Polygraph Examiner
Other Agencies and Independent Organizations – Central Intelligence Agency
Summary
Polygraph Examiners assess the credibility of individuals as part of the personnel security process, determine eligibility for access to classified information, and interpret physiological data.
Duties
- As a Polygraph Examiner for CIA, you will assess the credibility of individuals in support of CIA’s mission.
- Your career at CIA as a Polygraph Examiner begins with a four-year tour of duty primarily located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
- You must be a federally certified polygraph examiner or be willing and able to complete CIA’s Polygraph Examiner Program which provides training and certification to meet this requirement.
- Upon successful completion of the federal Polygraph Examiner Program, you will receive Polygraph Premium Pay, a significant addition to your base salary.
- After your initial four-year tour, you may express interest for additional polygraph tours to hone your expertise or seek new skills through other opportunities in the Office of Security.
- Polygraph examiners typically conduct two polygraph sessions per day and must work an alternate work schedule comprised of one week of 9-hour days and a second week with three 9- hour days, an 8-hour day, and Friday of that week off.
- This is known as a 5/4-9 schedule and results in a three-day weekend every other week.
- This schedule can make for a fast paced, demanding, and, at times, unrelenting job, but the challenge is worth it.
- Domestic and foreign travel opportunities may be available after a proven record of performance.
Education
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (applicants within one year of earning a four-year degree will be considered); there is no preferred major or program of study (degrees from foreign academic institutions are accepted, but you are responsible for obtaining and providing CIA with a credential evaluation from an accredited firm confirming that the foreign degree is the equivalent of a BA/BS and/or MA/MS degree conferred by a U.S. college or university). At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale is preferred
How You Will Be Evaluated
For more information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.
Required Documents
For further information, please visit: https://www.cia.gov/careers/.
About this role
The Polygraph Examiner position with the Other Agencies and Independent Organizations is based in Washington, District of Columbia. Polygraph Examiners assess the credibility of individuals as part of the personnel security process, determine eligibility for access to classified information, and interpret physiological data. The role pays $70,506 to $131,826 per year.
Day to day, the work involves as a Polygraph Examiner for CIA, you will assess the credibility of individuals in support of CIA's mission. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
Review the announcement's Qualifications section closely, since it defines exactly what the intelligence field experience this Polygraph Examiner position requires. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Polygraph Examiner position with the Other Agencies and Independent Organizations in Washington, District of Columbia, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
The posted pay of $70,506 to $131,826 per year places this in a competitive but attainable range for qualified applicants. Based in Washington, District of Columbia, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on September 30, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.