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 / border security.

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

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What You’ll Do

This role is for entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) who will join a federal law enforcement team responsible for protecting the nation’s borders and public safety. Typical duties include:

• Detecting and questioning people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws and inspecting documentation.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers by conducting surveillance and interdiction operations (including night operations with infrared equipment).
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry or contraband.
• Conducting farm, building, traffic, city, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary (newly appointed BPAs): GL-5 / GL-7 range — $51,632 to $92,912 per year.
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 after academy completion + $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Eligible for federal benefits including health and dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings).
• Pay may include locality adjustments and law-enforcement special pay (a fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay under pay reform provisions).

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Where You Might Work

Duty assignments are determined at time of offer based on operational needs; relocation may be required. Prioritized and mission-critical locations include (but are not limited to):

• Big Bend Sector (Presidio, Van Horn, Sierra Blanca, Sanderson, Alpine, Marfa)
• Del Rio Sector (Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde)
• Laredo Sector (Laredo, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Zapata)
• Rio Grande Valley Sector (McAllen, Brownsville, Rio Grande City, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen)
• El Paso, El Centro, Tucson, Yuma, San Diego, Grand Forks, Havre, Houlton, Spokane, Swanton sectors
• Duty assignments may include Southwest Border stations and other mission-critical posts.

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Qualifications

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

• One year of general work experience demonstrating the ability to take charge, make sound decisions under stress, learn regulations and methods, and gather concise information via questioning and observation; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of experience and college coursework (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

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

• One year of specialized work experience showing the ability to make sound firearms judgments, deal tactfully and effectively with people in law enforcement matters, rapidly analyze information, and perform arrests or criminal enforcement duties; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of graduate-level education in a relevant field (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic technology, etc.); OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education.

Note: Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (e.g., GL-9, GS-11). Qualifications will be verified via resume, application materials, and transcripts where required.

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Other Requirements & Important Notices

• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is required.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age: Applicants must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday (subject to federal law-enforcement retirement provisions). Exceptions apply for certain prior federal civilian or military service and for Veterans’ Preference eligibilities.
• Veterans: Veterans may be eligible for excepted service appointments; age exceptions may apply for Veterans’ Preference-eligible candidates.
• Physical & Background: Position requires passing background investigations and medical/fitness standards applicable to federal law enforcement officers.
• Language: Border Patrol duties benefit from Spanish speaking/reading ability; language training is provided at the academy for candidates who need it.

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Training & Career Path

• New hires attend an intensive Border Patrol Academy (approximately six months) covering immigration & nationality law, law enforcement operations, firearms, driver training, physical techniques, and other job-specific skills.
• This is a career-ladder position with progression through GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12. Promotion to the next grade is possible after successfully completing the required time-in-grade (typically 52 weeks at each grade) and associated 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.