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

Confidential Client is hiring full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL-5 / GL-7 grade levels to join federal border security operations. This is a career-position focused on protecting borders, deterring unlawful entry and smuggling, and safeguarding national security.

Core responsibilities:

• Conduct inspections, detect and question individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws.
• Maintain surveillance (including night operations using infrared scopes) and perform apprehensions when necessary.
• Interpret and follow tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic and city patrols, and transportation inspections.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, boats, ATVs, motorcycles and other assets.
• Work collaboratively with mission teams; apply training in law enforcement procedures and report writing.

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Compensation & Benefits

Compensation:

• Annual base salary (newly appointed BPAs) varies by grade: GL-5 / GL-7 — $51,632 to $92,912 per year.
• Estimated midpoint for this posting: approximately $82,381 per year (varies by duty location and locality pay).

Incentives and benefits:

• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 for newly appointed BPAs (first $10,000 after completing the Border Patrol Academy; additional $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: newly appointed BPAs may qualify for up to $40,000 in additional incentives distributed over the first four years.
• Federal benefits including health and dental plans, retirement plan participation (Thrift Savings Plan), generous annual and sick leave, and additional locality pay adjustments in higher-cost or mission-critical locations.
• Career ladder progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12) with eligibility for promotion after meeting time-in-grade requirements.

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Locations & Travel

Duty assignments may include mission-critical and prioritized locations across multiple sectors (Southwest Border and other border/coastal sectors). Selected duty stations could include, but are not limited to:

• Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Marfa (Big Bend Sector)
• Wellesley Island (Buffalo Sector)
• Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde (Del Rio Sector)
• Alamogordo, El Paso, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Las Cruces (El Paso Sector)
• El Centro, Indio, Calexico (El Centro Sector)
• Tucson, Ajo, Nogales, Douglas, Casa Grande, Willcox (Tucson Sector)
• Blythe, Yuma, Wellton (Yuma Sector) ...and other sector stations nationwide.

Note: duty location is determined based on operational needs at time of offer. Relocation may be required. Duty location impacts locality pay and total compensation.

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Qualifications

Minimum qualifications for GL-5:

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating the ability to take charge, make decisions in stressful situations, learn regulations and techniques through training, and gather concise information through questioning and observation; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (or successful completion of a full four-year course of study) from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of experience and education (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

Minimum qualifications for GL-7:

• One (1) year of specialized work experience showing skills such as sound judgment in the use of firearms, effective public interaction in law enforcement contexts, rapid information analysis and decision-making, arrest authority after training, or related security/military/law enforcement work; OR
• Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (class standing, GPA ≥ 3.0, or honor society), OR one year of relevant graduate-level education, OR a combination of experience and education.

Additional notes:

• Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9, GS-11) — please review qualification announcements when applying.

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Required & Other Important Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Residency: primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age: must be referred for selection before the 40th birthday per applicable law (exceptions apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veteran’s Preference eligibilities).
• Formal training: newly hired BPAs will attend an approximately six-month Border Patrol Academy for intensive instruction (immigration and nationality laws, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and Spanish language support).
• Language: ability to speak and read English is required. Spanish language proficiency is beneficial; Spanish training is provided at the Academy to reach operational proficiency.
• This is a physically and mentally demanding law enforcement role; candidates must meet medical, physical fitness, background, and other federal employment standards (details provided in job announcements).

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Preferred Qualifications (desirable)

• Prior experience in public safety, security, military police, corrections, or law enforcement.
• Experience with surveillance, apprehension procedures, or patrol duties.
• Demonstrated decision-making under stress and clear written communication.

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Selection & Application Notes

This posting represents an opportunity to join a federal law enforcement career path with structured training, incentives, and advancement. Applicants will be evaluated on submitted materials, qualification documentation, and required entrance assessments.

Careertakes is supporting this recruitment as a third-party recruiting platform; final hiring decisions will be 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.