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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Role overview

Confidential Client (a federal border enforcement agency) is hiring full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL-5/GL-7 grade levels. This is a career-focused federal law enforcement role that includes academy training, a structured career ladder, competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and significant recruitment and retention incentives (up to $60,000 total). This posting covers duty assignments across multiple mission-critical locations; relocation may be required.

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Salary & incentives

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 to GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Estimated midpoint for comparable listings in the area: ~$89,000 per year (varies by locality pay).
• Recruitment Incentive: Up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after Academy completion; remaining $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations).
• Retention Incentive: Up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying new hires.
• Federal employment benefits include health, dental, annual/sick leave, and the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings).

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Primary duty locations

Duty assignments may include (but are not limited to) mission-critical stations across the Southwest border and beyond. You will be asked to select preferences; final assignments are based on operational needs.

Sample sectors and stations:

• Big Bend Sector — Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Alpine, Marfa
• Del Rio Sector — Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso Sector — Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Ysleta
• El Centro Sector — El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Tucson Sector — Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• Yuma Sector — Blythe, Yuma, Wellton
• Additional sectors: Buffalo, Grand Forks, Havre, Houlton, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Spokane, Swanton

Note: Some prioritized locations are eligible for additional recruitment funds (e.g., Presidio, Sierra Blanca, Lordsburg, Ajo, Hebbronville, Freer, Comstock, Sanderson).

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What you’ll do

As a Border Patrol Agent with our client, you will:

• Detect, question, and inspect persons and property to enforce immigration and customs laws.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance, patrols, and interdiction techniques.
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, motorcycles, and other government assets.
• Use observation, interviewing, and evidence interpretation (tracks, marks) to support investigations and apprehensions.
• Operate tactically, sometimes covertly (including night operations using scopes and surveillance gear).

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Qualifications

You may qualify at GL-5 with one of the following:

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, and the ability to learn and apply regulations and procedures; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (any field) from an accredited college/university; OR
• A combination of experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

You may qualify at GL-7 with one of the following:

• One year of specialized work experience showing ability to use firearms with sound judgment; interact tactfully and effectively in law enforcement situations; analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions (examples: criminal enforcement, corrections, security, military police); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement, OR one full year of graduate-level education in a related field (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic studies, etc.); OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

Note: Candidates with prior federal civilian law enforcement or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9, GS-11). Veterans’ preference and certain excepted appointment authorities may apply.

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Other requirements

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age limit: Candidates generally must be referred before their 40th birthday due to law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions for prior federal civilian law enforcement or certain veterans’ preference eligibilities may apply.
• Formal training: All hires attend the Border Patrol Academy (approx. 6 months) for instruction in immigration and nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and mission-specific skills.
• Language: Ability to read and speak English required; training and support are provided to develop Spanish proficiency.
• Background checks, medical, fitness, and other pre-employment screens are required for federal law enforcement positions.

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Working conditions & career progression

• This is a career-ladder federal law enforcement position. Grade progression typically follows GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 with eligibility for promotion after successful completion of required service time at each grade.
• Work includes irregular hours, field operations, exposure to adverse weather and remote assignments, and potential risk associated with enforcement duties.
• Locality pay and pay reform provisions for federal law enforcement may increase total compensation in certain locations (up to an additional percentage of base pay).

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Why consider this role

• Meaningful, mission-driven federal law enforcement career protecting national borders and public safety.
• Structured training and clear advancement pathway.
• Competitive base pay, locality adjustments, and substantial incentives for recruitment/retention.
• Comprehensive federal benefits package and retirement savings options.

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Notes & compliance

• Duty assignments are determined by the confidential client based on operational needs and may not align with first-choice preferences. Relocation may be required.
• This posting covers opportunities across multiple U.S. states. All hiring will comply with applicable federal and state employment laws in each jurisdiction where the job is listed.

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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.