1

Government Intelligence Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

Government Intelligence information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$46.9K

$107.8K

$148.3K

How much do government intelligence jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for government intelligence in Chicago, IL is $107,798.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,800.00 and $122,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a government intelligence officer?

A government intelligence officer is a professional who collects, analyzes, and interprets information to support national security and inform decision-makers. They work for government agencies and focus on gathering intelligence about threats, foreign entities, and other matters of national interest. Their work can involve research, surveillance, and collaboration with other agencies, often requiring a high level of confidentiality and analytical skills. Intelligence officers play a crucial role in preventing security threats and supporting policy development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in government intelligence?

To thrive in Government Intelligence, you need strong analytical skills, critical thinking, and a background in fields such as international relations, security studies, or computer science, often with a relevant degree or security clearance. Proficiency with data analysis software, intelligence databases, and classified communication systems is typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, integrity, discretion, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for accurately assessing threats, protecting sensitive information, and supporting national security objectives.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in government intelligence roles?

Professionals in government intelligence often encounter the challenge of balancing the need for confidentiality with effective communication across multidisciplinary teams. They may also face rapidly changing priorities based on national or global events, which requires adaptability and strong analytical skills. Additionally, staying current with evolving technologies and cybersecurity threats is crucial, as is maintaining compliance with strict legal and ethical guidelines. These factors contribute to a fast-paced and high-stakes work environment where attention to detail and teamwork are essential.

What is the difference between Government Intelligence vs Intelligence Analyst?

AspectGovernment IntelligenceIntelligence Analyst
Required CredentialsSecurity clearances, relevant degrees (e.g., political science, international relations)Similar degrees, often with security clearances for government roles
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, classified settings, secure facilitiesGovernment agencies, private firms, think tanks
Employer & Industry UsageFederal agencies like CIA, NSA, DHSGovernment, defense contractors, intelligence firms
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles within government intelligenceCareer options, job duties, differences in intelligence roles

Government Intelligence involves working within government agencies to gather, analyze, and interpret classified information for national security. Intelligence Analysts may work in similar environments but often focus on analyzing data to support decision-making across various sectors, including private firms. While both roles require security clearances and relevant education, Government Intelligence roles are typically more specialized in national security and classified operations.

Do government intelligence jobs pay well?

Government intelligence jobs typically offer competitive salaries that vary based on experience, education, and security clearance level. These roles often include benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for advancement, making them financially stable careers. Salary ranges can differ by agency and location but generally align with federal pay scales for similar positions.

What is a government intelligence job?

A government intelligence job involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information to support national security and policy objectives. These roles often require security clearances, strong analytical skills, and knowledge of intelligence tools and methods. Employees may work for agencies such as the CIA, NSA, or DHS and often operate in secure environments with specialized training.

What are popular job titles related to Government Intelligence jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Government Intelligence jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Government Intelligence jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Government Intelligence jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Infographic showing various Government Intelligence job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $107,798 per year, or $51.8 per hour.

Director, Emerging Technology Intelligence

FINRA

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

Strategic Intelligence is a team within FINRA's Risk & Intelligence organization that provides strategic and tactical intelligence impacting member firms, investors, and the financial markets, translating into better, more informed, and timely regulatory decisions. The Strategic Intelligence team supports FINRA's Regulatory Programs by identifying, analyzing, and assessing emerging risks and trends, and generating insights through finished intelligence products. The Director, Strategic Intelligence provides leadership to a team of analysts working across multiple intelligence disciplines who are engaged in the collection, analysis, processing, and dissemination of intelligence. This role requires mastery level knowledge of intelligence disciplines and extensive knowledge of several related areas, as well as the ability to build and maintain effective relationships internally with subject matter experts across FINRA's regulatory programs and establish relationships externally with member firms, law enforcement, and other government intelligence partners in support of both Strategic Intelligence and FINRA's missions.

Essential Job Functions:

The Director, Strategic Intelligence executes functions in support of the Strategic Intelligence mission including the following:

  • Serve as a senior partner to internal and external stakeholders, leading cross-departmental efforts to identify emerging threats and drive intelligence-driven initiatives with measurable impact on Strategic Intelligence results.
  • Lead a team of intelligence analysts in identifying, analyzing, and predicting emerging risks, threats, regulatory trends, and critical events with broad scope, considering implications both within and outside of the Strategic Intelligence function.
  • Spearhead the team's establishment and maintenance of partnerships and networks with internal and external stakeholders to understand and shape intelligence priorities across the enterprise.
  • Independently develop and maintain intelligence frameworks, collection strategies, standards, and dissemination for a team of analysts, applying deep knowledge of complex intelligence practices and standards to ensure timely delivery of actionable intelligence to appropriate stakeholders across the enterprise and externally.
  • Establish and execute measurable operational plans and set priorities for the team's production of strategic intelligence products, assessments, briefings, and communications that translate complex intelligence into actionable insights for senior leadership, regulatory staff, and external stakeholders.
  • Lead analysts in large projects or processes within Strategic Intelligence, driving meaningful improvements to intelligence frameworks and programs to achieve operational and business targets.
  • Engage with leadership across FINRA in joint problem solving to develop strategies for mitigating risks and threats, and influence stakeholders outside of Strategic Intelligence to align on new intelligence concepts, practices, and approaches.
  • Lead or participate in conference panels, working groups, and roundtables related to member firm/investor and FINRA staff intelligence sharing.
  • Lead or host training events, podcasts, workshops, or live webinars related to FINRA staff training and intelligence sharing.
  • Demonstrate FINRA's values.
  • Collaborate, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA's mission of investor protection and market integrity.
Education/Experience Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree and minimum of ten (10) years of experience required; advanced degree in intelligence studies, public policy, business, or law preferred.
  • Previous experience working at a broker-dealer or other type of financial institution or at a government agency or department with a focus on intelligence required.
  • Proven deep knowledge of performing advanced and high-complexity intelligence functions across multiple disciplines, representing the full intelligence cycle.
  • Demonstrated ability in applying rigorous analytical and strategic thinking skills to assess complex risks and threats with significant implications both within and beyond the organization.
  • Demonstrated track record of leading significant improvements to intelligence processes or products that drive measurable results.
  • Strong knowledge of FINRA rules and the federal securities laws is required.
  • Strong knowledge of the securities markets and member firm operations is required.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead teams and influence and align stakeholders, including department leadership, inside and outside of Strategic Intelligence on new concepts and approaches.
  • Broad management and leadership knowledge, including fostering a functional team-oriented culture.
  • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail and an ability to oversee multiple assignments concurrently.
  • Expert proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant software applications.
  • FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) certification or acceptable industry equivalent certification is required upon hire or within 16 months of the start date of the assigned SIE training cohort.

Work Conditions:
  • Hybrid work environment, with defined in-person presence requirements.
  • Extended hours and travel as needed.

For work that is performed in Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA, CO, FL, TX, IL, PA, MA, MD, VA, Washington, DC, NY and NJ, please refer to the chart below for the salary range for the corresponding location. FINRA complies with all state and local pay transparency laws and regulations requiring the disclosure of salary ranges for the position. In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate's skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations.

Los Angeles, CA: Minimum Salary $177,000, Maximum Salary $266,000

San Francisco, CA: Minimum Salary $185,000, Maximum Salary $278,000

CO/FL/TX: Minimum Salary $134,400, Maximum Salary $260,400

IL/PA: Minimum Salary $147,600, Maximum Salary $286,500

MA/MD/VA/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $154,400, Maximum Salary $299,600

NY/NJ: Minimum Salary $154,400, Maximum Salary $312,600

#LI-Hybrid

To be considered for this position, please submit an application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The information provided above has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work of the position. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required.

Please note: If the "Apply Now" button on a job board posting does not take you directly to the FINRA Careers site, enter www.finra.org/careers into your browser to reach our site directly.

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law. As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability, long-term care, business travel accident, disability and legal. FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.

Time Off and Paid Leave*

FINRA encourages its employees to focus on their health and wellness in many ways, including through a generous time-off program of 15 days of paid time off, 5 personal days and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro-rated in the first year). Additionally, we are proud to support our communities by providing two volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule). Other paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment). Full-time employees receive nine paid holidays.

*Based on full-time schedule

Important Information

FINRA's Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees' investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. FINRA employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts that they maintain, and those in which they control trading or have a financial interest (including any trust account of which they are a trustee or beneficiary and all accounts of a spouse, domestic partner or minor child who lives with the employee) and to authorize their broker-dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for all of those accounts. All of those accounts are subject to the Code's investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply with those investment restrictions-including disposing of any security issued by a company on FINRA's Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President-by the date they begin employment with FINRA. Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at one or more securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e-feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other securities firms to a firm that provides an e-feed within three months of beginning employment.

You can read more about these restrictions here.

As standard practice, employees must also execute FINRA's Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement without qualification or modification and comply with the company's policy on nepotism.

Search Firm Representatives

Please be advised that FINRA is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, a valid written agreement and task order must be in place before any resumes are submitted to FINRA. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at FINRA without a valid written agreement and task order in place will be deemed the sole property of FINRA and no fee will be paid in the event that person is hired by FINRA.

FINRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected category, including race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex, or any other status or classification protected by state or local law.

FINRA strives to make our career site accessible to all users. If you need a disability-related accommodation for completing the application process, please contact FINRA's Employee Relations team at 240-386-4865 or by email at EmployeeRelations@FINRA.org. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding accommodations in the application process.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.

2026 FINRA. All rights reserved. FINRA is a registered trademark of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.