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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Position highlights

Confidential Client is hiring entry-level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) for full-time, career positions. This is an opportunity to begin a federal law enforcement career with structured grade progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12), comprehensive benefits, and recruitment/retention incentives of up to $60,000 for qualifying hires.

• Estimated annual pay (this posting): $73,929 per year — estimated
• GL-5 / GL-7 salary range for newly appointed BPAs: $51,632 – $92,912 per year
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy completion; additional $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations)
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 over first four years for qualifying hires
• Employment type: Full time
• Duty location: Ontario, CA (91764) — duty assignment may include southwest border and other mission-critical locations; relocation may be required

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What you’ll do

As an entry-level Border Patrol Agent with Confidential Client you will protect our borders, deter illicit activity, and support lawful trade and travel. Typical duties include:

• Detecting, questioning, and inspecting persons, documents, and possessions to determine citizenship and compliance
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented entrants and smugglers using surveillance (day/night) and covert positions
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and physical evidence of illegal entry and contraband
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic and city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrolling boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and other assets
• Performing law enforcement tasks that may include arrests, evidence collection, and reports

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Training & career progression

• Newly hired BPAs attend approximately six months of intensive instruction at the Border Patrol Academy (Artesia, NM). Training includes immigration and nationality law, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, Spanish language training, and USBP-specific operations.
• Career-ladder promotions occur after completion of required time-in-grade (e.g., 52 weeks per grade).
• Language proficiency in Spanish is valuable; academy training supports Spanish language development.

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Who should apply / Qualifications

You may qualify for GL-5, GL-7, or higher depending on experience and education.

Qualify for GL-5 (one of the following):

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating responsibility, decision-making under stress, and ability to learn regulations and techniques through classroom/on-the-job instruction; OR
• Bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college or university; OR
• Combination of relevant experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

Qualify for GL-7 (one of the following):

• One (1) year of specialized work experience showing skills to:
  • Use firearms with sound judgment
  • Deal effectively and courteously with people in law enforcement contexts
  • Rapidly analyze information and make prompt decisions; apply arrest and enforcement skills in roles such as criminal enforcement, corrections, security, military police, or similar
• OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA, class standing, or honor society), OR one full year graduate-level education in a related field (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic studies, etc.), OR combination of experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

If you have prior federal or military law enforcement experience you may qualify at GL-9 or GS-11 — review applicable announcements for advanced-grade consideration.

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Other legal requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday per law enforcement retirement provisions, unless exempt (e.g., prior/current federal civilian LEO service or certain veterans’ preference rules).
• Veterans: Veterans’ Preference and certain appointment authorities (e.g., VRA) may apply and can affect age restrictions.
• Ability to meet background investigation, medical, fitness, and firearm standards required for federal law enforcement employment.

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Duty locations & operational notes

Duty assignments are determined at the time of offer based on operational needs and may not align with candidate preferences. Some prioritized/higher-incentive locations may include (examples):

• Presidio, Sierra Blanca, Sanderson (TX), Comstock (TX), Lordsburg (NM), Freer (TX), Hebbronville (TX), Ajo (AZ), and other sector stations across Southwest Border, San Diego, Tucson, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, El Centro, and additional national sectors.

Note: Duty location impacts locality pay; fully trained BPAs may be eligible for up to an additional locality adjustment under applicable pay rules.

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Compensation & benefits

• GL-5 / GL-7 base salary range for newly appointed BPAs: $51,632 – $92,912 per year (grade-dependent)
• Estimated pay for this posting: $73,929 per year — estimated
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (payment structure described above)
• Retention incentives: up to $40,000 distributed over first four years for qualifying hires
• Federal benefits package: medical, dental, life insurance, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings)

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Preferred skills & attributes

• Commitment to long-term federal law enforcement service and public safety
• Strong judgment and decision-making under stress
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work respectfully with diverse communities
• Physical fitness and readiness for field operations and academy training
• Spanish language ability is a plus (training provided), as is prior public safety, security, or military experience

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Confidential Client hiring process notes

This posting is supported by Careertakes as a third-party recruiting platform. If selected, final hiring decisions and employment are made directly by Confidential Client. Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of resume, supporting documents, entrance exam(s), background checks, and required fitness/medical screenings. Residency, age, citizenship, and other legally required criteria will be validated as part of the 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.