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.

How countries recruit their spies, and what they get paid