Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: What is the average salary range for ICE deportation officers versus special agents?
Executive Summary
The available data shows Special Agents at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earn notably more, on average, than Deportation/Immigration Officers, with reported average salaries around $110,853 for Special Agents versus wide-ranging figures for Deportation/Immigration Officers that fall lower. Salary ranges overlap in the mid-to-high brackets, but the median and upper bounds for Special Agents sit above typical Deportation Officer pay, reflecting different job classifications, duties, and pay-setting factors such as experience, location, and overtime eligibility [1] [2] [3]. This summary synthesizes multiple salary estimates and highlights context affecting comparability.
1. Why the Numbers Diverge — Roles, Responsibilities, and Pay Structure
Available reports indicate the difference in pay largely stems from distinct job classifications and responsibilities. Special Agents are typically classified as criminal investigators with investigative duties, which correlates with higher average compensation—reported at $110,853 with a range of $96,199 to $134,483 [1]. By contrast, Immigration/Deportation Officers show more variability: one source lists an average of $102,519 with a range of $89,288 to $118,526, while another reports Deportation Officers in a lower bracket of $49,739 to $89,528, reflecting different title usages and data samples [3] [2]. These classification differences are essential to interpreting any apparent pay gap.
2. What the Reported Ranges Actually Mean for Take-Home Pay
Reported salary ranges reflect variation from entry-level to experienced staff and geographic pay differentials, which significantly affect take-home pay. The Special Agent range ($96k–$134k) indicates a stronger upward mobility and higher ceiling compared with the Deportation Officer range (as low as $49k in one dataset and topping near $89k in others) [1] [2]. Overtime, locality pay, and specific skills or certifications can bridge gaps for some officers, but the typical Special Agent will, on average, earn more than a typical Deportation/Immigration Officer under these datasets [1] [3].
3. Conflicting Figures — Multiple Sources, Multiple Samples
The datasets show conflicting central estimates, signaling different sampling frames or job title mappings. One source presents Immigration Officer averages near $102,519, while another lists Deportation Officer ranges starting below $50k, a stark contrast that suggests inconsistent labeling or inclusion criteria [3] [2]. Special Agent figures are more consistent across sources, clustered around $110,853, which may indicate a narrower, better-defined occupation category in the underlying data [1]. These discrepancies underscore the need to verify the exact job title and data methodology when comparing salaries.
4. How Job Location and Experience Skew the Comparisons
Geographic locality and years of service are repeatedly cited as major determinants of compensation. Reports note locality pay and overtime can elevate Deportation Officer salaries toward or into the lower Special Agent band, particularly in high-cost areas or with significant overtime, but the median remains lower for officers overall [2] [3]. Special Agents also see locality adjustments, but their higher base rates and promotion pathways yield a higher median, making the cross-role comparison sensitive to where, and how many years, employees are sampled [1] [3].
5. Related ICE Roles Provide Useful Benchmarks
Comparative roles within ICE — such as Criminal Investigators and Inspectors — show pay levels that help situate both Special Agents and Deportation Officers. Criminal Investigator averages around $93,152 and Inspectors near $95,033, both lying between reported Deportation Officer lows and Special Agent highs [4] [5]. These intermediate figures suggest a pay structure where investigative or inspector roles typically out-earn detention-focused positions but often remain below Special Agent highs, reinforcing that job function correlates strongly with pay band.
6. What’s Missing — Methodology and Official Pay Tables
The datasets do not supply full methodological transparency here: we lack explicit links to federal pay schedules, GS/SES classifications, or ICE internal pay scales in the provided analyses, which hinders definitive reconciliation. Official federal pay tables (like GS pay tables and locality adjustments) and ICE classification manuals would clarify whether reported figures represent base salary, total cash compensation, or aggregated survey estimates [3] [1]. Without those, the reported averages are useful but not definitive for exact comparisons.
7. Bottom Line for Readers Comparing Career Paths
Synthesis of the available data leads to a clear bottom line: Special Agents at ICE generally have higher average and upper-range salaries than Deportation/Immigration Officers, with typical Special Agent averages around $110,853 and Deportation/Officer figures ranging broadly from about $49,739 up to roughly $118,526 depending on source and role definition [1] [2] [3]. Prospective applicants should confirm specific job title, locality pay, overtime policies, and the relevant federal pay grade to get an accurate expectation for any particular position.