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 is hiring full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL-5 / GL-7 grade levels. This is a career federal law enforcement opportunity focused on border security, public safety, and enforcement of immigration and customs laws. The role includes formal academy training, operational patrol duties, and opportunities for promotion on a career ladder.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Estimated local salary shown on some listings: $72,690 (estimate).
• Up to $60,000 in hiring and retention incentives:
  • Recruitment incentive up to $20,000 (first $10k after Academy completion; additional $10k for accepting a prioritized location).
  • Retention incentive may total up to $40,000 distributed over four years.
• Federal benefits package including health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), paid annual and sick leave, and other standard federal employee benefits.
• Potential locality or special pay adjustments (up to ~25% for some locations under law enforcement pay reform).

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Key Responsibilities

• Detect, question, and inspect individuals and property to determine compliance with immigration and customs laws.
• Prevent and apprehend unlawful entry and smuggling near borders using surveillance, checkpoints, and patrols.
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, and other government assets.
• Use investigative observation and evidence interpretation (tracks, marks, physical evidence) to support enforcement actions.
• Work nights, weekends, and rotating shifts as operations require.

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Qualifications

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

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

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

• One year of specialized work experience demonstrating law-enforcement–related judgment (firearms use, arrests, dealing with people in law-enforcement contexts, rapid analysis and decision-making); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of graduate-level coursework in a related field (e.g., criminal justice, homeland security); OR
• A combination of relevant experience and education evaluated from resume/transcripts.

Previous federal or military law-enforcement experience may qualify candidates for higher grade consideration (GL-9 / GS-11).

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Other Requirements & Considerations

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred for selection before turning 40 due to federal law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement or qualifying veterans’ appointments. This is a legal requirement for some LEO retirement categories, not a form of unlawful discrimination.
• Formal training: Successful candidates attend an approximately six-month Border Patrol Academy covering law, tactics, firearms, driver training, physical techniques, and language training (Spanish proficiency training provided as needed).
• Duty assignments: Offers may include assignments to Southwest Border and other mission-critical locations. Relocation may be required and duty location affects pay via locality adjustments.
• Reasonable accommodations: Confidential Client will consider requests for reasonable accommodation in accordance with applicable law.

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Duty Locations (Examples of Mission-Critical Stations)

Candidates will be asked to select preferred locations; assignment is based on operational need and may include prioritized locations such as:

• Big Bend Sector (Presidio, Sierra Blanca, Sanderson, etc.)
• Del Rio, El Paso, El Centro, Tucson, San Diego Sectors
• Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Yuma, and other domestic sectors across the U.S.
• Some prioritized hardship locations (e.g., Ajo, AZ; Lordsburg, NM; select TX stations) may carry additional incentives.

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What We Look For

• Strong decision-making and composure under stress.
• Physical fitness and willingness to complete academy training and field duties.
• Ability to learn and apply law, regulation, and operational procedures.
• Teamwork, integrity, and commitment to public service.
• Spanish language ability is helpful; language training is provided.

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Selection & Screening

Applicants will be evaluated based on resume, supporting documents (transcripts, etc.), and entrance exam results. Background checks, medical and fitness evaluations, and other federal screening are part of the hiring process.

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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.