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 (Customs and Border Protection).

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

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Overview & Incentives

Confidential Client is recruiting full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL-5 / GL-7 grade levels. This is a federal law enforcement career for candidates who want long-term, mission-driven work. The role includes formal academy training and opportunities for grade progression.

Confidential Client may offer up to $60,000 in additional recruitment and retention incentives for newly appointed BPAs (details below).

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 to GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Estimated typical pay (for comparison): ~$81,887 per year.
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid upon successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for eligible hires.
• Federal benefits: medical, dental, generous annual and sick leave, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement / 401(k)-style plan), and eligibility for locality pay and career-ladder promotions (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12).

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Key Responsibilities

Typical BPA assignments include, but are not limited to:

• Detect and question people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions to determine citizenship and compliance.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance, tactical observation, and night-vision equipment.
• Interpret and follow tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entries or contraband.
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation security checks.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, watercraft, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and other government assets as needed.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at GL-5 with one of the following:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating responsibility, sound decision-making, composure under stress, and the ability to learn rules and procedures; OR
• A bachelor's degree (any field) from an accredited college or university; OR
• A combination of education and general work experience (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

You may qualify at GL-7 with one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience showing the ability to:
  • Make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms;
  • Deal tactfully and effectively with people on law enforcement matters;
  • Rapidly analyze information and make prompt decisions, including making arrests and enforcing criminal codes (experience may include corrections, security, military police, or similar roles); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (e.g., high GPA, class standing, or honor society) or one full year of relevant graduate-level education; OR
• A combination of education and specialized experience (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

Note: Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9, GS-11). Evaluation is based on submitted documents.

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Other Requirements & Training

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years is required.
• Age restriction: candidates must be referred for selection before their 40th birthday per federal law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference eligibility.
• Veterans may be eligible for special hiring authorities (e.g., Veterans Recruitment Appointment) and may be exempt from the age restriction.
• After appointment, successful candidates will attend approximately six months of intensive training at the Border Patrol Academy (Artesia, NM), covering immigration and nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and additional job-specific subjects.
• Spanish language proficiency is beneficial; training to improve Spanish language skills is provided during the academy as required.
• Appointment may require relocation and duty assignments that reflect operational needs, including mission-critical stations and locations along the Southwest border and other sectors.

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Duty Locations (may require relocation)

Duty assignments are determined at time of offer and may include prioritized locations. Examples of mission-critical sectors and stations include:

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Buffalo Sector: Wellesley Island
• Del Rio Sector: Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso Sector: Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Ysleta
• El Centro Sector: El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Grand Forks Sector: Pembina
• Havre Sector: Havre, Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass
• Houlton Sector: Calais, Fort Fairfield, Jackman, Rangeley, Van Buren
• Laredo Sector: Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley Sector: Rio Grande City, Fort Brown, McAllen, Brownsville, Falfurrias, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen
• San Diego Sector: Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Spokane Sector: Colville, Curlew, Metaline Falls, Oroville
• Swanton Sector: Beecher Falls, Burke, Champlain, Newport, Richford
• Tucson Sector: Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• Yuma Sector: Blythe, Yuma, Wellton

Relocation may be required; some locations are prioritized for incentive eligibility.

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What We’re Looking For

• Strong judgment, integrity, and commitment to public service.
• Ability to work irregular hours, in varied and sometimes austere environments.
• Physical fitness and willingness to complete academy training.
• Good communication skills; ability to interact respectfully and effectively with diverse communities.
• Law enforcement, security, military police, corrections, or public-safety experience is valuable but not always required for entry-level appointments.

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Pre-Employment Process & Notes

• Appointments are competitive and based on resume, supporting documents (e.g., transcripts), and performance on required assessments (including the BPA Entrance Exam).
• Duty assignments, grade level, and incentive eligibility are determined at offer based on operational needs and candidate qualifications.
• This listing does not include an application link here. Careertakes will provide application routing; selected candidates will be employed by Confidential 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.