Working at the U.S. Marshals Service
The U.S. Marshals Service values many skill sets both out in the field conducting law enforcement operations as a Deputy U.S. Marshal as well as behind the scenes in the agency's 94 districts and its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
The Marshals requires the expertise and dedicated work of a diverse staff of administrative personnel to meet its mission requirements. The U.S. Marshals also seek qualified applicants to act as detention and aviation enforcement officers to assist in the prisoner transportation and operations division of the agency.

Program Overview
Created in 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service was the first federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The Marshals Service occupies a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. It is the enforcement arm of the federal courts, involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative.
The duties of the U.S. Marshals Service include protecting the federal judiciary, apprehending federal fugitives, managing and selling seized assets acquired by criminals through illegal activities, housing and transporting federal prisoners and operating the Witness Security Program.
Benefits and Compensation
Below you will find information pertaining to compensation, promotion potential and benefits for various positions within the U.S. Marshals Service.
Benefits
Retirement
New employees are covered under Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) which includes a 3-tier system:
- Pension Plan: vested after 5 year
- Social Security
- Thrift Savings Plan - up to 5% employer match
Federal law enforcement officers are eligible for retirement after 25 years of service or at 50 years old, with 20 years of service. The mandatory retirement age is 57.
Military experience may increase years for retirement, but cannot be substituted for 20 years of law enforcement experience.
Leave
Annual Leave
The amount of annual leave earned is based on the number of years of Federal service.
Employees are eligible for several types of paid time off including annual leave, sick leave and federal holidays.
Employees earn 13 to 26 days of annual leave per year based on their length of federal service.
Note: Most military time is creditable toward leave accrual; therefore, a majority of the military will be in the 6-hour leave category.
Sick Leave
All employees earn 4 hours of sick leave per pay period regardless of the number of years of federal service.
Sick leave is earned at the rate of 13 days per year, and it does not include a maximum limit.
Federal Holiday
Employees receive 11 paid federal holidays each year. Some employees who are required to work during federal holidays are eligible for premium pay.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family and Medical leave Act allows "eligible" employees to take leave for up to 12 work weeks in any 12 month period for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a family member, or if the employee themselves has a serious health condition.
Employees may earn 12 weeks of Parental Leave after one year of federal service.
Health Benefits
- Health benefits are optional
- There is a large variety of health care plans to choose from
- The cost of health insurance is shared by the employee and the government
- Vision and Dental insurance plans are available through the Federal Employees Dental/Vision Program (FEDVIP).
- Health care and Dependent care programs through the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) a tax-deferred program that allows participants to pay for out-of-pocket expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Life Insurance
- Automatic enrollment in the Federal Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) plan with Basic Life only
- Cost is shared by the employee and the government
- Employee may waive coverage
Employee must be enrolled in Basic Life to elect the Optional Coverage:
- Option A - Standard: additional $10,000; employee pays full cost of insurance.
- Option B - Additional: election of an amount to 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 times employees’ annual basic pay; employee pays the full cost of this insurance.
- Option C - Family: covers eligible family members; employee pays the full cost of this insurance.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Assistance Program is a confidential, voluntary program designed to help employees and their family members resolve problems that may occur on or off the job. Assistance can be received in personal issues, family/close relationship issues, and work issues.
Compensation
The salary information provided in Federal Employee Schedules and Locality Pay Tables is an approximation. Actual salary is determined by the employee’s wage schedule and geographic location in which employed.
Deputy U.S. Marshals salary and wage information if located under the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) General Schedule Locality Pay Tables
Availability Pay is a type of premium pay that is paid to eligible Federal Law Enforcement Officers (LEO's) who are properly classified as criminal investigators in the GS-1811 series.