Investigative Analysis
Everything OPM FedScope (June 2026) reports about the Investigative Analysis occupation series (code 1805): headcount, average salary, length of service, and pay comparison.
The verdict
With 2,129 employees (0.1% of the federal civilian workforce), Investigative Analysis ranks as a smaller, specialized federal occupation within the Investigation Group family, and headcount declined 2.6% from the prior period. Its average salary of n/a pays below the $117,339 federal average.
- Employees
- 2,129
- Share of workforce
- 0.1%
- Avg salary
- n/a
- Avg tenure
- 15.9 yrs
FedScope read on Investigative Analysis (dense series)
Federal agencies employ 2,129 people in the Investigative Analysis occupation (OPM code 1805), accounting for 0.1% of the total federal civilian workforce of 1,953,300 for the June 2026 reporting window. Headcount in this occupation moved down by -2.6% versus the prior period, a modest but trackable signal for anyone considering this specialized federal career path.
Investigative Analysis pays n/a per year on average, moving down 0.0% from the prior period (a small shift, within the range of normal year-to-year rounding rather than a broad pay-table change). Employees in this role stay an average of 15.9 years, a long average tenure, typical of career federal roles where employees stay through much of a full career before retirement.
The Investigation Group family (code 18) groups Investigative Analysis together with 19 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Investigative Analysis postings should also review these sibling occupations in the Investigation Group family.
Investigative Analysis makes up 1.0% of the 209,389 employees across the Investigation Group family, ranking #8 of 20 occupations in that family by headcount. Its average salary ranks in the bottom half (0th percentile) of pay among Investigation Group occupations.
Salary context · lean-pay series
How Investigative Analysis pay compares to the federal average of $117,339
Occupation Average
n/a
Federal Average
$117,339
vs. Federal Avg
-100.0%
Where Investigative Analysis ranks on lean federal pay
Its average salary of n/a is higher than 0% of federal occupation series (0 of 541). The highlighted bar marks where Investigative Analysis sits in the federal pay distribution.
Average-salary distribution across all 541 federal occupation series; Investigative Analysis ranks higher than 0%.
Related Occupations in Investigation Group
10 other occupations in the same family
| Occupation | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance Inspection and Support | 53,444 | n/a | 9.8 yrs |
| Criminal Investigation | 44,633 | n/a | 14.5 yrs |
| General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance Series | 44,491 | n/a | 14.8 yrs |
| Customs and Border Protection | 27,421 | n/a | 14.7 yrs |
| Border Patrol Enforcement Series | 21,781 | n/a | 13.3 yrs |
| Consumer Safety Inspection | 5,242 | $74,073 | 15.3 yrs |
| Aviation Safety | 4,206 | $143,216 | 15 yrs |
| Import Compliance Series | 1,104 | $126,314 | 16.5 yrs |
| Wage and Hour Investigation Series | 885 | $120,994 | 17.1 yrs |
| Mine Safety and Health Inspection Series | 875 | $112,306 | 13.2 yrs |
Nationwide peers near this dense headcount
Two peer sets for Investigative Analysis outside the Investigation Group family, on headcount and average salary axes that vary across all OPM occupation series.
Similar dense headcount
Nearest employee counts in other occupation families (2,129 here).
Similar lean average salary
Nearest average salaries in other occupation families (n/a here).
Key takeaways
- Investigative Analysis pays below the federal average by 100.0% (n/a vs $117,339 federal-wide), at the 0th percentile for pay among 541 tracked occupation series.
- A smaller, specialized federal occupation by headcount: 2,129 employees, 0.1% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount declined 2.6% from the prior period.
- According to OPM FedScope June 2026, Investigative Analysis ranks #150 of 663 federal occupation series by headcount (the same employee_count ordering as our occupations directory).
- Investigative Analysis makes up 1.0% of the 209,389 employees across the Investigation Group family, ranking #8 of 20 occupations in that family by headcount.
OPM FedScope and Federal Workforce Data figures are federal civilian headcounts, average salaries, and length-of-service statistics - not job-quality scores, hiring advice, or a live vacancy listing. A larger or higher-paid agency is not a better employer.