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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Salary & Benefits

Confidential Client offers competitive federal pay and benefits for entry-level Border Patrol Agent (BPA) appointments.

• Annual base salary (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (varies by grade and locality).
• Estimated midpoint for this posting: $76,726 per year (estimate).
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (paid in two parts: $10,000 after Academy completion + $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location).
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying new hires.
• Federal benefits: health, dental, vision, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), paid annual and sick leave, and other standard federal employee benefits.
• Potential locality and law-enforcement pay differentials; fully trained BPAs may be eligible for additional locality adjustments (per applicable law).

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Role Overview & Why This Role Matters

This is an entry-level, full-time federal law enforcement opportunity for candidates seeking a long-term career that protects U.S. borders and supports national security. Prior experience in public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement may qualify applicants for higher grade consideration.

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Duties & Responsibilities

As an entry-level Border Patrol Agent with Confidential Client, typical duties include:

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspecting documents and possessions.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance (including night operations with infrared equipment).
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, and motorcycles as mission needs dictate.

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Qualifications

Candidates may qualify at different grade levels depending on experience and education.

GL-5 qualification (one of the following):

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating the ability to take charge, make sound decisions, maintain composure under stress, learn regulations/methods, and gather concise information through questioning, observation, and document examination; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college or university; OR
• A combination of general work experience and college education (evaluated from your resume and transcripts).

GL-7 qualification (one of the following):

• One (1) year of specialized work experience demonstrating skills such as sound judgment in firearm use, effective public interaction in law enforcement contexts, rapid information analysis and decision-making, and experience applying these skills in criminal enforcement, corrections, security, military, or related roles; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (per defined criteria) OR one year of relevant graduate-level study; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from your resume and transcripts).

Note: Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11). Documentation of experience and education will be required.

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Duty Locations & Assignment Notes

Candidates will be asked to select preferred mission-critical locations, but final duty assignments are determined by operational needs at time of offer. Some duty locations may be prioritized for recruitment and carry additional incentives.

Sample duty locations (not exhaustive):

• 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 (El Paso area locations, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa)
• El Centro Sector (El Centro, Indio, Calexico)
• Tucson Sector (Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande)
• San Diego Sector (Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, San Clemente, and others)
• Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Yuma, Spokane, Swanton, Grand Forks, Havre, Houlton sectors, and additional stations

Important: Duty assignment may require relocation. Locality pay and duty location affect total compensation. This role is part of a career ladder (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12) with promotion eligibility after specified time-in-grade requirements.

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Other Requirements & Conditions of Employment

• 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 reaching their 40th birthday per applicable federal law enforcement retirement provisions, unless exempt (e.g., certain prior federal law enforcement service or qualifying Veterans’ Preference exceptions).
• Formal training: selected candidates will be detailed to the Border Patrol Academy for approximately six months of intensive instruction (law enforcement, immigration/nationality law, firearms, physical techniques, driver training, Spanish language training, and other courses).
• Language: ability to speak and read English; Spanish language proficiency is often required or developed during Academy training.
• Background checks, medical and fitness evaluations, and other standard federal clearance processes apply.

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What We’re Looking For

• Strong decision-making under pressure and sound judgment.
• Ability to learn and apply law enforcement procedures and regulations.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in teams.
• Physical fitness and willingness to complete intensive academy training.
• Flexibility for relocation and varied duty assignments.

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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.