Think you've got what it takes to become a spy? Whether you're a budding James Bond or a Jason Bourne in the making, landing a job in one of the world's intelligence agencies isn't quite as simple as our favourite movie characters might make it look.
That said, it's not as hush-hush and covert as you might imagine, with many spies more likely to apply for a role online than be tapped on the shoulder by a shadowy figure in a trench coat. Read on to find out how countries really recruit their secret agents, and what they get paid. All dollar amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise stated.
The London-based MI5 couldn't make it easier for budding spies: it has a careers section on its website that's dedicated to hiring the best new talent.
Opportunities span everything from intelligence and tech to languages and corporate, and teens straight out of school can apply thanks to MI5's "I Can" campaign.
While MI5 is an equal opportunities employer, there are certain criteria an applicant must meet in order to be considered for a job. First and foremost, only British citizens are considered.
You'll need to have at least one parent who's also a British citizen, or who ticks one of these boxes: "British Overseas Territories, British subject, British National (Overseas), British Overseas Citizen, British protected person, citizenship of the Commonwealth, citizenship of an a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) nationality, or citizenship of the United States of America".
If you're a bit of a linguist, you can jump to the front of the queue. MI5 job applicants who are fluent in tricky languages such as Sorani, Pashto, Mandarin, Turkish, Sylheti, and Russian are particularly welcomed.
Applicants need to look as "normal" as possible, with the obvious goal of being able to blend effortlessly into a crowd at any opportunity.
Sorry, hipsters – visible tattoos and piercings are strictly not permitted, while attention-grabbing hair colours or unusual clothing is also frowned upon. Save it for the weekend, we say...
Keeping tight-lipped is the name of the game and discretion is a must, with MI5 urging its candidates to keep news of their applications to themselves.
For those who simply must tell somebody that they're applying to join the Security Service, MI5 concedes that you can confide in a close family member or partner, if they're British – and if they can be trusted not to blab the news themselves.
Applicants are vetted extensively. Each potential spy is required to obtain "Developed Vetting", which is the highest form of UK government security clearance.
Everything from their financial affairs to the state of their health will be scrutinised in painstaking detail.
So how much can an MI5 agent expect to earn in 2022?
The Intelligence Officer Development Programme (IODP) offers an annual starting salary of £33,500 ($41k) to successful applicants, which rises to £36,053 ($44k) after the first year of service.
According to the website, it sounds like a great role for someone new to the industry; MI5 says it will "enable you to develop the skills you need to become a widely deployable Intelligence Officer". Double-O status, here you come...
Much like MI5, the CIA's online job application process is super-tough, long-winded, and intrusive.
Vetting is extensive and the background checks alone can reportedly take up to a year in some cases.
For starters, intel roles are only open to US citizens who are aged 18 or over.
Candidates with college degrees are preferred, while those with cultural awareness and fluent language skills in Arabic, Korean, Pashto, Mandarin, Dari, Russian, Farsi, and Somali are particularly sought after.
Applicants need to have an exemplary character to land a job in the CIA.
The legendary background checks delve into every aspect of a candidate's life, with any closet-lurking skeletons more than likely to be revealed.
The vetting process involves comprehensive drug testing, too. While marijuana is now legal for recreational use in certain US states, the CIA describes itself as a "drug-free workplace".
Strict rules state that its agents must refrain from drugs, while candidates with traces of anything untoward in their bloodstream are likely to be disqualified.
Candidates will also have their Internet history checked and can be disqualified from the recruitment process if they are found to have downloaded content illegally from the web. Even a one-off pirated music download can thwart a serious application...
Interestingly, the CIA urges budding spies to not follow the agency on social media, noting that it's "for your security".
According to the CIA, working at the intelligence agency "is more than just a job – it's a career and a lifestyle".
As well as the strenuous background checks, applicants will also need to undertake medical and security evaluations, a polygraph interview, and physical and psychological examinations.
So for all that effort, how much can you expect to take home as a new recruit to the CIA? The answer depends very much on the role you're going for and the amount of experience you have.
Something like Cyber Security Officer, for example, boasts a starting salary of $70,207-$155,687 (£57k-£127k) according to a current live job listing on the CIA's website.
The agency also offers a number of Graduate Studies Program opportunities, with each specialising in a specific field. The Engineering program currently comes with a starting salary of $62,465-$98,947 (£51k-£81k), while the equivalent Human Resources Analyst scheme offers grads a starting salary that ranges between $59,081-$92,967 (£48k-£76k).
And don't forget that these are just the starting salaries, people: higher-up roles earn comfortably in the six figures.
Just as rigorous is the CSIS application process in Canada, which is lengthy and complex.
Roles, which are advertised online, are only open to Canadian citizens who meet stringent criteria. As with similar jobs in other countries, an aptitude for foreign languages is preferred, and being bilingual in English and French is a plus.
Candidates who have fluency in Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, Sorani, and Russian are particularly desirable.
Certain roles will also require applicants to have a valid permanent Canadian driver's licence – presumably for all those high-speed car chases through crowded market squares you'll be taking part in.
Or maybe that only happens in the movies...
Applying to the CSIS involves nine full-on stages, which include a competency interview, security clearance, and more. Any language skills are tested thoroughly and graded.
From start to finish, the process can take up to 12 months.
Being of sound mind is essential, and candidates must undergo an exhaustive psychological assessment to be considered for a role in the CSIS.
This includes extensive psychometric testing and an in-depth mental health interview.
Applicants have to submit financial declarations, fingerprint samples, and take part in a demanding security interview.
Everything they provide is painstakingly checked and double-checked to ensure it's all above board.
With tens of thousands of applicants for every job, the CSIS works hard to ensure they cherry-pick the best people for their roles.
If a candidate progresses to the final stage of the application process, they must agree to take a polygraph test to guarantee that they're not lying about anything in their past.
According to the CSIS website, the agency has 11 different annual pay scales, which range from a level 1 range of CA$36,000 to CA$40,830 ($28k/£23k to $32k/£26.3k) to a level 11 range of CA$119,040 to CA$142,860 ($93k/£77k to $112k/£92k).
Benefits are competitive: employees can enjoy three weeks of paid annual leave, sick leave credits, and a health and dental insurance plan.
Aussie spies are recruited in a similar way to their counterparts in the UK, USA, and Canada.
ASIS, the branch of the secret service that is concerned with external threats, advertises many of its job openings online.
Firstly, candidates must be Australian citizens, while a degree-level education and language skills are preferrable.
Discretion is mandatory, with budding recruits instructed to keep quiet about their application. Got the job? Congratulations – but don't go announcing your news on Facebook just yet.
The ASIS website notes that new employees will later be able to "discuss the process of telling someone of your employment with ASIS".
Candidates have to be prepared to wait. And wait. And wait...
The process is long and can comfortably take over a year. The patience of a saint is just one of the many attributes that desirable applicants will have.
Every aspect of the applicant's life is inspected in close-up detail, with agents combing through candidates' credit reference files, health records, and more.
Agents also run background checks on the applicant's family and friends. Again, if they find anything they don't like, such as a close friend with extreme political views, it's likely to be game over.
Given the notoriously tough selection process, very few candidates actually make it through to the bitter end.
In fact, only one out of every 100 serious applicants lands an intelligence role in ASIS. So maybe don't give up the day job just yet...
According to recruitment site Indeed, ASIS salaries can vary hugely. Listed annual salaries at the agency include AU$151,362 ($107k/£88.5k) for a director role and AU$88,654 ($63k/£52k) for a security officer.
On the ASIS website, a current listing for an intelligence officer job opening states a starting salary that ranges from AU$85,383 to AU$117,746 ($60.4k/£50k to $83k/£69k).
The Russian Federal Security Service is Russia's main security agency and has been since the dissolution of the Soviet Union's KGB in 1991.
For young citizens of the Russian Federation, becoming an agent of the FSB could prove an irresistible prospect, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing war against Ukraine.
But what does applying entail, and how much could you earn?
As with all intelligence agencies, applicants to the FSB are required to meet certain criteria, which include health, education, and strenuous background checks.
The same goes for Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) which, according to its website, looks for recruits who are "young... a citizen of the Russian Federation, sincerely love your Motherland and... are attracted by the romance of the intelligence profession".
According to a 2014 article published by The Moscow Times, the process of becoming a Russian agent is long-winded.
One source who was quoted for the piece actually suggested that candidates who manually apply for a role are less likely to be successful than those who are scouted.
The insider observed that "recruitment is based on nepotism", adding that the "primary criterion is loyalty" when it comes to becoming an agent.
So if you actually manage to make it on board, how much can you earn at the FSB?
Answering a question about salaries on Quora, an insider revealed that a senior intelligence officer can expect to earn around 300,000 rubles ($4,878/£4,010) a month.
Salaries vary according to position and location, with skill set heavily influencing how much you're likely to earn.
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