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.

---

What You’ll Do

Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) perform field and investigative duties that protect the border, deter illicit activity, and support national security. Typical responsibilities include:

• Detecting and questioning people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers, often using covert surveillance and night-vision equipment.
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.

---

Qualifications

To be considered, candidates must meet one of the following grade-level qualification paths:

GL-5 (entry-level) — one of:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure in stressful situations, ability to learn regulations/methods, and information gathering; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of relevant experience and college coursework (evaluated from your resume and transcripts).

GL-7 — one of:

• One year of specialized experience showing the ability to: make sound firearms judgments, handle law enforcement interactions tactfully, analyze information quickly, and perform arrests after training; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (class standing, GPA ≥ 3.0, or honor society), or one year of graduate-level study in a related field; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (documented via resume/transcripts).

Additional eligibility and requirements:

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age requirement: candidates must generally be referred before their 40th birthday (exceptions apply for certain prior federal civilian LEOs or Veterans’ Preference eligibles).
• Veterans may qualify under special hiring authorities (e.g., Veterans Recruitment Appointment) and may be exempt from certain age restrictions.
• Successful completion of formal training at the Border Patrol Academy (approx. 6 months).
• Basic ability to read and speak English; Spanish proficiency is desirable and language training is provided at the Academy if required.

---

Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Estimated pay shown on some listings reflects locality and grade; final pay depends on grade and duty location.
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 paid after Academy graduation + $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location where applicable).
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Eligible federal benefits include health and dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings).
• Additional locality pay or law enforcement pay adjustments may apply (up to ~25% in some locations).

---

Duty Locations & Assignments

• Duty assignments are determined at offer and are based on operational needs; relocation may be required.
• Assignments may include Southwest Border sectors and other mission-critical locations; certain prioritized locations may offer additional incentives.
• Priority / mission-critical stations (examples): Presidio, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Comstock, Lordsburg, Freer, Hebbronville, Ajo (full list available in the official job announcement).
• This role follows a career-ladder progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12) with promotion eligibility after completing required time-in-grade.

---

Training & Career Path

• New hires attend an intensive, approx. six-month Border Patrol Academy covering immigration law, enforcement operations, driving, physical techniques, firearms, and Spanish language training when needed.
• On successful completion of academy and field training, BPAs progress through grade levels and may qualify for promotions without reapplying, per time-in-grade rules.

---

Other Requirements & Notes

• This is a full-time federal law enforcement position. Duties may include physically demanding and high-risk activities.
• Candidates must be prepared to undergo medical, fitness, background, and suitability screenings required for federal law enforcement.
• Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified applicants with disabilities; disclose accommodation needs during the hiring process.
• The official job opportunity announcement will include full, authoritative details — review it carefully for final requirements, locations, and application instructions.

---

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.