The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved the special 3.8% pay raise for certain categories of law enforcement personnel as outlined in President Trump’s alternate pay plan for the 2026 federal pay raise. The purpose of the higher pay raise is to match the 2026 pay raise for members of the military.
The higher pay raise is being implemented through special rate tables (tables L001 – L133) for the 2026 federal pay raise. The tables cover all steps in each of grades GS-1 through 15 for covered positions.
OPM is authorized to establish special rates to address staffing problems caused by significantly higher non-federal pay rates than those payable by the federal government within the area, location, or occupational group involved; the remoteness of the area or location involved; the undesirability of the working conditions or nature of the work involved; or any other circumstances OPM considers appropriate.
Covered law enforcement personnel will receive the 1% across-the-board pay increase authorized by the President, plus an additional pay increase of approximately 2.8%, for a 3.8% total pay increase in January 2026, subject to the statutory limit on special rates of the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule ($197,200). This statutory pay cap will
prevent some covered law enforcement personnel from receiving the full 3.8% increase, but most employees should receive at least a 1% adjustment.
The new special rate schedules go into effect on January 11, 2026.
According to OPM:
These new special rates support ongoing agency hiring efforts for mission-critical law enforcement positions essential to implementing the Administrationʼs priorities to secure the border, enforce federal laws, and protect public safety. Without these special rates, agencies may face challenges in recruiting and retaining the personnel needed to carry out these missions effectively.
Special rates are considered basic pay for nearly all purposes, including retirement, life insurance, overtime pay computations, severance pay, and lump-sum annual leave payments. However, federal employees are not entitled to locality pay on top of the special rate. They receive the greater of the locality rate of pay or special rate for their grade and step.
Additionally, the normal General Schedule within-grade increase, quality step increase, and two-step promotion rules continue to apply to employees covered by special rates.
LEO Employees Covered by the Special 2026 LEO Pay Raise
Department of Agriculture
- Forest Service, Law Enforcement and Investigations:
- GS-1801 Law Enforcement Officers (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) definition)
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) definition)
- Office of Safety, Security, and Protection:
- GS-1801 Personal Protection Services (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) definition)
Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation:
- GS-1811 Special Agents
- Bureau of Prisons:
- GS-0007 Correctional Officers
- Drug Enforcement Administration:
- GS-1811 Special Agents
- U.S. Marshals Service:
- GS-0082 Deputy U.S. Marshals
- GS-1801 Federal Enforcement Officers
- GS-1801 Aviation Enforcement Officers
- GS-1802 Detention Enforcement Officers
- GS-1811 Special Agents
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives:
- GS-1811 Special Agents
Department of Homeland Security
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP):
- GS-1801 Aviation Enforcement Agents
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators
- GS-1895 CBP Officers
- GS-1896 Border Patrol Agents
- GS-1881 Air and Marine Interdiction Agents
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement:
- GS-1811 Special Agents
- GS-1801 Deportation Officers
- GS-1801 Detention and Deportation Officers
- GS-1801 Technical Enforcement Officers
- Secret Service:
- GS-1811 Special Agents
- GS-0080 Physical Security Specialists (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
- GS-1801 Investigative Protection Officers (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
- GS-1801 Technical Security Investigators (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
- GS-1802 Protective Armored Specialists (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
- GS-1802 Protective Support Technicians (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
- GS-1802 Special Officers (meeting 5 U.S.C. 5541(3))
- Federal Protective Service:
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators with arrest authority
- GS-0080 Physical Security Specialists
- GS-0083 Police Officers
- GS-1801 Law Enforcement Employees with arrest authority
Department of the Interior
- General Schedule employees (excluding Office of Inspector General):
- Occupational series 0006, 0007, 0025, 1801, or 1811
- Must meet 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) law enforcement officer definition
Department of State
- Diplomatic Security Service:
- GS-1811 Criminal Investigators
Covered Employees Under Alternative Pay Systems
- Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division:
- LE-0083 Uniformed Division Officers
- Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration:
- NV-0084 Nuclear Materials Couriers
- Department of the Interior, National Park Service:
- SP-0083 U.S. Park Police
- Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service:
- FS-2501 Diplomatic Security Agents
