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 (U.S. Border Patrol / Customs and Border Protection).

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 full‑time, entry‑level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL‑5 / GL‑7 grade levels. This is a career federal law enforcement role focused on protecting the nation’s borders and public safety.

Key responsibilities:

• Detect, question, and inspect individuals and possessions to determine immigration or customs violations
• Prevent and apprehend unlawful entries and smuggling activities using surveillance and investigative techniques
• Interpret and follow physical evidence (tracks, marks) and intelligence to support operations
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic and transportation inspections, and local patrols
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles
• Work covertly and overtly, including night operations using night‑vision and infrared equipment
• Make arrests after required training and apply law enforcement procedures professionally and safely

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Salary & Benefits

Confidential Client offers competitive pay and a full federal benefits package.

• Annual base salary (newly appointed BPAs): GL‑5 / GL‑7 — $51,632 to $92,912 per year (grade‑dependent)
• Estimated typical midpoint: $81,768 per year (for reference)
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after Academy completion; additional $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations)
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 over the first four years
• Federal benefits: medical, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), generous annual and sick leave, and other standard federal employee benefits
• Career ladder: progression GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12 with eligibility for step promotions after required time-in-grade

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Where You Might Be Assigned

Duty assignments are determined at offer based on operational needs; relocation may be required. Prioritized / mission‑critical locations include but are not limited to: Presidio, Sierra Blanca, Sanderson, Comstock, Lordsburg, Freer, Hebbronville, Ajo, and many sector stations spanning the Southwest Border and nationwide sectors.

Note: Duty location affects locality pay; some locations may provide up to an additional 25% of base pay under BPA pay adjustments.

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Qualifications

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

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating decision making, composure under stress, and ability to learn regulations and procedures; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (full four‑year course of study) from an accredited college/university; OR
• A combination of experience and education (will be assessed from resume and transcripts)

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

• One (1) year of specialized experience demonstrating:
  • Sound judgment and decision making with firearms,
  • Effective, courteous interaction in law enforcement contexts,
  • Rapid information analysis and prompt decision making (e.g., arrests, criminal enforcement, security or corrections work)
• Education substitution: bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA or class standing), or one year of graduate‑level study in a related field (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic studies, etc.); OR
• A qualifying mix of experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)

If you have prior law enforcement or military police experience, you may qualify at higher grade levels (GL‑9 / GS‑11). Please indicate relevant experience clearly on your application.

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Other Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required
• Must have primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years
• Age limit: candidates must be referred prior to their 40th birthday under law enforcement retirement rules, unless otherwise exempt (e.g., prior federal civilian law enforcement or certain veterans’ exceptions)
• Veterans’ Preference / VRA: some veterans may be eligible for excepted service appointments and age exceptions
• Formal training: successful hires attend ~6 months at the Border Patrol Academy (Artesia, NM) for intensive law enforcement, firearms, driver training, defensive tactics, immigration/nationality laws, and Spanish language training where required
• Spanish proficiency is valuable; training to reach necessary proficiency will be provided at Academy

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Preferred Experience & Skills

• Public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement background
• Experience with tactical operations, investigations, or surveillance
• Strong physical fitness, composure under stress, and teamwork
• Clear, concise report writing and interviewing skills
• Willingness to work shifts, nights, and in austere or remote locations

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Recruiter Notes (from Careertakes)

• This posting represents openings with a Confidential Client in federal law enforcement. Careertakes is a third‑party recruiter supporting candidate submission and screening — if selected, you will be employed directly by the Confidential Client.
• Applicants should prepare a current resume and, if applicable, transcripts to support education substitutions. Clearly document dates and duties for prior law enforcement or military service.
• Candidates evaluated on experience, education, supporting documents, and the BPA Entrance Exam.
• If you have questions about the application timeline or eligibility, reach out via the Careertakes platform for recruiter assistance.

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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.