Is that the right term? I don't mean plain clothes police officers but those that adopt another identity and infiltrate criminal gangs. This is something else that I have wondered about for a long time. How is their pay calculated? They are effectively working 24/7 for months at a time, can't go home, live in a dangerous environment. They stress levels must be through the roof.
Actually, such police undercover work is quite well paid and you can apply for such a posting. Contrary to that which has been suggested some postings are for years. The jobs are not exciting and might consist of nothing more than watching a residence or shop to see what transpires. The USA and the EU have different legal and regulatory systems to England and Wales so there is no read across from them to us.