How Much Money ICE Agents Really Make in a Year
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents play a critical role in enforcing immigration laws, combating transnational crime, and supporting national security. Salaries for these federal law enforcement professionals vary widely depending on the specific role, experience level, location, and additional compensation like overtime or premiums. As of early 2026, ICE has undergone significant expansion with aggressive hiring efforts, including substantial incentives, amid increased funding and recruitment drives.
ICE primarily employs two main types of frontline agents: Deportation Officers (in Enforcement and Removal Operations, or ERO), who focus on identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing individuals violating immigration laws, and Special Agents (in Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI), who investigate complex crimes such as human trafficking, smuggling, and financial fraud.
Deportation Officers: Frontline Immigration Enforcement
Deportation Officers, often the roles most associated with day-to-day immigration enforcement, typically start with base salaries in the range of $49,739 to $89,528 per year, according to ongoing USAJOBS postings and reports from sources like Money Digest and Newsweek. This range is influenced by the federal General Schedule (GS) pay scale (often starting around GS-5 to GS-9 equivalents), education, prior experience, and locality adjustments for cost-of-living differences.
In high-cost areas like major cities or California, locality pay can significantly boost the base figure. Overtime is a major factor here—known as Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO)—which can add up to 25% or more to total pay for irregular hours beyond the standard 40-hour week.
Glassdoor data from employee submissions in early 2026 shows a typical pay range for Deportation Officers between approximately $58,968 (25th percentile) and $101,562 (75th percentile) annually, with averages around the mid-$70,000s to $90,000s when including adjustments.
Special Agents: Investigative Roles in HSI
HSI Special Agents, who handle more complex criminal investigations, generally earn higher salaries due to their classification as criminal investigators and the inclusion of Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP)—a fixed 25% premium on base pay to compensate for unscheduled hours and on-call availability.
Entry-level positions often start around $48,371 (GL-7 level), with promotion potential up to $117,034 (GS-13) or higher for senior roles (up to GS-15, potentially exceeding $167,000 in base before premiums). When factoring in LEAP, locality pay, overtime, and other bonuses, total compensation rises substantially.
Self-reported data on Glassdoor (based on 25+ submissions as of January 2026) indicates an average total pay for ICE Special Agents around $137,671 per year, with ranges from $104,221 (25th percentile) to $183,512 (75th percentile), and top earners reporting up to $236,146 (90th percentile). Similar figures appear for HSI-specific roles, averaging around $137,000–$144,000 with significant variation based on experience and location.
Additional Factors Boosting Total Compensation
Several elements can push total annual earnings well into six figures, especially for experienced agents:
- Locality Pay: Adjustments for high-cost areas (e.g., San Francisco or New York) add 15–35% or more to base pay.
- Overtime and Premiums: AUO for ERO roles and mandatory LEAP for HSI add 25% or equivalent, often reflecting demanding, irregular schedules.
- Recruitment and Retention Incentives: In 2025–2026, amid massive hiring pushes (including over 10,000–12,000 new hires), ICE has offered signing bonuses up to $50,000 (sometimes split over time), student loan repayment (up to $60,000 in some cases), performance bonuses, and retention pay. Reports from DHS, BBC, and The Guardian highlight these as part of an unprecedented “wartime recruitment” effort, with some existing agents receiving annual bonuses like $10,000.
- Federal Benefits Package: Beyond salary, agents receive comprehensive health insurance, retirement under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) with Thrift Savings Plan contributions, generous paid leave, and life insurance—often valued highly in long-term compensation.
Overall, entry-level or newer Deportation Officers commonly earn in the $60,000–$100,000+ range with overtime, while experienced HSI Special Agents frequently exceed $130,000–$180,000 or more in total pay. These figures position ICE roles as competitive within federal law enforcement, especially with recent incentives and pay adjustments. For the most precise and up-to-date details, prospective applicants should consult official sources like USAJOBS.gov or ICE’s careers page, as pay tables and incentives can adjust annually. The demanding nature of the work—long hours, physical requirements, and high responsibility—accompanies these earnings.
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