US Trends

how much are ice agents paid

Most U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents earn somewhere from the low $40,000s for new hires to over $75,000 per year as they gain experience, promotions, and overtime opportunities. Total pay can be significantly higher in high-cost cities or in roles with a lot of overtime.

Base salary range

  • Entry-level ICE agents often start around GS‑5 on the federal pay scale, with base salaries in roughly the $29,000–$35,000 range before adjustments.
  • With experience and promotions, agents can move up through GS‑9, GS‑11, and eventually to GS‑13, where base pay can exceed $70,000 annually.

Pay growth with grade

  • Published GS ranges for ICE-type roles show approximate bands like GS‑7 at about $34,000–$44,000 and GS‑12 around $60,000–$78,000 in base pay.
  • Senior agents and supervisors at GS‑13 to GS‑15 can see base salaries stretching from roughly $71,000 up to around $129,000 before locality and overtime.

Locality and overtime

  • Because ICE agents are federal employees, they receive locality pay, meaning agents in places like California or other high-cost regions earn more than the base tables indicate.
  • Overtime and special premium pay (for example, administratively uncontrollable overtime in some enforcement roles) can add a substantial percentage on top of base salary each year.

Real-world averages

  • Data for “ICE agent” roles in California show average earnings around $61,000 per year, equal to about $30 per hour, with common ranges from the mid-$40,000s to low $80,000s.
  • In major California cities, listed averages often sit in the low- to mid-$70,000s annually, reflecting both locality pay and higher market demand.

Key takeaways

  • Starting out: expect pay in the low-to-mid $30,000s in lower-cost regions, higher where locality pay is strong.
  • Midcareer field agents commonly fall in the $50,000–$80,000 bracket, depending on grade, city, and overtime.
  • Supervisory or high-grade positions can pass $90,000–$100,000+ when combining base pay, locality, and overtime in expensive metro areas.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.