About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, federal law enforcement (border security).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Overview

Confidential Client is recruiting entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) to join a federal law enforcement team protecting the nation’s borders. This is a full-time, career position with structured grade progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12), extensive training, benefits, and competitive incentives for new hires and retention.

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent you will perform front-line enforcement and surveillance duties to detect, deter, and interdict illegal activity at or near national borders. Typical responsibilities include:

• Detect and question individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance, checkpoints, and patrols
• Use physical evidence (tracks, marks) to investigate illegal entry
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transport checks
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, and other government assets
• Operate surveillance equipment (including infrared scopes) during varied shifts, including night operations

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Salary & Benefits

Compensation and benefits for newly appointed BPAs vary by grade and duty location:

• Annual base salary (for newly appointed BPAs): $51,632 – $92,912 (GL-5 / GL-7)
• Eligibility for locality pay adjustments and potential pay increases under federal BPA pay provisions (up to ~25% in certain locations)
• Federal benefits including health, dental, life insurance, paid annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement)
• Structured career ladder with promotion eligibility after successful completion of required time-in-grade

Incentives (as advertised by client):

• Recruitment incentive up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 upon Academy completion; $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location)
• Retention incentive programs may provide up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years
• Total potential additional incentives up to $60,000

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Locations & Duty Assignments

Duty assignments may include Southwest Border and other mission-critical sectors. Assignments are determined by operational needs at offer time and relocation may be required. Examples of mission-critical locations include (not exhaustive):

• Big Bend Sector (Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Marfa, etc.)
• Del Rio, El Paso, El Centro, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Tucson, Yuma sectors
• Other national sector stations (Buffalo, Grand Forks, Havre, Houlton, Spokane, Swanton, etc.)

Duty location affects pay rates and locality pay. Candidates will be asked to indicate location preferences but offers reflect agency requirements.

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Qualifications

Minimum qualifications vary by grade level. Candidates may qualify through experience, education, or a combination.

Qualify for GL-5 if you have one of the following:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating responsibility, decision-making, composure under stress, and ability to learn rules and procedures; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of general work experience and college coursework (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

Qualify for GL-7 if you have one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience showing skills such as sound firearms judgment, effective people skills in law enforcement contexts, rapid information analysis and prompt decision-making, arrest procedures, criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, or military police; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate-level education; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

Note: Candidates with previous federal civilian or military law enforcement experience may be considered at higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11). Prior law enforcement or military police service should be documented on your application.

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Other Requirements & Training

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Residency: primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years
• Age limitation: applicants must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday, with statutory exceptions for certain prior federal or veteran service
• Veterans’ preference and excepted service hiring programs may apply (age restriction exceptions possible)
• Successful candidates will attend the Border Patrol Academy (~6 months) for intensive training (law, operations, firearms, driving, physical techniques). Spanish language proficiency is beneficial; language training is provided at the Academy.

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Why Join

• Meaningful federal law enforcement career protecting national security and public safety
• Structured advancement and professional development
• Competitive salary, federal benefits, and significant hiring/retention incentives for prioritized locations
• Team-oriented work and varied operational assignments

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Minimum Disclosures & Compliance

• This posting includes advertised salary information from the client: annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5/GL-7) is $51,632 – $92,912.
• Duty assignments may require relocation; operational needs determine assignments.
• Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. Final employment decisions are made by our client.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.