Fact check: What is the average starting salary for an ICE agent in 2025?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the average starting salary for an ICE agent in 2025 ranges from $49,739 to $89,528 per year ^{[1] [2] [3]}. This salary range specifically applies to new ICE deportation officers entering the field.

However, there are significant discrepancies in the reported salary information. One source indicates that entry-level positions can start as low as $29,350, while experienced agents can earn over $76,687, with an average annual salary of $79,970 for similar positions according to ONET Online ^[4]. This suggests considerable variation depending on position type and experience level.

**Additional compensation incentives** are being offered to attract new recruits, including:

Up to $50,000 signing bonuses for both new hires and former employees ^{[5] [1]}

• Up to $60,000 in student loan forgiveness for new recruits ^[1]
• Overtime opportunities and location-dependent pay increases that can boost total compensation ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about ICE's current aggressive recruitment campaign. The agency has extended over 1,000 tentative job offers since July 4, 2025 ^[5], indicating a massive hiring spree that may be driving these competitive salary offerings and incentives.

Returning ICE agents receive significantly higher compensation, with salaries ranging between $88,621 and $144,031 per year ^[2]. Former federal employees can also benefit from a "dual compensation waiver" allowing them to collect both their new ICE salary and existing federal benefits ^[5].

The timing and political context of this recruitment drive is notable, as it coincides with increased immigration enforcement priorities. Local law enforcement officials, particularly sheriffs, have expressed dissatisfaction with ICE's recruitment efforts ^[1], suggesting potential jurisdictional tensions.

Comparative context shows that these starting salaries are comparable to average teacher starting salaries ^[2], which provides perspective on the compensation level relative to other public service positions.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it simply asks for factual salary information. However, the question's framing as seeking an "average" may be misleading given the wide salary ranges reported across different sources.

Potential areas where misinformation could arise include:

• Conflating entry-level salaries with experienced agent compensation - the $88,621-$144,031 range for returning agents ^[2] versus the $49,739-$89,528 range for new officers ^[2]
• Overlooking the significant recruitment incentives that effectively increase total first-year compensation beyond base salary
• Ignoring the substantial variation between the reported $29,350 entry-level figure ^[4] and the higher $49,739 starting salary for deportation officers specifically

The lack of recent publication dates for the source analyses makes it difficult to verify if this salary information reflects the most current 2025 compensation structure, which could lead to outdated information being presented as current fact.