I get this question a lot: how much do U.S. Marshals make? This question is in relation to a Deputy Marshal pay rate and entry requirements. Enjoy!
The salaries stated below are only an approximation. The actual salary is determined by the geographic location in which a U.S. Marshal would be employed, a.k.a. Locality Pay Scale.
All positions are filled at the GS-082-5 or GS-082-7 entry levels.
- GS-082-5: between $36,658 and $41,260 (as of January 2008)
- GS-082-7: between $41,729 and $46,969 (as of January 2008)
Requirements for GS-082-5 and GS-082-7
GS-5: GENERAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A four year bachelors’ degree OR a minimum of three years of responsible volunteer or paid experience. Listed below are examples of acceptable experience:
- Law enforcement
- Work involving the correctional treatment and supervision of criminal offenders in correctional institutions
- Classroom teaching or instruction
- Sales (other than taking and filing orders as in over-the-counter sales)
- Interviewing experience in a public or private service agency which involved making determinations on individual requests for services, benefits, etc., and explaining, interpreting, and applying rules, regulations, and procedures
- Work involving contacts with the public for the purpose of gathering information, such as credit rating investigator, claims adjuster, journalist, etc.
- Volunteer teaching or counseling
- Other experience that has demonstrated the ability to take charge and make decisions, such as civilian/military supervisory, managerial or leadership responsibility.
GS-7: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS and SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT:
EXPERIENCE:
- Have one year of responsible law enforcement experience in addition to the GS-5 experience requirements above
- Have the ability to deal effectively with associates, subordinates, the general public, and prisoners.
- Have the ability to make arrests and use firearms proficiently.
SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT:
A bachelor’s degree and one of the following Superior Academic Achievement provisions:
- A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for all completed undergraduate courses, or for those courses completed during the last 2 years of undergraduate study.
- Rank in the upper 1/3 of your college or university undergraduate class.
- Membership in a national scholastic honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
- Successful completion of graduate education in law, or in a field related to law enforcement (e.g., criminal justice), or completion of one full year of graduate study (minimum of 18 semester or 27 graduate quarter hours).
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- If you do not qualify based on education or experience alone we will combine your education and experience in an attempt to satisfy the minimum general experience requirements, at the GS-5 level, for Deputy U.S. Marshal positions.
Promotion Time Frame
Those appointed at the GS-082-5 grade level are eligible for promotion to GS-082-7 after 1 year.
Those appointed at the GS-082-7 grade level are eligible for promotion to GS-082-9 after 1 year.
Career ladder is to the GS-1811-11 grade level; there is a 3 year certification process before promotion from GS-082-9 to GS-1811-11 grade level.
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- Criminal Justice Careers: Federal Agent
- A New Year – A New Criminal Justice Career
- What Courses Do I Need to Have a CIA Career?
- DEA Favors Applicants with a Criminal Justice Degree
- How Do You Become an Investigator or a Detective?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
I would love to begin a career with the U.S. Marshalls. I have been a Correctional Officer for a 1 1/2 years now, I begin school at Kaplan University next wed. I will be get my bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and my concentration will be Homeland Security. So if you will give me some feedback on the steps that I need to take to become one.
Glad to know that. I can give you some general steps that you will need to take to help you become a U.S. Marshal from this point on.
1. Obtain your degree with high marks. This is important, as your grades may play a role during the recruitment process.
2. When ready to apply (towards the end of your senior year) go to the U.S. Marshal Website and/or http://www.usajobs.gov to find out about position openings.
– Even better, try to make contact with your local Marshal’s Office and start speaking with a recruiter right now. He or she will be able to tell you exactly what the U.S. Marshal service looks for. You will be able to adjust your classes to better fit your future needs by knowing what the Marshal’s job entails. Keep this relationship alive and after you obtain your degree you should have a recruiter contact that will be ready to put your application through.
There’s no magic way of getting hired. You will have to go through the same process as so many potential Deputy Marshals go through. This is when it’s important to shine above the others — your grades, extracurricular activities, past job and career choices play a key role. I would keep tabs with the Marshal website and the recruiter for changes in the hiring process upon the completion of your degree.
You must know that you will most likely travel a lot and you will be away from your family or significant other. This is especially true in the beginning years as a U.S. Marshal. Good luck!
what about military EXPERIENCE
Military experience usually counts if you worked as a military police officer, all other job descriptions may be subject to question. Military experience may however qualify if the applicant has demonstrated the ability to take charge and make decisions, such as civilian/military supervisory, managerial or leadership responsibility. I would contact your local Marshals Office and ask a recruiter for more info.
must you have a degree
Granted your work experience qualifies, no you don’t need to have a degree (as far as I know), but the educational part should be significant enough for the Marshal service to consider you as a candidate. If you call the U.S. Marshal office where you would like to work a recruiter can help you by assessing your qualifications.
if i receive my masters in criminal justice and the us marshal agency hires me at what pay scale would i start off at?
Good question Mr. Jackson. It would be feasible that you would start as a GS-9, but nowhere on the Marshal website did I find such information. I am pretty sure that you would start as a GS-7 as a 4 year degree is required for that level (did anyone say overqualified?). Joking aside, you should call the local U.S. Marshal recruiter and find out if GS-9 pay grade is in your “stars.” Good luck and let us know what you found out.
i would just like to say how amazing you guys are in every way!!!!!!!!!! i might just be 12 but when I’m older i hope to be a us Marshal/ forensic fire arm exam. i think your guys jobs are best because you get help people and get bad guys of the street!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m in the military and just got an article 15 with no loss in rank do I still have a chance at making it in?
I am not sure. The best thing to do is contact your local recruitment office and ask. This information will have to be presented anyway in your application and subsequent interviews.
I’m currently 20 years old and Im on my way to getting a four year degree in CJ. I was just wondering how hard is it to get recruited? and are you for sure going to have a job after you get out of training? and How hard is it to get into the basic training?
Getting recruited is dependent on more than your education. Your background, personality, and aptitude play a big role in the recruitment process. So how hard is it to get in the U.S. Marsha Service? That all depends.
During and after training it is customary that some people will reconsider their career options, but getting the job is dependent on your marks and successful completion of training. Still, there are no guarantees.
It’s more than basic training that you would be embarking on. The application process for the U.S. Marshal career position is competitive, so getting into the training stage depends entirely on the successful progression of your application, interviews, and preliminary tests.
Hello,
My husband is in the hiring process in Boston to become a Deputy US Marshall. As a wife, I have a few questions that are hard to get answered by the office at this point but that are concerning to me a bit. Typically after the fit test, how long do they give you before you have to start training in GA? This is the most important question I have-When is it exactly that they tell you where you will be placed for the job(what city you will be working in)? Is it after you’ve passed the fit test or after you’ve completed the training? If it’s after the training, can they give you an idea beforehand?
Thank you,
Melissa
Melissa,
I am not qualified to tell you exactly how and when the process begins, continues, and ends. Based on the many emails, interviews, and interactions with friends I can say that none of the Federal agencies really have a set time-line for when one will be placed into training after the fit test. As for the placement, and don’t quote me on this, most Marshals should know their station after completion of the training, and not the fit test.
See the FAQ section on the Marshal Service website for more info. This FAQ should give you a better gauge for what is to be expected. Good luck.
Hi, i am getting a bachelors degree in both Investigations and International Intelligence, as well a teacher license in K-12. After that i am joining the military hoping to get a position in special investigations. Once in a while I do volunteer teaching to kinder classes about soldiers, i also help parents going through hard times at the childrens hospital, it’s sort of a case manager volunteer position and i help them through the immigration process and get free services for them. Am i on the right track for the US Marshalls?
When i was younger i did get in trouble and received a differed charge on a felony trespassing, my criminal record is now expunged and clean.
How will all this affect me and help me, what are my chances of being a US Marshal.
Well, your resume looks great for nearly any position, yet a U.S. Marshal. As for your expunged record, I don’t know if it will fly, but I’ve heard of people who had their records expunged and got in anyway. The truth of the matter is that the Marshal Service has ways of finding out if you had a record at all – even back in a day. I would call your local Marshal recruiter to find out how that would play out. Overall, I don’t see why you shouldn’t get in, but it’s always better to find out before you plan your life and get disappointed later.
I’m in the process of becoming a deputy U.S. Marshal. I have a 4 year degree and currently hold a team lead position at a law firm. I have no prior law or military experience. They really emphasized at the initial seminar that no prior law or military experience was necessary. It’s definitely a plus, but as long as you have a 4 year degree and excel in your current job, as I do, you’re just as eligible. The trick was finding out they were hiring to begin with, since the Marshals don’t hire very frequently. It’s a whole process of finding the flier on USAjobs, going to the introductory seminar, submitting completed paperwork, getting invited for the interview, going to the interview (I had to fly to Baltimore for mine), waiting 2 months for the tentative offer, and now I’m in the process of completing my investigative background form, med exam and awaiting to schedule my FIT test. Getting invited to the interview is key. You have to be honest on your application, and you have to be in really good shape. Being athletic and fit is so crucial, because you could be prior military and a cop in NYC, but if you’re overweight and can’t run a fast 1.5 mile, you’re not gonna make it. It is a lot of sacrifice as well, going to the 17 and a half week training and willing to move anywhere within the region you applied (the regions are huge). It’s so incredibly worth it to me. I’m unbelievably happy to get the opportunity to work for the coolest agency in the US. I’ve always wanted to truly help my community and nation, and what better way than to be a deputy Marshal. And as for the timeline of when I went to the seminar up to this point, it’s been roughly 8 months. I know a guy who went to same seminar as me and has done everything. His fit test is almost 6 months old, and he’ll have to take it again (fit tests are only good for 6 months and deputies must take them every 6 mos. for the length of their careers). Well, I just wanted to add my experience to the board…good luck to those who are where I was a year ago! Work out, get good grades and better yourself in anyway possible to be a true contender.
This is great information. Thank you for posting. I’m sure many people will benefit from your experience. Good luck with everything and let us know of any developments.
Here is my question. I have a degree from a four year university. I played football there and then in some other places after wards. I graduated in 2005. During the off-season after college I would come home and do fugitive recovery work(bounty hunt) with a friend of mine who does this also. In Louisiana where we work, you have to be licensed to do this. I have been licensed since the beginning of 06. After the 07 season I decided to hang it up. I have been doing fugitive recovery full time. I am interested in becoming a US marshal now. Do you think any of that would be allowed to carry over into my entry status as law enforcement? Between my partner and I we have made over 500 arrest in the past 3 years so it would be nice if it would count as law enforcement time even though I know it is not looked at the same was.
JKOS,
Here’s what I can say:
1. you have a Bachelor’s degree
2. team work experience
3. prior fugitive apprehension experience
The experience MAY not count as official law enforcement experience, BUT the fact that you were responsible for hundreds of fugitive recoveries should make your application golden : )
hey im currently in the marine corps and i get out in 2013 and i was just seeing if there is a buddy program
I’m currently going into my 2nd semester at Christopher Newport University. Cumulatively I have a 3.2 GPA over my past semesters. I’m majoring on Criminology with a minor in National Security Studies (International Conflict/Law). Does this seem like a good educational background for applying to the U.S. Marshalls? Also have many reference in several departments including ATF, FBI, Alexandria Police (VA), and Naval Intelligence. Each person has known me for over 5 yrs and have a great outside perspective on me. Will these references come in handy?
Both are definitely a YES in my book. Kudos!
Also for my language requirements I’ve decided to study the Arabic language. So far I’ve started off well with an A in my 101 class. I will be continuing to take the language till i graduate but also continue to take classes to allow me to really become fluent in the language. I’m hoping that having this in my background can give me an advantage when applying. Also a correction from the above message, I’m in the second semester of my Junior year at Christopher Newport University and will be graduating in Dec. 2011.
Yes, Arabic is a very desirable language for all federal law enforcement agencies. Make sure to learn it as close to fluency as possible. Don’t be afraid to look into supplementary modes of language learning, like the popular Rosetta Stone or the Pimsleur Method. Let us know how things go. Good luck on your journey.