving institutions from across the country

Engaging with these groups raises awareness about the CIA’s work and provides the means to fill our workforce with people from all backgrounds.

Ready to join our diverse workforce? Browse available jobs and apply today at https://www.cia.gov/careers/.

To say working at the CIA as a student is unique would be an understatement. Whether you’re in an internship, Cooperative Education (Co-op) program or scholarship program, you are tackling some of the most critical work that keeps our nation safe.

Offered throughout the year in the Washington Metropolitan area, our paid student programs span a wide variety of fields of study. From accounting and finance, to foreign languages, economics, engineering and information technology, we need talented and intelligent people to do the work that protects all Americans. As you work alongside experts in your field, you will obtain real-world insight into the CIA and Intelligence Community – preparing you for a career more impactful that you ever dreamed possible.

Learn more at https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-programs/.

Foreign Language

In our rapidly changing world, intelligence priorities can shift as countries and languages increase in importance. To stay ahead of these critical changes, the CIA needs language professionals to help us effectively gather the intelligence that keeps our nation safe.

Operating in multiple positions throughout the Agency, our language experts use their ability to speak, read and translate foreign languages – as well as their understanding of cultural differences – to handle both current national security requirements and potentially new missions.

The CIA needs language professionals who specialize in a range of languages spoken around the world, including, but not limited to, Arabic, Chinese, Mandarin, Dari/Pashto, Korean, Persian/Farsi and Russian.

The CIA offers monetary bonuses for those who meet proficiency requirements in one or more of our mission critical languages. Visit the Foreign Language Incentive Program page to see a full list of languages that qualify for our incentives at https://www.cia.gov/careers/language-opportunities/foreign-language-incentive-program/.

While language skills are valuable no matter what role you have at the CIA, there are several roles that rely heavily on foreign language skills.

View our foreign language opportunities and apply today at https://www.cia.gov/careers/.