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 and Border Protection).

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

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Overview

Confidential Client is hiring full‑time, entry‑level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL‑5/GL‑7 grade levels. This is a long‑term federal law enforcement career that includes competitive base pay, comprehensive benefits, and incentive opportunities — including up to $60,000 in hiring/retention incentives for eligible hires.

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent, you will help protect the border and the public by detecting, preventing, and responding to illegal entry and smuggling. Typical assignments include:

• Detecting and questioning people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers, including covert and nighttime surveillance (infrared scopes)
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, off‑road vehicles, motorcycles, and other government assets

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Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs (GL‑5 / GL‑7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (varies by grade and locality pay)
• Up to $20,000 Recruitment Incentive (e.g., $10,000 after successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy + $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations)
• Up to $40,000 Retention Incentive distributed over the first four years (combined incentives up to $60,000)
• Eligibility for federal benefits including health and dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
• Potential locality or pay enhancements (a fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional ~25% of base pay under applicable pay provisions)
• Career‑ladder progression (GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12) with promotion eligibility after meeting time‑in‑grade requirements

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Duty Locations & Assignment Info

Duty assignments may include the Southwest Border and other mission‑critical locations. Candidates should expect that relocation may be required and that duty assignment is determined at the time of offer based on operational needs.

Representative mission sectors and stations include (but are not limited to):

• Big Bend Sector — Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, Tucson, Yuma, El Centro, San Diego sectors
• Additional sectors across the U.S. (Grand Forks, Havre, Houlton, Spokane, Swanton, etc.)

Prioritized locations for certain incentives include Sierra Blanca, Presidio, Sanderson, Comstock, Lordsburg, Freer, Hebbronville, and Ajo.

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Qualifications & Requirements

You may qualify for GL‑5 if you have one of the following:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision‑making, composure under stress, ability to learn regulations/methods, and information gathering; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (or completion of a full four‑year course of study) from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of general work experience and college education

You may qualify for GL‑7 if you have one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience demonstrating: firearms judgment, effective interaction in law enforcement matters, rapid information analysis and prompt decision making (examples: criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military police, etc.); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of graduate‑level education in a related field; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education

Other mandatory requirements:

• U.S. citizenship
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years
• Age restriction: Candidates must generally be referred before their 40th birthday due to law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions apply for certain prior or current federal law enforcement service and for Veterans’ Preference eligibles
• Formal training: Successful hires will attend the Border Patrol Academy (~6 months, Artesia, NM) for instruction in immigration/nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and other courses
• Language: BPA work requires reading and speaking Spanish and English; language training is provided at the Academy

Note: Candidates with prior law enforcement or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL‑9 / GS‑11). Documentation (resume, transcripts, and supporting documents) is used to determine grade and qualifications.

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Selection Process & Assessments

Selection is based on review of resume and supporting documents, eligibility determination, and required assessments (including the BPA Entrance Exam). Final hiring decisions include background checks and other federal suitability requirements.

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Why Join

• Serve in an essential federal law enforcement role with a clear public‑service mission
• Stable, career‑oriented employment with structured promotion paths
• Competitive pay, meaningful hiring/retention incentives, and comprehensive federal benefits
• Training provided to build law enforcement skills and Spanish language proficiency

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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.