ICE salary ranges by job category and experience level

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal agency, so all employees are paid on the General Schedule (GS) pay scale. Your salary depends on your job title, your GS grade level, and how many years you've worked in that grade. A new deportation officer might start at GS-5 or GS-7; a supervisory special agent could be GS-13 or higher. The actual dollar amount varies by geographic location — an employee in New York City earns more than one in rural Kansas, even at the same grade level.

ICE does not publish a single "ICE salary" because the work is too varied. An administrative assistant, a criminal investigator, a detention officer, and an intelligence analyst all work for ICE but earn different amounts based on their position classification. The federal government publishes the full GS pay table each year, and you can look up your specific location and grade to see the exact range.

Key Takeaways

  • ICE employees are paid on the federal General Schedule (GS) scale, which assigns grades from GS-1 to GS-15, with salary increasing by grade and years of service.
  • Entry-level positions like detention officer or administrative support typically start at GS-3 to GS-7, while investigative and supervisory roles begin at GS-9 to GS-12.
  • Your actual salary depends on your job title, grade level, step within that grade, and the cost of living in your work location.
  • ICE employees receive federal benefits including health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid leave, which add significant value beyond base salary.
  • The federal government publishes updated pay tables annually on the Office of Personnel Management website, where you can find exact salary ranges for your location and grade.

How the General Schedule pay scale works

Every federal civilian employee, including ICE staff, falls into a GS grade. Grades run from GS-1 (lowest) to GS-15 (highest), and each grade has 10 steps. You start at step 1 when hired and move up one step each year until you reach step 10. Moving to a higher grade requires a promotion or a different job classification.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sets the base salary for each grade and step. In 2024, a GS-5 step 1 employee earned roughly $29,000 to $31,000 annually depending on location, while a GS-12 step 1 earned roughly $75,000 to $82,000. These numbers change every January when the federal government issues a new pay raise. Your location matters: the Washington, D.C. area has a higher locality adjustment than most other regions, meaning the same grade pays more there.

Common ICE positions and their typical grade levels

Detention officers, who supervise immigrants in ICE custody, typically start at GS-5 or GS-6 and can advance to GS-9 with experience and promotion. Criminal investigators (special agents) usually begin at GS-9 or GS-11 and can reach GS-13 or higher. Intelligence analysts and deportation officers often start at GS-7 or GS-9. Administrative and clerical roles begin at GS-3 to GS-5.

The grade you enter depends on your education and prior work experience. A candidate with a bachelor's degree and no federal experience might start at GS-7 in an analyst role, while someone with a high school diploma and no experience might start at GS-3 or GS-4 in a clerical position. Veterans receive preference in hiring and may enter at a higher step within their grade.

Benefits that increase your total compensation

Your base salary is only part of what ICE employment provides. Federal employees receive health insurance subsidies (the government pays a portion of your premium), life insurance, and a retirement plan. Most ICE employees are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which includes a pension, a 401(k)-style Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and Social Security contributions.

You also receive paid leave: 13 days of annual leave per year as a new employee, 20 days after three years, and 26 days after 15 years. Sick leave is separate and unlimited. Federal holidays (11 per year) are paid days off. Overtime is available in many ICE positions, particularly for detention officers and investigators, and is paid at time-and-a-half or compensatory time off.

Health insurance options include several plans with different deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program lets you choose from dozens of plans, and the government covers roughly 72 percent of the premium. Life insurance is inexpensive and portable if you leave federal service.

How to find the exact salary for a specific ICE job

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes the federal pay scale at opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages. You can read the current year's GS pay table and select your state or locality. The table shows every grade and step, so if you know the position will be GS-9, you can see exactly what step 1 through step 10 pay in your area.

When ICE posts a job opening on usajobs.gov, the announcement includes the grade and salary range. For example, a detention officer posting might say "GS-5 to GS-7, $29,500 to $42,000 annually" depending on location. This range reflects the lowest step of the lowest grade and the highest step of the highest grade for that position. You would typically enter at step 1 of the lowest grade unless you have prior federal service that counts toward step placement.

Advancement and pay increases over time

You receive an automatic step increase each year for the first three years, then every two years until you reach step 10. Once at step 10, you stop advancing within your grade unless you receive a promotion. Promotions to a higher grade are competitive and depend on your performance, available positions, and your supervisor's recommendation.

Federal employees also receive an annual pay raise each January, set by Congress. This raise applies to all grades and steps across the government. In recent years, raises have ranged from 2 to 5 percent, though the exact amount varies. Additionally, if you move to a position with a higher grade, you receive a promotion increase, which is typically at least 5 percent of your current salary.

Overtime, shift differentials, and special pay

Many ICE positions, especially detention officer and investigator roles, involve overtime. Overtime is paid at time-and-a-half your regular hourly rate. Some positions allow you to take compensatory time off instead of overtime pay — you accumulate hours and use them as paid leave later. Detention officers working evening, night, or weekend shifts may receive a shift differential, an extra percentage added to base pay for working outside standard business hours.

Certain positions also may have access to for hazard pay or environmental differential pay if the work involves unusual danger or unpleasant conditions. For example, detention officers working in high-security facilities may receive a small additional payment. These differentials are not large but add to your total compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do ICE employees get paid during the federal hiring process?

No. The hiring process — background investigation, medical exam, polygraph test — is unpaid. Once you receive a conditional offer and pass all clearances, you are placed on the payroll and begin receiving your salary on your first day of work.

What happens to my salary if I transfer to a different ICE office in another state?

Your grade and step stay the same, but your base salary adjusts to the locality pay rate for your new location. If you move from a lower-cost area to a higher-cost area like Washington, D.C., your salary increases. If you move to a lower-cost area, your salary decreases, though the government typically protects you from a pay cut when you transfer.

Can I look up what a specific ICE job posting pays before I explore?

Yes. Every job posting on usajobs.gov lists the grade and salary range for that position and location. You can also check the OPM pay table directly to see the exact salary for each step. Keep in mind you will likely start at step 1 of the lowest grade listed unless you have prior federal service.

Do ICE employees get raises every year?

Yes, you receive an automatic step increase within your grade for the first three years, then every two years until you reach step 10. You also receive an annual across-the-board pay raise each January that applies to all federal employees. Promotions to a higher grade provide an additional increase.

Is the salary the same for all ICE employees in the same grade?

No. Salary varies by location due to locality pay adjustments, and by step within the grade based on your years of service. Two GS-9 employees in different cities earn different amounts, and a GS-9 step 1 earns less than a GS-9 step 5, even in the same location.