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 — Law Enforcement.

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

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Position Overview

Confidential Client is hiring full-time Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at entry-level grade bands (GL-5 / GL-7). This is a federal law-enforcement career role focused on protecting borders, deterring illicit activity, and enforcing immigration and customs laws. The position includes structured career progression and access to federal benefits and incentive programs.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (varies by grade and locality).
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid after successful Academy completion; remaining $10,000 for certain prioritized locations).
• Retention incentives: up to $40,000 over the first four years for qualifying agents.
• Federal benefits package including health and dental insurance, generous leave accrual, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a ROTH 401(k)), and federal retirement provisions for law enforcement.
• Location-based locality pay and potential pay adjustments under applicable BPA pay reforms.

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent with Confidential Client, typical duties include:

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers near border areas; conducting surveillance (including night operations with infrared equipment).
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic enforcement, city patrols, and transportation inspections.
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off‑road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.

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Qualifications

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

GL‑5 (entry level) — one of the following:

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, ability to learn regulations and procedures, and effective information gathering; OR
• A four‑year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university; OR
• A combination of relevant experience and post‑secondary education (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

GL‑7 — one of the following:

• One (1) 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
• Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (e.g., GPA ≥ 3.0, class standing, or honor society); OR
• One full year of related graduate‑level education (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic technology, etc.); OR
• A combination of qualifying experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

Additional notes:

• Previous law enforcement or military law enforcement experience may qualify candidates for higher grade consideration (GL‑9 / GS‑11).
• Training: successful candidates attend the Border Patrol Academy (~6 months in Artesia, NM) for intensive instruction in immigration law, tactics, firearms, driving, physical techniques, and language training.

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Required Conditions & Other Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Residency: primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: candidates must typically be referred before reaching their 40th birthday due to law enforcement retirement provisions (exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference eligibility).
• Role requires the ability to read and speak English; Spanish language training is provided at the Academy as needed.
• Duty assignments may include prioritized and/or Southwest Border locations; relocation may be required. Duty assignment is determined by operational needs.
• This is a physically and mentally demanding role that requires passing the BPA Entrance Exam and meeting fitness and background standards.

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Locations

Duty locations include mission-critical stations across multiple sectors (examples): Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, El Centro, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Tucson, Yuma, Spokane, Swanton, Buffalo, Grand Forks, Havre, Houlton, and others. Some prioritized locations may carry additional recruitment incentives.

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Selection & Process Notes

• Candidates will be evaluated on resume, supporting documents (transcripts, etc.), entrance exam performance, and other selection components.
• This is a federal law enforcement position with a structured career ladder (GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12). Promotion to the next grade typically occurs after completion of required time-in-grade.

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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.