Federal Law Enforcement Pay Raise: Who's Getting the 3.8% Increase? (2026)

In a significant move for law enforcement personnel, a proposed federal pay raise of 3.8% is on the horizon, following a directive from President Donald Trump aimed at enhancing salaries for certain law enforcement roles.

On Wednesday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memorandum outlining new "special salary rates" tailored for federal law enforcement officers, which will help facilitate this substantial pay increase in 2026.

According to OPM, these newly established special rates are designed to bolster recruitment efforts for critical law enforcement positions that play a vital role in achieving the administration's goals of border security, federal law enforcement, and public safety protections. The memo states, "Without these special rates, agencies may encounter difficulties in attracting and retaining the personnel essential for fulfilling these important missions effectively."

What's noteworthy is that this pay hike for law enforcement is nearly four times the general 1% increase that most civilian employees within the General Schedule will receive. However, it aligns with a similar 3.8% increase slated for military personnel. On December 18, Trump signed an executive order that solidified the federal pay raise for 2026.

This increase is set to take effect on January 11, coinciding with the commencement of the first full pay period for the General Schedule in 2026.

The OPM memo follows Trump's instruction to OPM Director Scott Kupor, who was tasked with evaluating the feasibility of a 3.8% salary boost for specific federal civilian law enforcement agents. After discussions with various agencies, OPM identified several groups that will benefit from this raise, including:

Customs and Border Protection officers, which encompass Border Patrol agents, criminal investigators, and Air and Marine interdiction agents.
Officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), such as special agents and detention and deportation officers.
Personnel from the Secret Service, including security specialists and investigators.
Criminal investigators and officers from the Federal Protective Service.
Correctional officers within the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Special agents from the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Officers and special agents from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Park police officers from the National Park Service.
Law enforcement officers from the Interior Department and Forest Service.
Agriculture Department law enforcement officials in the Office of Safety, Security, and Protection.
Criminal investigators from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.
Couriers from the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The memo further clarifies the eligibility criteria for receiving this 3.8% raise in 2026. Additionally, detailed pay tables for law enforcement roles have been made accessible on OPM's website.

However, it is important to note that, similar to other positions under the General Schedule, law enforcement salaries are capped at the pay level IV of the Executive Schedule, which stands at $197,200 for 2026. The OPM indicates that this statutory cap may limit the full 3.8% increase for some eligible law enforcement personnel, though most should still see at least a 1% adjustment in pay.

Furthermore, OPM has advised agencies to pursue additional special salary rates for other law enforcement roles as necessary. Typically, special salary rates are designated for federal jobs that are particularly challenging to fill and retain.

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