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.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Complex Problem Solving
Monitoring

Key knowledge

English Language
Law and Government
Public Safety and Security
Administrative
Computers and Electronics
Communications and Media
Customer and Personal Service
Telecommunications

What the work involves

Predict future gang, organized crime, or terrorist activity, using analyses of intelligence data.
Study activities relating to narcotics, money laundering, gangs, auto theft rings, terrorism, or other national security threats.
Design, use, or maintain databases and software applications, such as geographic information systems (GIS) mapping and artificial intelligence tools.
Establish criminal profiles to aid in connecting criminal organizations with their members.
Evaluate records of communications, such as telephone calls, to plot activity and determine the size and location of criminal groups and members.
Gather intelligence information by field observation, confidential information sources, or public records.
Gather, analyze, correlate, or evaluate information from a variety of resources, such as law enforcement databases.
Link or chart suspects to criminal organizations or events to determine activities and interrelationships.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Enterprising.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (65.2% of respondents)
Related experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (30.4%)
On-the-job training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (34.8%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Intelligence Analysts is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Projection education uses SOC 33-3021 (detailed_parent); it may describe a broader group.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Moderate	Lower on contact with others than 53% of occupations compared	52% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others”
Dealing with the public	Low	Lower on dealing with the public than 60% of occupations compared	39% of surveyed respondents chose “Important”
Teamwork	High	Higher on teamwork than 79% of occupations compared	64% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important”
Freedom to make decisions	High	Higher on freedom to make decisions than 66% of occupations compared	52% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	Moderate	Lower on time pressure than 56% of occupations compared	48% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day”
Conflict situations	Very low	Lower on conflict situations than 82% of occupations compared	35% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Very low	Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 91% of occupations compared	68% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Consequence of error	Low	Lower on consequence of error than 70% of occupations compared	26% of surveyed respondents chose “Not serious at all”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: moderate
Conflict situations: very low
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
Consequence of error: low

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions