Not the most stringent requirements to apply, which answers a lot of the subsequent behaviour.
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SALARY UPDATE:
ICE, like most federal agencies, utilizes the GS federal pay scale. Individuals working as ICE Agents begin at a pay grade that directly reflects their education and experience, although most new ICE agents begin at GS-5 which, as of 2012, was between $27,431 and $35,657.
GS-5: $27,431-$35,657
GS-6: $30,577-$39,748
GS-7: 33,979-$44,176
GS-8: $37,631-$48,917
GS-9: $41,563-$54,028
HSI special agents are usually offered at the GL-7 and GL-9 level.
To qualify at the GS-5 level and receive the equivalent salary, candidates must either possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or at least 3 years of general experience.
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Aren’t LEOs paid much better? To accept lower salaries, either you live the job or you can’t find anything else.
These salary numbers are SO OLD. GS5 is like, 40k minimum?
The GS payscale is public data. GS is adjusted every year and each position is adjusted for the cost of living for the area. Each GS rank has “steps” which, most people start at step 1 and get raises based on yearly reviews
Here is the public listing for 2024: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule
(Efit: this still isn’t much money to become a traitor to your fellow man)