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, Legal / Federal Law Enforcement.

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

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What You’ll Do

Confidential Client is hiring full-time Border Patrol Agents (entry-level, career positions). As a Border Patrol Agent you will protect the border, deter illicit activity, and support lawful travel and trade. Typical duties include:

• Detecting and interviewing people suspected of violating immigration or customs laws and inspecting documents and possessions
• Conducting surveillance (including night operations using infrared), apprehending undocumented entrants and smugglers
• Following and interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation inspections
• Patrolling international boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles as operational needs require

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed agents at GL-5 / GL-7: $51,632 – $92,912 per year (grade and locality determine exact pay)
• Estimated pay shown on aggregates: ~$73k per year (varies by duty location and locality pay)
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after Academy completion; additional $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations)
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying hires
• Federal benefits include health, dental, other insurance plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings)

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Who Should Apply / Minimum Qualifications

You may qualify at GL‑5, GL‑7 (or higher if you have relevant law enforcement/military experience). Examples of qualifying backgrounds are included below.

Minimums for GL‑5 (one of the following):

• One year of general work experience demonstrating sound decision-making, composure under stress, learning from training/on‑the‑job instruction, and information-gathering skills; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university; OR
• A combination of education and general work experience (calculated from resume/transcripts)

Minimums for GL‑7 (one of the following):

• One year of specialized work experience showing you can:
  • Make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms
  • Deal courteously and tactfully with people in law enforcement contexts
  • Analyze information quickly and make prompt decisions (including arrests after required training)
• OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA/class standing/honor society) OR graduate-level law-enforcement-related study; OR
• A combination of qualifying experience and education

If you have prior or current federal law enforcement or military police experience, you may qualify at GL‑9 or GS‑11 (see official vacancy announcements for details).

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Other Legal & Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Residency: Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years is required.
• Age: Applicants must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday per federal law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions may apply (veterans’ preference or prior covered federal LEO service). Review the official announcement for details.
• Training: Selected candidates attend approximately six months of intensive training at the Border Patrol Academy (e.g., Artesia, NM). Training covers immigration and nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and Spanish language proficiency development.
• Note: This position requires the ability to read and speak English; Spanish language training is provided.

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Location & Assignments

• Duty assignments are mission-driven and may be in Southwest Border or other sector locations. Relocation may be required.
• Prioritized locations may include (but are not limited to): Sierra Blanca, Presidio, Sanderson, Comstock, Lordsburg (NM), Freer, Hebbronville, Ajo (AZ), and multiple sector stations across TX, NM, AZ, CA, WA, MT, ND, ME, NY, CO, and others.
• Locality pay and duty location affect final pay; a fully trained agent may be eligible for an additional locality adjustment (up to ~25% per applicable federal pay provisions).
• This role follows a career-ladder progression (GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12) with eligibility for promotion after completing required time-in-grade.

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What We’re Looking For (Skills & Traits)

• Strong decision-making and sound judgment under pressure
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with diverse populations
• Physical fitness, adaptability, and willingness to work irregular hours and in varied environments
• Willingness to complete required training and follow operational procedures
• Prior public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement experience is valued (may qualify for higher-grade consideration)

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Why Join

• Career stability and a meaningful public-safety mission
• Competitive federal pay scale with locality adjustments and recruitment/retention incentives
• Comprehensive benefits and retirement savings options
• Structured career progression and ongoing professional training

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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.