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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Position overview

Confidential Client is hiring full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL-5 / GL-7 grade levels to join a federal law enforcement career focused on protecting the nation’s borders. This is a career-ladder opportunity with training at the Border Patrol Academy and clear progression paths (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12).

This posting is for positions servicing the Fresno, CA area and other mission-critical duty locations across the Southwest and other sectors. Candidates should expect that duty assignment and relocation may be required based on operational needs.

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Salary & benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Estimated salary noted by market tools: $88,611 / year (estimated).
• Federal benefits package including:
  • Health, dental, and other insurance plans
  • Generous annual and sick leave
  • Participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement savings)
  • Law enforcement retirement provisions where applicable

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Incentives

• Recruitment Incentive: Up to $20,000 for newly appointed agents (first $10,000 upon successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location).
• Retention Incentive: May qualify for up to $40,000 paid over the first four years.
• Total incentives available: Up to $60,000 (recruitment + retention), depending on eligibility and assignment.

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Duty locations

IMPORTANT: Duty assignments may include Southwest Border prioritized locations and other mission-critical stations. You will be asked to select preferred locations, but final duty assignment is determined by the Confidential Client based on operational needs.

Common sectors and sample stations include (not exhaustive):

• Big Bend Sector — Presidio, Sierra Blanca, Sanderson, Marfa, Van Horn
• Del Rio, El Paso, El Centro, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Tucson, Yuma sectors
• Additional northern and coastal sector stations (e.g., Buffalo, Grand Forks, Spokane, Swanton)

Duty location affects locality pay. A fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional 25% locality pay under BPA pay reform rules.

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Key responsibilities

As an entry-level Border Patrol Agent you will become part of a federal law enforcement team responsible for safeguarding borders and deterring illicit activity. Typical duties include:

• Detecting and questioning persons suspected of immigration or customs law violations; inspecting documents and possessions
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers, including surveillance and night operations using specialty equipment
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic and city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, and other government assets

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Qualifications

You may qualify for GL-5 if you have ONE of the following:

• One year of general work experience showing ability to take charge, make sound decisions, maintain composure in stressful situations, learn regulations/methods, and gather concise information through questioning and observation
• OR a bachelor's degree (any field) from an accredited college/university
• OR a combination of education and general work experience (evaluated from resume and transcripts)

You may qualify for GL-7 if you have ONE of the following:

• One year of specialized work experience demonstrating:
  • Sound judgment and decision-making in use of firearms
  • Effective, courteous interaction with people in law enforcement contexts
  • Rapid information analysis and prompt decision-making (including 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 (criminal justice, homeland security, etc.)
• OR a combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)

Note: Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11). This announcement covers GL-5 / GL-7 entry-level appointments.

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Other requirements & training

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Residency: Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred for selection before their 40th birthday per applicable retirement provisions (exceptions apply for some veterans and certain federal law enforcement service).
• Veterans’ Preference and Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) options may apply.
• Formal training: New hires attend the Border Patrol Academy (approximately 6 months) for intensive instruction in immigration and nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and more.
• Language: Ability to read and speak English is required; Spanish proficiency is highly beneficial. Language training may be provided during the Academy.

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What Careertakes provides

• Third-party recruiting support and access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
• Guidance about position requirements and application process; note that final hiring/employment decisions are made by the Confidential Client.

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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.