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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — Salaries & Pay 2026

DHS employs 212,400 civilian FTE (OMB, FY2024). A representative DHS agency-specific average is unavailable from public data, so this page uses the $111,181/year government-wide benchmark (OPM, 2026).

FTE Source: OMB Analytical Perspectives, FY2027 Budget, Table 5-1 • Salary Source: OPM FWD, April 2026

DHS Pay at a Glance

The Department of Homeland Security employed 212,400 civilian FTE as of FY2024 (OMB). The government-wide federal salary benchmark is $111,181/year as of 2026 (OPM). A representative agency-specific average is not shown because public salary records are redaction-limited. Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.

212.4K
Civilian FTE (OMB, FY2024)
$111K
Govt-wide salary benchmark (2026)
GS 1–15
General Schedule pay range

FTE = full-time equivalent; part-time employees count fractionally. Salary is base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. View agency salary detail on OPM FedScope →

DHS Employment Overview

Department of Homeland Security civilian workforce data. FTE source: OMB Table 5-1. Salary source: OPM FWD.
MetricValueSource & Notes
Civilian FTE (FY2024)212,400OMB Analytical Perspectives FY2027 Budget, Table 5-1 (2024 Actual). FTE, not headcount.
Avg Salary Benchmark$111,181OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (data.opm.gov), April 2026. Agency-specific public records are too redaction-limited for a representative average.
Pay systemGeneral Schedule (GS) + othersMost DHS civilians on GS (15 grades × 10 steps). Some on SES, SL/ST, wage grade, or special rate tables.
Pay periodBiweekly (26×/yr)Divide annual salary by 26 for biweekly gross pay.
Locality pay17.06% – 44.15%Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate × base pay = locality supplement.
Pay cap (2026)$197,200Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount.

Common Occupations at DHS

Major occupational categories employed at Department of Homeland Security. Actual pay for each category depends on GS grade, step, and duty station. Use the GS Pay Calculator for a personalized figure.

  • ✓Border patrol & customs
  • ✓Immigration enforcement
  • ✓Cybersecurity
  • ✓Emergency management
  • ✓Transportation security

About Department of Homeland Security

Includes CBP, ICE, TSA, FEMA, USCIS, Secret Service, and Coast Guard (civilian component). Coast Guard uniformed military (~54,000) counted separately in OMB uniformed personnel. OPM redacts ~78% of DHS salary records (TSA/security roles), so a representative agency-specific average is not available from public data — see OPM FedScope.

Calculate Your Exact DHS Salary

Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.

GS Pay Calculator →FERS Retirement Calculator →

DHS Pay — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary at the Department of Homeland Security?↓
A representative agency-specific average salary for DHS is not available from the public OPM EHRI snapshot because too many records are redacted or suppressed. FedTools shows the government-wide federal civilian salary benchmark of $111,181 as of 2026 instead of publishing a misleading partial average.
How many employees does the DHS have?↓
The Department of Homeland Security employed 212,400 full-time equivalent (FTE) civilian employees as of FY2024, per the OMB Analytical Perspectives FY2027 Budget Table 5-1. FTE figures count part-time employees as fractions of a full-time position.
How is federal pay determined at DHS?↓
Federal civilian pay is set by the General Schedule (GS) pay system for most employees. Pay = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). DHS employees in different metropolitan areas receive different locality adjustments — from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 44% in San Jose-San Francisco. Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your rate.
Do DHS employees receive federal benefits?↓
Yes. DHS employees receive the full federal benefits package: FERS retirement (pension + Social Security + TSP with agency match), FEHB health insurance, FEGLI life insurance, Federal Dental and Vision (FEDVIP), and flexible spending accounts. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.
What is the FERS retirement benefit for DHS employees?↓
FERS pension = High-3 Average Salary × Years of Service × 1% (or 1.1% if you retire at 62+ with 20+ years). For example, a DHS employee with a $100,000 High-3 salary and 30 years of service would receive $30,000/year ($2,500/month) in FERS pension, plus Social Security and TSP savings. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator for a personalized estimate.

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Data Accuracy Notice: FTE figures are from the OMB Analytical Perspectives FY2027 Budget (Table 5-1, 2024 Actual), a U.S. government official publication. Salary figures come from OPM's Federal Workforce Data portal (April 2026). Agency-specific averages are shown only when the public EHRI records are representative; redaction-limited agencies use the government-wide benchmark. This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.