• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he criticizes everything his 42,000-plus employees show him: ‘You can’t go a day without some criticism’

2

The U.S. campaigned to host the World Cup. Now soccer fans will trade their countries' train system for the U.S.'s 'D' rated infrastructure

3

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

1

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he criticizes everything his 42,000-plus employees show him: ‘You can’t go a day without some criticism’

2

The U.S. campaigned to host the World Cup. Now soccer fans will trade their countries' train system for the U.S.'s 'D' rated infrastructure

3

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Arts & EntertainmentX-Files

Here’s How to Switch To An ‘X-Files’ Career

By
Money
Money
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Money
Money
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 23, 2016, 11:37 AM ET
THE X-FILES:  L-R:  Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder.  The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.  ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX
THE X-FILES: L-R: Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOXCourtesy of Fox

By Alicia Adamczyk

So, that desk job just isn’t cutting it for you anymore. You’ve watched all nine seasons of The X-Files, along with Fringe and the occasional episode of Long Island Medium, and you’re convinced you could make a bigger impact chasing the supernatural than fiddling with Excel spreadsheets. So how do you make the switch from routine work to otherworldly employ?

Here are a few career options.

FBI Special Agent

Description: Suffice it to say FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully did not have your run-of-the-mill agent gig. In their case, investigating paranormal phenomena and shadowy governmental conspiracies is par for the course. Risk of alien abduction also a distinct possibility.

Compensation: In 2002, an FBI special agent made a starting salary of $43,705 while in the 16-week training program, according to the bureau’s website. The salary then jumped up to anywhere from $53,743 to $58,335 once agents graduated, depending on where they were assigned for duty. (Hopefully, unlike the actors portraying them, Scully and Mulder earn comparable salaries despite their gender differences.)

Requirements: Mulder attended Oxford University, from which he graduated with a B.A. in psychology. From there he went to the FBI Academy. Scully graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in physics before attending medical school, focusing on forensics. She was recruited by the FBI. You have to be intelligent, physically fit, and able to think on your feet.

Shady High-Level Government Official

Description: Let’s say you’re more inclined to cover up government conspiracies than solve them, a la the Smoking Man. This top-level management job involves conspiracy and corruption on a grand scale, ability to cooperate with alien invaders, and general disregard for the well-being of the human race.

Compensation: Salaries for most government officials are publicly available—except for the IRS, CIA, and Department of Defense. So determining what a top-level CIA or DoD official brings home is a bit more difficult. But both the CIA director and the FBI director’s salaries are set at level II of the Federal Executive Salary Schedule, which is $185,100 for 2016. Considering how much power C.G.B. Spender seems to wield in the government, you can bet he makes a decent living.

Requirements: How did he rise in the Syndicate? It’s a bit unclear. How does anyone become a criminal mastermind? Discretion seems to be a key job trait, as does diplomacy. Chain smoking to deal with stress an occupational hazard.

Paranormal Investigator/Researcher

Description: If your interests are a bit less of this world, you can channel your inner Ghostbuster as a paranormal investigator, helping people with all of their spirit-related issues, from unexplained disturbances to physical assaults. You conduct interviews, perform intensive research, and use sophisticated electrical equipment. You may also have to perform ghost stakeouts.

Compensation: Assuming paranormal investigator falls under the “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians” subset of BLS employment data, the annual mean salary is $46,480, and the median hourly rate is $20.49. Of course there’s also the chance you could star in your very own reality show, so who knows what the salary cap really is!

Requirements: Investigators must be trustworthy, versed in the scientific method, detail-oriented, and willing to put in long/unconventional hours. The easily frightened need not apply.

Ghost Medium

Description: A medium provides an actual connection to humans/spirits in other worlds.

Compensation: The pay for psychic mediums is completely dependent on the individual. You set your own hours and rates—but be warned, connecting entities between worlds isn’t the easiest industry to break into. Unless you really have the gift, this might not be the most fruitful career route. As this post on bestpsychicdirectory.com makes clear, “there are not a lot of full-time jobs for psychic mediums.”

Requirements: People (both living and dead) skills, patience, and the suspension of disbelief.

About the Author
By Money
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Hilary Duff with commencement regalia
SuccessCareers
Despite having a $25 million net worth, Hilary Duff thinks saying yes too much to opportunities actually hurt her career
By Preston ForeMay 27, 2026
6 hours ago
new
Big TechObituary
Donald Newhouse saw the internet coming in 2004. His newspapers still weren’t ready
By Scott Mayerowitz and The Associated PressMay 27, 2026
7 hours ago
pp
PoliticsElections
Graham Platner runs controversial ad during Red Sox game vowing to ‘reverse the private equity curse’
By Patrick Whittle, Kimberlee Kruesi, Kyle Hightower and The Associated PressMay 26, 2026
1 day ago
Rear view of a depressed non binary person looking out of their bedroom window on a sunny day - negative emotion
EconomySmall Business
America is becoming less neighborly, and it’s hurting Gen Z and millennials’ chances at economic mobility
By Tristan BoveMay 26, 2026
1 day ago
g
Arts & Entertainmentmuseums
For 60 years, nobody knew where the Muppets were made. Now you can go see
By Philip Marcelo and The Associated PressMay 25, 2026
2 days ago
s
Arts & EntertainmentBox office
Star Wars won the weekend. Nobody’s quite sure whether to celebrate
By Lindsey Bahr and The Associated PressMay 25, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he criticizes everything his 42,000-plus employees show him: ‘You can’t go a day without some criticism’
Success
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he criticizes everything his 42,000-plus employees show him: ‘You can’t go a day without some criticism’
By Preston ForeMay 26, 2026
1 day ago
The U.S. campaigned to host the World Cup. Now soccer fans will trade their countries' train system for the U.S.'s 'D' rated infrastructure
Travel & Leisure
The U.S. campaigned to host the World Cup. Now soccer fans will trade their countries' train system for the U.S.'s 'D' rated infrastructure
By Catherina GioinoMay 25, 2026
2 days ago
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
6 days ago
Uber burned through its entire 2026 AI budget in four months. Now its COO is questioning whether it's worth it
AI
Uber burned through its entire 2026 AI budget in four months. Now its COO is questioning whether it's worth it
By Jake AngeloMay 26, 2026
1 day ago
Sam Altman and Dario Amodei are both walking back their AI jobs apocalypse prophecies as they eye blockbuster IPOs
AI
Sam Altman and Dario Amodei are both walking back their AI jobs apocalypse prophecies as they eye blockbuster IPOs
By Sasha RogelbergMay 26, 2026
1 day ago
Techlash grows in education: 'My daughter went to middle school and was sent home with a screen addiction in her backpack'
North America
Techlash grows in education: 'My daughter went to middle school and was sent home with a screen addiction in her backpack'
By Jocelyn Gecker and The Associated PressMay 26, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.