Border Patrol Pay Up Arrests Down
WASHINGTON — Border Patrol agents have racked up daily overtime at a cost of about $1.4 billion in the past six years while the number of arrests of illegal border crossers has fallen to the lowest level in nearly 40 years, an Associated Press analysis of agency records finds.
Since the 2006 budget year, the agency charged with stopping would-be illegal border crossers and smugglers from making it into the U.S. over land and sea borders has spent more than $1.4 billion on what is described as "administrative uncontrollable overtime," according to the data provided by the Border Patrol. In practical terms, agents average two hours a day in overtime. Border Patrol Agents are required to work overtime and may work long hours. Sixty-hour weeks and 10 to 16 hour days are not that uncommon. An Agent works irregular rotating shifts every two to four weeks. These shifts are subject to change, often on short notice. Additionally, Agents also receive night deferential pay, Sunday pay and Holiday pay.
New agents are hired at the GL-5, GL-7 or GL-9 level depending on education and experience and are paid at a special salary rate for Federal law enforcement personnel. The base starting salary is GL-5 ($38,619), GL-7 ($43,964), and GL-9 ($49,029) grade levels, with excellent opportunity for overtime pay. (Note: Any applicable locality pay would be added to the base rate depending on Duty Location an applicant is selected for). Upon successful completion of the 6½-month probationary examination, individuals hired at the GL-5 level are eligible for promotion to grade GL-7, and individuals hired at GL-7 are eligible for promotion to GL-9. Career progression to the GS-11 and GS-12 generally follows after one year at the preceding lower grade level (GL-9/GS-11).
That means agents can earn anywhere from 10 percent to 25 percent extra pay an hour for the first two hours of overtime, with the extra cash being steadily reduced every hour after that because of complicated overtime rules. Over the course of a year, an agent can earn about $15,000 more than the base salary, which for a more experienced agent is typically more than $60,000 a year. Agents are limited to $35,000 in overtime annually.
