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 & customs).

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 entry‑level Border Patrol Agents (BPA). This is a full‑time federal law enforcement role focused on border security, immigration enforcement, and public safety. You will train at a federal academy and perform patrol, surveillance, inspection, and enforcement duties to protect the nation’s borders.

• Detect, approach, question, and inspect persons and possessions to determine immigration or customs violations
• Conduct surveillance, follow tracks and other evidence of illegal entry, and perform checks of farms, buildings, vehicles, and transportation hubs
• Patrol land and coastal boundaries using vehicles, horses, boats, ATVs, motorcycles and other assets as assigned
• Apprehend and detain individuals suspected of violating law; use approved force and make arrests following training and policy
• Operate night vision and surveillance equipment; gather and document evidence and prepare accurate incident reports
• Work collaboratively with federal, state, and local partners in law enforcement operations

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Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL‑5/GL‑7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (grade and locality dependent)
• Estimated average for this posting: $71,365 per year (subject to final offer)
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy graduation; additional $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations)
• Retention incentives: candidates may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years
• Federal benefits including health & dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement/retirement‑style savings)

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Location & Duty Assignment

Duty assignments are based on operational needs and may include Southwest Border and other mission‑critical sectors. Duty station affects locality pay. You will be asked to indicate location preferences from a list of sector stations; relocation may be required.

Sample sectors include (non‑exhaustive): Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, El Centro, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Tucson, Yuma, and others across the U.S., including northern border and coastal sectors.

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Minimum Qualifications

You may qualify at GL‑5 or GL‑7 depending on experience and education:

GL‑5 (Typical entry level):

• One year of general work experience demonstrating responsibility, decision‑making, and ability to learn procedures and gather information; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university; OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience

GL‑7 (Higher entry/advanced entry):

• One year of specialized experience demonstrating law enforcement‑related skills such as firearms judgment, arrest authority, criminal code enforcement, corrections/security, or related work; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate‑level education; OR
• A combination of relevant experience and education

Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify for higher grade levels (GL‑9, GS‑11). Qualification level is determined from your resume and transcripts.

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Other Requirements & Important Notices

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• You must have had U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age restriction applies: candidates must generally be referred before reaching their 40th birthday under federal law enforcement retirement rules. Exceptions may apply for certain veterans or prior federal civilian law enforcement employees.
• You must successfully complete background investigations, medical exams, and fitness standards required for federal law enforcement officers.
• Formal training: new hires attend the Border Patrol Academy (federal training, Artesia, NM) for approximately six months covering law, defensive tactics, firearms, driving, and other core skills. Spanish language proficiency is beneficial; language training will be provided as part of academy instruction when required.
• Veterans’ preference and certain hiring authorities may apply; review eligibility if applicable.

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Required Legal & Hiring Notes

This role is for a federal law‑enforcement position and includes lawful, job‑related qualifications (citizenship, residency, age restrictions, background checks). All hiring decisions are made in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities during the hiring process—please disclose accommodation needs to the recruiter.

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Keywords & Candidate Fit (for applicants)

This opening is best suited for candidates seeking an entry‑level federal law enforcement career with training and advancement potential. Relevant experience includes public safety, security, corrections, military police, or civilian law enforcement; demonstrated ability to work under stress; good judgment; and strong interpersonal and report‑writing skills.

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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.