Physical Danger

Physical Danger

FBI Agents aren't always laying siege to cult compounds or negotiating with hostage-taking bank robbers—there's a fair amount of paperwork involved, too—but they're the first into the fire when those types of situations arise.

 
"Back in a half hour—out literally saving the world." (Source)

If you're committing any type of federal crime, you can bet that the Feds are going to be the ones coming for you. As such, being an FBI Special Agent is one of the most dangerous jobs around; at any given moment, a Special Agent could be called in to handle a hostage crisis, go undercover in a domestic terrorism cell, or investigate a bomb site. It's a bit different than most safe, comfortable desk jobs.

Not convinced? How about this: Special Agent Joseph D. Pistone, the inspiration for the film Donnie Brasco, spent six years infiltrating an organized crime family. He had to pretend that he was a completely different person, all day every day, for six years, and if anyone ever suspected who he really was, he would've been wearing concrete shoes at the bottom of the East River.

So yeah, there's some risk of physical danger. But isn't it worth it to keep the country safe?