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Average salaries for other DHS agencies like CBP in 2025?
Executive Summary
Average 2025 pay for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other DHS agencies shows wide variation by job title, location, and overtime: reported averages cluster around $95–$98k for DHS/CBP broadly, with role-specific ranges spanning roughly $47k to $199k and reported maximums (including overtime) up to $185k or more in high-cost areas [1] [2] [3] [4]. Data sources differ in sample size and methodology, producing notable discrepancies that matter for interpretation [2] [1].
1. Pay looks consistent around mid-six figures — but numbers depend on how you aggregate the workforce
Published aggregates in 2025 present an average DHS or CBP salary near $95–$98k, derived from modest sample sets: PayScale reports a $95k average for CBP (based on 19 responses) and PayScale also shows a $98,014 average for DHS (based on 38 reports), both updated in 2024–2025 timeframes [2] [1]. These central figures reflect the combined mix of entry-level, midcareer, and senior personnel across diverse occupational series. Average figures mask occupational heterogeneity because CBP and DHS employ uniformed frontline roles, law enforcement specialists, IT and administrative professionals, and higher-paid managers; combining them into a single average produces a headline number that understates variability by job title and region [1] [2].
2. Role and location drive vast pay ranges — from under $50k to near $200k
More granular breakdowns from employer-review datasets show ranges rather than single averages, with reported pay spanning roughly $47k to $199k across DHS and CBP roles in 2025; Border Patrol Agents and CBP Officers typically fall in the mid-range ($54k–$125k depending on role and locality), while specialist and senior positions push higher [3] [5]. Location-specific reporting for CBP Officers shows starting pays of about $69,729 in Los Angeles to $74,642 in San Francisco, and reported potential maximums including overtime up to $185,714 in San Francisco, illustrating how locality pay and overtime opportunities can push annual earnings substantially above base pay [4] [5]. These figures show that headline averages hide important geographic differentials and overtime effects.
3. Sample size and methodology explain conflicting headlines — treat small-sample averages cautiously
The datasets behind these figures vary in transparency and scale: PayScale entries cited rely on 19 to 38 individual reports, while Glassdoor-type aggregates pull from larger pools (e.g., 1,085 or 3,838 reported salaries in some listings), producing different central estimates and ranges [2] [3]. Smaller samples are vulnerable to selection bias toward higher- or lower-paid respondents, and employer-provided benefit descriptions omit precise earnings but confirm non-wage compensation such as locality pay, overtime, and comprehensive benefits that affect total compensation [6]. Methodological differences — sample size, respondent self-reporting, and inclusion of overtime — are the principal reasons reported averages diverge.
4. Overtime and locality pay materially change take-home pay — up to doubling for some roles
Several sources highlight that CBP pay scales permit significant overtime and locality adjustments; reported examples include CBP Officers in high-cost areas whose total earnings with overtime can rise to roughly $185k, far above reported base pay ranges [4] [5]. The presence of shift differentials, premium pay for law enforcement duties, and locality pay means base salary figures understate actual cash earnings for many frontline roles. Benefit descriptions from CBP also emphasize non-salary compensation—health plans, retirement, and leave—that influence the total employment package without appearing in raw salary averages [6]. Analysts and job seekers must therefore look beyond base salary when comparing compensation across locations and roles.
5. Reconciling the picture — what decision-makers and job seekers should weigh
To reconcile disparate reports, prioritize role-specific and location-specific pay tables and confirm whether figures include overtime, premiums, or represent self-reported snapshots. The evidence in 2025 converges on a clear pattern: broad averages near $95–$98k for DHS/CBP as aggregated categories, but wide within-agency variation from about $47k to roughly $199k depending on position and geography, with documented instances of annual earnings reaching $185k in high-overtime locales [1] [3] [4]. For accurate comparisons, consult detailed job-series pay bands and local post differentials, and treat small-sample averages as provisional until corroborated by larger, role-specific datasets [2] [3] [5].