Intelligence Analyst labor category
Intelligence Analyst is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. GSA ceiling rates run about $89–$208/hr depending on level. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Intelligence Analyst does
Your transition from military service is highly valued here because you understand the mission-oriented environment and the necessity of timely reporting. Government contracts typically categorize these roles into levels based on your depth of expertise, education, and years of experience. Entry-level positions usually focus on data gathering and basic reporting, while senior levels involve briefing high-ranking officials and leading complex analytic projects. Whether you are focusing on cybersecurity, regional geopolitical issues, or supply chain risks, your work directly informs government policy and resource allocation. Most contracts require a solid understanding of analytic tradecraft and the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Typical Intelligence Analyst duties
- Analyze large datasets to identify emerging threats or patterns that impact operational security.
- Produce written intelligence reports and visual briefings for executive-level government decision-makers.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate disparate sources of information into a comprehensive assessment.
- Evaluate the credibility and reliability of data sources to ensure high-quality analytic outcomes.
- Develop and maintain analytic frameworks that improve the efficiency of intelligence collection and processing.
Intelligence Analyst levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | Bachelors | $89/hr – $133/hr | $111/hr | $96k–$128k |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | Bachelors | $105/hr – $161/hr | $135/hr | $117k–$156k |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | Bachelors | $128/hr – $208/hr | $156/hr | $136k–$181k |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $89/hr – $133/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $111/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $96k–$128k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $105/hr – $161/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $135/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $117k–$156k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $128/hr – $208/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $156/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $136k–$181k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 708 rates.
Common certifications: Security+, Network+, ITIL Foundation, Project Management Professional, Certified Associate in Project Management, Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst, GIS Professional, CompTIA Security+
Clearance for this labor category
About 13% of Intelligence Analyst GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Intelligence Analyst
Sample Intelligence Analyst resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Authored 50+ actionable intelligence reports that directly influenced strategic decision-making for a $10M government program.
- Streamlined data synthesis workflows for 200+ daily inputs, increasing the speed of threat identification by 30%.
- Briefed senior government officials on regional risk assessments, ensuring alignment across 5 interagency partners.
What level Intelligence Analyst are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 255 rates.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Intelligence Analyst. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Intelligence Analyst labor category: quick answers
How does my military experience map to civilian intelligence levels?
Junior enlisted experience often aligns with Level I roles, while senior NCO or officer experience often maps to Level II or III roles depending on your years of management and specialized analysis experience.
Do I need a security clearance to be an intelligence analyst?
Many, though not all, intelligence roles on government contracts require an active security clearance. You will see this noted specifically in the job description for each position.
What is the typical salary expectation for these roles?
Salaries vary by geographic location and contract requirements, but current market data for government contracting indicates median hourly rates ranging from approximately $111 to $157 depending on the level of responsibility.
Is a college degree mandatory for this position?
While a Bachelor degree is the common standard, many government contractors will accept equivalent years of specialized military intelligence experience in lieu of a formal degree.
How do I translate my military analytic terminology for civilian recruiters?
Focus on the outcome of your work rather than the process. Use civilian terms like data synthesis, threat assessment, stakeholder communication, and trend analysis instead of acronyms specific to your branch of service.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
Your transition from military service is highly valued here because you understand the mission-oriented environment and the necessity of timely reporting. Government contracts typically categorize these roles into levels based on your depth of expertise, education, and years of experience. Entry-level positions usually focus on data gathering and basic reporting, while senior levels involve briefing high-ranking officials and leading complex analytic projects. Whether you are focusing on cybersecurity, regional geopolitical issues, or supply chain risks, your work directly informs government policy and resource allocation. Most contracts require a solid understanding of analytic tradecraft and the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Intelligence Analyst level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
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