Fact check: What is the starting salary for an ICE agent with a bachelor's degree in 2025?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, ICE agent salaries vary significantly depending on position level and location. The sources provide a salary range of $49,739 to $89,528 per year for Deportation Officers ^[1], while another source indicates that entry-level ICE agents typically hired at GS-5 earn around $29,350 annually ^[2]. A third source mentions a salary range of roughly $50,000 to $90,000 for enforcement and removal operations positions, with a note that the maximum base pay for federal law enforcement is $75,000 before regional cost-of-living adjustments ^[3].

ICE is actively recruiting with financial incentives, offering a $50,000 signing bonus for new ICE agents ^[4] and $50,000 signing bonuses for former federal workers who return to work at ICE ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context that affect salary determination:

• Geographic location matters significantly - federal salaries include regional cost-of-living adjustments that can substantially impact actual compensation ^[3]
• Position type varies - there are different ICE roles including Deportation Officers and enforcement and removal operations positions with different pay scales ^{[1] [3]}
• GS pay scale levels - entry-level positions may start at GS-5 level, but advancement opportunities exist within the federal pay structure ^[2]
• Additional compensation beyond base salary - the substantial signing bonuses being offered suggest ICE is experiencing recruitment challenges and is willing to pay premium compensation to attract candidates ^{[4] [5]}

Current hiring initiatives indicate that ICE is conducting massive ad campaigns and recruitment drives, suggesting either expansion needs or retention issues that could affect starting salary negotiations ^[4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question assumes a single, standardized starting salary exists for ICE agents with bachelor's degrees, which oversimplifies the federal employment structure. The question fails to account for:

• Multiple position types within ICE that have different salary ranges
• Geographic pay variations that are standard in federal employment
• The distinction between base salary and total compensation including signing bonuses and benefits

The question appears neutral but may reflect an incomplete understanding of federal pay structures. However, there's no apparent bias toward promoting or discouraging ICE employment - it's simply seeking factual salary information that requires more nuanced context than a single figure can provide.