A Federal Air Marshal flies 181 days yearly, spending 900 hours or five hours daily in the air. Like most law enforcement personnel, air marshals evaluate the environment, attempt to identify potentially suspicious activity, and conduct investigations to protect airline travelers and crew against terrorist violence.
What do you think is in or them financially for all of these? In this article, we’ll talk about a federal air marshal’s salary and all other actors surrounding the job.
Table of contents
What Does A Federal Air Marshal Do?
A U.S. Air Marshal is a federal law enforcement officer whose duty is to protect passengers and crewmembers from criminal and terrorist attacks on board civil aircraft. Additionally, Federal Air Marshals also perform investigative work and assignments with a number of investigative task forces and law enforcement agencies
A Federal Air Marshal must join an aircraft just like every other passenger and rely on their training that border around investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behavior recognition, firearms proficiency, aircraft-specific tactics, and self-defense tactic which will be employed in a case of danger in the airplane.
They work for the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Federal Air Marshal Salary: How Much Does A Federal Air Marshal Make Annually?
According to Comparably, the average Federal Air Marshal salary in the US is $65,960. Federal Air Marshals make the most in San Francisco at $99,613, averaging total compensation 51% greater than the US average.
The salaries of Federal Air Marshals in the US range from $12,656 to $339,013, with a median salary of $61,150. The middle 57% of Federal Air Marshals make between $61,150 and $152,668, with the top 86% making $339,013.
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What Is The Starting Salary Of An Air Marshal?
Unlike most federal employees who use the standard GS grading system, the Federal Air Marshal Service, under the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) uses the SV grading system, which serves as a system of distinct grades with pay ranges that differ from GS pay ranges.
The starting salary of a Federal Air Marshal is often referred to as Career Level 1, Pay Band A earns a minimum starting salary of $17083 and a maximum salary of $17083.
Top 10 Highest Paid Cities For Federal Air Marshal
Here’s a list of the top 10 cities where the Federal Air Marshal’s salary is above the national average.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | $81,424 | $6,785 | $1,566 | $39.15 |
| Daly City, CA | $80,054 | $6,671 | $1,540 | $38.49 |
| Berkeley, CA | $80,010 | $6,668 | $1,539 | $38.47 |
| Green River, WY | $78,156 | $6,513 | $1,503 | $37.58 |
| Irvine, CA | $77,699 | $6,475 | $1,494 | $37.36 |
| Richmond, CA | $76,227 | $6,352 | $1,466 | $36.65 |
| Orange, CA | $75,526 | $6,294 | $1,452 | $36.31 |
| Oxnard, CA | $75,503 | $6,292 | $1,452 | $36.30 |
| Tacoma, WA | $75,494 | $6,291 | $1,452 | $36.30 |
| Merced, CA | $75,343 | $6,279 | $1,449 | $36.22 |
Job Outlook Of Federal Air Marshal
The job growth of Federal Air Marshal has varied widely over years. As a matter of fact, the number of active Federal Air Marshals currently remains a secret, making the job outlook difficult to decipher. However, it is safe to say that as long as people keep traveling by air, there will be a need for Federal Air Marshals.
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How To Become A Federal Air Marshal
It takes action and dedication to become a Federal Air Marshal, and the TSA hires only the most qualified individuals for the job.
To apply to be an Air Marshal, you must be between the ages of 21 and 37 years old and have at least three years of applicable work experience or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Training
Air Marshals must undergo extensive training, including basic federal law enforcement training as well as training specific to the Air Marshals program. Agency-specific training includes close-quarters combat, surveillance, and investigative techniques.
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Additional qualifications
Potential Air Marshals must also obtain a security clearance, which includes a thorough background investigation, a polygraph exam, and a psychological assessment. Candidates must also pass a medical exam and a physical abilities test.
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How To Become An Entry Level Federal Air Marshal
To become an entry-level Air Marshal, you need to meet the following prerequisite requirements:
- Must be at least 21 years old, but no older than 36 years old at the time of appointment (maximum age may be waived for federal law enforcement officers); AND
- You must have at least three years of general experience, one year of which is equivalent to the F Band (GS-4 level), that displays an ability to:
- Analyze problems and recognize solutions
- Plan and organize work
- Gather data
- Communicate effectively, both in writing and orally; OR
- A minimum bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Relevant work experience
Federal Air Marshal Skills & Competencies
To be a successful Air Marshal, you’ll generally need the following skills and qualities:
- Physical strength and agility: Federal Air Marshals must be able to quickly take action to deter safety threats.
- Communication skills: People in this position must effectively and efficiently relay information to all people involved in a potential threatening situation and explain the findings of their investigations.
- Critical-thinking skills: Federal Air Marshals must be able to think critically and independently to respond effectively and quickly to a variety of security-related situations.
- Discretion: Air marshals perform the majority of their work undercover and must be careful not to give away their position.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy FIRE Marshal | $78,198 | $6,516 | $1,504 | $37.60 |
| Federal Marshal | $74,922 | $6,244 | $1,441 | $36.02 |
| Supervisory Federal Air Marshal | $71,356 | $5,946 | $1,372 | $34.31 |
| Federal AIR Marshal Service | $61,355 | $5,113 | $1,180 | $29.50 |
| Safety Marshal | $61,193 | $5,099 | $1,177 | $29.42 |
FAQs On Federal Air Marshal
A U.S. Federal Air Marshal is a federal law enforcement officer who is responsible for protecting passengers and crewmembers from criminal and terrorist attacks onboard civil aircraft
Air marshals must be prepared to be assigned to various locations across the United States and even worldwide. They must also be ready to fly at a moment’s notice and be prepared to spend extended periods of time away from home—and in the air.
To be an Air Marshal, you need critical thinking skills, communication skills, physical skills, flexibility, and social perceptiveness.
To become an Air Marshal, you must be between the ages of 21 and 37 years old and have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Conclusion
The actual salaries of air marshals may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience, and a variety of other factors.
References
- en.wikipedia.org – Federal Air Marshal Service
- comparably.com– Federal Air Marshal Salary
- ziprecruiter.com – Federal Air Marshal Salary
- thebalancecareers.com – What Does a Federal Air Marshal Do?
- federallawemforcement.org – What is a US Air Marshal?
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