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 recruiting entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at the GL-5 and GL-7 grade levels for full-time, career federal law enforcement positions. This role offers structured training, career progression, comprehensive federal benefits, and incentives of up to $60,000 for qualifying new hires. Duty assignments support border security operations and may require relocation.

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Salary & Benefits

Confidential Client offers competitive federal pay and benefits, including:

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632–$92,912 per year.
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy graduation; remaining $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying agents.
• Federal benefits: health, dental, vision plans; generous annual and sick leave; participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
• Career-ladder progression: GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 with eligibility for promotion after required time-in-grade.

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Duty Locations & Travel

Duty assignments are mission-driven and may include Southwest Border sectors and other U.S. ports of entry and stations. Examples of prioritized or mission-critical locations include Presidio, Sierra Blanca, Lordsburg, Ajo, Tucson, Yuma, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, El Paso, and San Diego sectors.

• Relocation may be required. Duty location affects locality pay.
• Assignments are determined at time of offer based on operational needs — first-choice preferences are considered but not guaranteed.

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent with our client you will be part of a nationwide law enforcement mission to secure borders and deter illicit activity. Typical duties include:

• Detecting, questioning, and inspecting individuals and possessions for immigration/customs violations.
• Conducting surveillance and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers, including night operations using specialized equipment.
• Interpreting and following physical evidence (tracks, marks) of illegal entry.
• Performing farm checks, building and traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation inspections.
• Patrolling boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, motorcycles, and other government assets.

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Qualifications

You must meet one of the qualifying criteria for the advertised grade level:

GL-5 (entry):

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating sound decision-making, ability to learn regulations and methods, and information-gathering skills; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (or successful completion of a full four-year course of study); OR
• A combination of education and experience (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

GL-7:

• One (1) year of specialized experience showing ability to make sound firearms judgments, handle law enforcement interactions tactfully, analyze information rapidly, and perform arrests after required training; OR
• Education substitution such as a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate-level study; OR
• A combination of experience and education.

Other mandatory requirements:

• U.S. citizenship.
• Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age requirement: referred for selection before reaching 40 years old (exceptions apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference eligibles).
• Willingness to attend and successfully complete the Border Patrol Academy (~6 months) and ongoing job-specific training.
• Ability to read and speak English; Spanish proficiency is advantageous and training is provided for language proficiency.

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Preferred / Additional Qualifications

• Prior experience in public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement.
• Spanish language ability or willingness to develop proficiency.
• Strong judgment, physical fitness, and aptitude for high-stress decision-making.
• Valid driver’s license and demonstrated ability to operate varied government vehicles or equipment (preferred).

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Career Path & Training

• You will attend approximately six months of intensive training at the Border Patrol Academy covering immigration law, law enforcement operations, firearms, driver training, physical techniques, and Spanish language training.
• Role is part of a federal law enforcement career ladder with clear promotion pathways and opportunities for advancement into supervisory or specialized positions.

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Applicant Notes & Legal Requirements

• This role requires U.S. citizenship and residency history as noted above.
• Veterans’ Preference and certain excepted hiring authorities may apply and can affect age restrictions and appointment pathways.
• Offers are contingent on meeting background, fitness, medical, and security requirements.

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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.