Also called: Air Interdiction Agent, Marine Interdiction Agent, AMO Agent
Federal agents who fly planes and helicopters or drive fast boats to catch drug smugglers and illegal border crossings.
Air interdiction agents fly Black Hawks and surveillance planes over the border, tracking smuggling aircraft and guiding ground agents at night. Marine agents run high-speed boats off Florida, Puerto Rico and California, chasing 'go-fast' boats loaded with drugs. Both are trained federal officers who make arrests.
Federal law enforcement pay, often including 25% availability pay, 2026 estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 6 years after high school. Commercial pilot license and many flight hours (air), or boat-handling experience (marine); federal academy.
Ways in: Military, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Aviation, Professional Pilot, Criminal Justice, Marine Transportation.
Growing about average. Hiring tied to border security budgets (approx.).
Low risk for 10 years. Drones and sensors spot targets; flying, boat chases and arrests stay human.
Classes: Physics, Geography, Spanish.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.