The specifics of a larger federal pay raise for law enforcement officers are coming into view, following President Donald Trump’s directive to offer a 3.8% salary increase for certain positions.

In a memo Wednesday, the Office of Personnel Management established new “special salary rates” for federal law enforcement personnel, as a way to implement the bigger raise for 2026.

“These new special rates support ongoing agency hiring efforts for mission-critical law enforcement positions essential to implementing the administration’s priorities to secure the border, enforce federal laws, and protect public safety,” OPM wrote. “Without these special rates, agencies may face challenges in recruiting and retaining the personnel needed to carry out these missions effectively.”

The pay increase for law enforcement is nearly quadruple the 1% federal pay raise that most civilian employees on the General Schedule will receive, but in line with a 3.8% raise for military members. Trump signed an executive order finalizing the 2026 federal pay raise on Dec. 18.

The pay increase will take effect Jan. 11, coinciding with the first day of the General Schedule’s first full pay period of 2026.

OPM’s new memo comes after Trump directed OPM Director Scott Kupor to “assess whether to provide” up to a 3.8% raise for “certain federal civilian law enforcement personnel.”

After consulting with various agencies, OPM determined that the following law enforcement personnel will receive a 3.8% federal pay raise for 2026:

• Customs and Border Protection law enforcement officers, including Border Patrol agents, officers, criminal investigators, and Air and Marine interdiction agents
• ICE personnel, including special agents, detention and deportation officers, and technical enforcement officers
• Secret Service personnel, including security specialists, officers, investigators and technicians
• Federal Protective Service criminal investigators and officers
• Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officers
• FBI special agents
• Drug Enforcement Administration special agents
• U.S. Marshals Service officers and special agents
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives special agents
• National Park Service park police officers
• Interior Department law enforcement officers
• Forest Service law enforcement officers and criminal investigators
• Agriculture Department law enforcement officers in the Office of Safety, Security and Protection
• State Department criminal investigators in the Diplomatic Security Service
• National Nuclear Security Administration couriers

The memo provides more specifics on the eligibility of certain law enforcement personnel for the 2026 raise. The pay tables for law enforcement are also now available on OPM’s website.

Like the rest of the General Schedule, law enforcement pay rates are still capped at the pay rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule, which for 2026 is $197,200.

“This statutory pay cap will prevent some covered law enforcement personnel from receiving the full 3.8% increase, but most employees should receive at least a 1% adjustment,” OPM wrote.

OPM also told agencies to request additional special salary rates for other law enforcement positions, as needed. Generally, special salary rates are reserved for federal positions deemed particularly difficult to recruit and retain.

The post Here are the law enforcement positions set for a 3.8% federal pay raise first appeared on Federal News Network.