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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What You’ll Do

confidential client is hiring entry-level Border Patrol Agents to join a federal law enforcement team protecting the nation’s borders. This full-time career position involves hands-on field work and patrol operations. Typical duties include:

• Detecting, questioning, and inspecting individuals and documents for immigration and customs violations
• Maintaining surveillance (including night operations using infrared scopes)
• 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 boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, boats, ATVs, motorcycles, and other government assets
• Making arrests and using sound judgment in enforcement actions after required training

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base pay for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents (GL-5 to GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year
• Federal benefits package including health and dental insurance, sick and annual leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k)/Roth structure)
• Potential locality pay increases for certain duty locations and career-ladder promotions from GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12

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Incentives & Duty Locations

• 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 over the first four years (may apply depending on assignment)
• Duty assignments may include Southwest Border and other mission-critical sectors. Relocation may be required; duty assignment and locality pay depend on operational needs.

Priority and example duty locations (selection requested at offer; not exhaustive):

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Laredo Sector: Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley Sector: Rio Grande City, McAllen, Brownsville, Harlingen
• El Paso Sector: El Paso, Clint, Deming, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa
• Tucson, Yuma, San Diego, Grand Forks, Spokane, Havre, Swanton sectors and others

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Training & Career Progression

• New hires attend an intensive ~6-month Border Patrol Academy (Artesia, NM) covering immigration and nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, firearms, physical techniques, and more
• Spanish language proficiency is important; language training is provided at the Academy
• Career-ladder advancement available with time-in-grade and successful performance

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Qualifications

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

GL-5 (minimum)

• One year of general work experience showing ability to take charge, make sound decisions, learn rules and techniques, and gather information through observation and questioning OR
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution OR
• Combination of relevant experience and college coursework (transcripts will be reviewed)

GL-7 (preferred/possible)

• One year of specialized experience that demonstrates:
  • Sound judgment and decision-making in the use of firearms
  • Effective, courteous interactions in law enforcement contexts
  • Rapid information analysis and prompt decision-making (e.g., arrest authority, criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military police) OR
• Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (high GPA, class standing, or honor society) OR
• One year of graduate-level education in a related field (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic studies, etc.) OR
• Combination of specialized experience and education

If you have previous federal or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify for higher grade levels (GL-9, GS-11). Your submitted resume and transcripts will be used to determine grade placement.

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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: Applicants must be referred for selection before their 40th birthday per DHS Directive 251-03, unless an exception applies (e.g., certain prior federal civilian LEO service or Veterans’ Preference exceptions)
• Veterans’ Preference and certain veterans’ appointments may affect age and hiring rules
• Hiring process includes background checks, eligibility vetting, and a BPA entrance exam

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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.