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.

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

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What You’ll Do

This confidential client is hiring for full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agent (BPA) positions in federal law enforcement. In this role you will protect the border, deter illicit activity, and support lawful trade and travel. Typical assignments include:

• Detecting and questioning people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws and inspecting documents and possessions.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance and tactical operations.
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling boundaries and waterways with a range of government assets (vehicles, horses, watercraft, ATVs, motorcycles).

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary (entry-level) for GL-5 / GL-7: $51,632 – $92,912 per year (grade-dependent).
• Eligible for federal benefits including health, dental, life insurance, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement/savings).
• Locality and law-enforcement pay adjustments may apply; fully trained BPAs may be eligible for up to an additional ~25% of base pay under applicable pay reform.
• Recruitment Incentive: Newly appointed agents may be eligible for up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy completion; additional $10,000 for certain prioritized duty locations).
• Retention Incentives: Eligible agents may receive up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years (as described by the agency).

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Qualifications

You may qualify at different entry grades depending on experience and education:

GL-5 (basic entry) — one of:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, and ability to learn on the job; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (any field) from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of experience and education (evaluated from your resume and transcripts).

GL-7 — one of:

• One year of specialized experience showing skills such as sound judgment in the use of firearms, effective interpersonal dealings in law enforcement contexts, and rapid analysis leading to prompt decisions (e.g., arrests, code enforcement, corrections, security, military police); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement, or one year of relevant graduate-level study; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (documented by resume/transcripts).

Additional eligibility and requirements (applicants must meet these to be considered):

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age requirement: candidates must be referred before reaching their 40th birthday per applicable law for law enforcement retirement provisions (exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or veterans’ preference).
• Veterans’ Preference and certain excepted appointments (e.g., VRA) may apply and can affect age/residency considerations.
• Ability to speak, read, and learn Spanish is required; language training will be provided during Academy.
• Willingness to undergo background investigation, medical and fitness evaluations, drug testing, and other standard federal employment checks.

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Duty Locations & Mobility

• Duty assignments are determined at the time of offer based on operational needs; relocation may be required.
• Some prioritized locations are eligible for recruitment/retention incentives. Examples of mission-critical sectors include (but are not limited to): Presidio, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Comstock, Lordsburg, Freer, Hebbronville, Ajo, and numerous sector stations across Southwest and other border regions.
• You will be asked to indicate preferred duty locations; final assignment is made by the agency.

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Selection, Training & Career Path

• This is a career-ladder opportunity (grade progression: GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12). Promotions to the next grade are typically available after successful completion of required time-in-grade.
• New hires attend the Border Patrol Academy (approx. 6 months) for intensive instruction in immigration and nationality law, law enforcement operations, firearms, defensive tactics, driver training, and more.
• Successful completion of training and ongoing on-the-job performance lead to full operational assignments and further advancement opportunities.

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What Careertakes & Our Confidential Client Offer

• A mission-driven federal law enforcement career with stable employment and comprehensive federal benefits.
• Competitive base pay and location-specific incentives.
• Structured training, professional development, and a clear promotion path for career growth.

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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.