Working as a Mission Support Specialist, your job is impactful as you help support our frontline workers. You perform and coordinate a variety of administrative and management services essential to the operation of the office including budget, procurement, personnel, telecommunications, hiring and staffing, logistics, records management, training, travel and property.
Competitive Pay
Mission Support Specialists are competitively rewarded for their time on the job. In addition to base salary, Mission Support Specialists may be eligible for locality pay, overtime pay and more.
| Grade | Base Salary | Average FY 2022 Locality, Overtime and Premium Pay | Total Compensation* |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-11 | $56,983 | $13,619 | $70,602 |
| GS-12 | $68,299 | $16,324 | $84,623 |
| GS-13 | $81,216 | $19,411 | $100,627 |
*Based on fiscal year 2022 pay scale for GS Step 1 positions. Salaries include an average of locality, overtime, shift differential, and will vary by location.
- Salary: Your salary corresponds to your grade level, as quoted on USAJOBS.
- Overtime Pay: Earn up to 25% of your salary for time worked outside the 40-hour work week.
- Locality Pay: You may receive pay on top of your salary, depending on what county you work in. Explore Locality Pay Tables.
- Cash Awards: Outstanding performers may receive cash awards as recognition for their superior efforts, funding permitting.
- Career Progression: Mission Support Specialist is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GS-11, GS-12 and GS-13. For more information, see the Career Progression section below.
Paid Time Off
CBP offers Mission Support Specialists substantial leave benefits and unique training opportunities, including:
13 to 26 days of annual leave accrued per year (variation based on years federal service)
11 federal holidays per year
Military reserve leave
13 days of sick leave accrued per year
Opportunities for paid training
Overview: The maximum amount of annual leave that you may carry over into the following year is 30 days. There is no limit to the amount of sick leave that you may accrue. For more details, visit the Benefits page.
Disabled Veteran Leave (Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015)
In accordance with the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-75, November 5, 2015), employees eligible under the Act are entitled to disabled veteran leave for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment for a service-connected disability. View the Disabled Veteran Leave Fact Sheet for more information.
Career Progression
CBP supports Mission Support Specialists with long-term career success, rapid promotion potential and first-rate training for new and current Mission Support Specialists. Mission Support Specialist is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GS-11, GS-and GS-12. You will be eligible for a promotion to the next grade level without reapplying once you successfully complete one year in each grade level, with supervisor approval. At the GS-13 level and beyond, you compete for positions and are promoted based on merit with significant pay boost for progressing on the career ladder.
Entry Level: Mission Support Specialists entry level positions are GS-11.
Journeyman: Journeyman positions entail more responsibility, duties and higher performance standards.
Lead: Lead positions entail more responsibility while managing a small team.
Supervisory: Supervisory roles include leadership and increased responsibilities.
Executive: Beyond the GS-15 level is the Senior Executive Service (SES), which makes up the core of CBP’s leadership. SES is typically responsible for high-level decisions, CBP's vision and interacting with external stakeholders and Congress.
Tuition Assistance Program
The Tuition Assistance Program reimburses Mission Support Specialists for off-duty post-secondary education costs of tuition, fees and books. A Mission Support Specialist may apply for benefits up to $1,500 per course and $4,500 per calendar year for a professional certification of for any two- or four-year degree, including associates, bachelors, masters and doctorates.
Health Insurance
Employee health is of the utmost importance to CBP. Mission Support Specialists are eligible to choose from a variety of premium federal health insurance programs. Programs available include:
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
- Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
- Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)
- Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)
You may be eligible to keep your health insurance in retirement while paying the same subsidized premium as you did as an employee. Learn more about continued health insurance benefits for you and your family in retirement.
Life Insurance
CBP offers various federal life insurance programs to help you achieve your financial planning goals for the future, including:
- Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
- Basic Employee Death Benefit (BEDB) for FERS Employees
- Special Agents Mutual Benefit Association (SAMBA) Employee Benevolent Fund
Generous Retirement
CBP continues to support Mission Support Specialists retiring from the agency with the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which includes three streams of income:
- FERS Basic Annuity: Mission Support Specialists that serve in the federal government with at least 20 years of service are eligible for this guaranteed lifetime pension, which is a percentage of a retiree's highest average pay earned during any 3 consecutive years of service. Learn more about FERS basic annuity.
- Thrift Savings Plan: Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a defined contribution plan designed to give federal employees the same retirement savings-related benefits as with 401(K) plans in the private sector. Employees choose the amount to contribute, which is transferable if you change employers, with employer matching up to 5% of your base salary. Learn more about the Thrift Savings Plan.
- Social Security: Mission Support Specialist retirees receive social security retirement payments; benefits are transferable if you change employers. Learn more about Social Security retirement benefits.
