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 & Border Protection.

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

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Role overview

Confidential Client is hiring entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) for full-time, career positions. This role is a federal law enforcement opportunity for candidates seeking long-term, mission-driven work protecting the nation’s borders. Training is provided at the Border Patrol Academy; candidates will advance on a grade-based career ladder.

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Salary & incentives

• Annual base salary (newly appointed BPAs, grade-dependent): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Estimated midpoint shown: $66,720 per year (Adzuna estimate).
• Recruitment incentive: Up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy graduation; remaining $10,000 for select prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: Up to $40,000 over the first four years for qualifying hires.
• Federal benefits include health/dental/vision insurance, generous leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement savings).

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Duty locations & relocation

• Duty assignments may include the Southwest Border and other mission-critical stations. Prioritized and mission-critical locations will be noted at time of offer; relocation may be required.
• Examples of sectors with open assignments include Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, Tucson, San Diego, Rio Grande Valley, Swanton (VT), and others across the U.S.
• Locality pay and duty location will affect total compensation; some locations may offer up to an additional ~25% of base pay under applicable pay rules.

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What you’ll do

• Detect, question, and inspect individuals and possessions to determine immigration and customs compliance.
• Conduct surveillance, patrols, and enforcement operations using vehicles, ATVs, boats, horses, or other government assets.
• Prevent and apprehend unlawful border crossers and smugglers; perform farm, building, traffic, and transportation checks.
• Interpret tracks and physical evidence; gather and document investigative information.
• Work shifts that support border-security operations, including night and covert assignments.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at different grade levels depending on experience and education:

GL-5 (minimum qualification — one of the following):

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure in stressful situations, and the ability to learn rules and procedures; OR
• A four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of education and experience (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

GL-7 (specialized experience or education — one of the following):

• One year of specialized experience showing ability to use firearms prudently, make arrests, deal tactfully with the public in law enforcement contexts, and analyze and act on information rapidly; 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.

Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grades (GL-9 / GS-11); refer to specific announcements for those levels.

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Other requirements & candidate expectations

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years is required.
• Age requirement: Candidates must be referred before their 40th birthday in most cases (exceptions for certain prior federal civilian law enforcement or eligible veterans may apply).
• Veterans’ preference and certain excepted appointments (e.g., VRA) may change age/residency rules—review eligibility details.
• Formal training: Successful hires will attend ~6 months at the Border Patrol Academy (Artesia, NM) covering immigration/nationality law, law enforcement operations, firearms, defensive tactics, vehicle operations, and language training.
• Spanish language proficiency is helpful; language training is provided at the Academy to reach required proficiency levels.

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Selection & assessment

• Applicants will be evaluated based on submitted resume, supporting documents (transcripts, etc.), and required entrance assessments.
• Background investigations, medical and fitness standards, and other federal pre-employment checks apply to law enforcement roles.

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Notes for applicants

• This posting is for entry-level BPA opportunities through a federal hiring process. Duty assignment and final grade are determined at the time of offer based on experience, qualifications, and operational needs.
• Confidential Client is committed to reasonable accommodation during the application process. If you require an accommodation, please indicate this through the appropriate channel during application.

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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.