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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Overview

This is an entry-level Border Patrol Agent (BPA) opportunity supporting a confidential client in federal law enforcement. The role is full-time and includes formal academy training, a structured career ladder, federal benefits, and substantial recruitment and retention incentives (up to $60,000 in some cases). Candidates should be prepared for duty assignments across mission-critical locations; relocation may be required.

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What You’ll Do

As a Border Patrol Agent, you will join an operational law enforcement team protecting borders and deterring illicit activity. Typical duties include:

• Detect, question, and inspect people and possessions to determine citizenship and identify violations
• Conduct surveillance (including night operations using infrared optics) and covert observation
• Interpret tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry or smuggling
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city and transportation patrols
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, motorcycles, and other government assets
• Make arrests and process individuals when appropriate after completing required training

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Qualifications

Minimum and preferred qualifications for entry-level grading:

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years
• Age requirement: must be referred for selection before turning 40 per applicable law enforcement retirement provisions (exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference)
• Education / Experience for GL-5:
  • 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 discipline); OR
  • A combination of experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)
• Education / Experience for GL-7:
  • One year of specialized experience (examples: criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military police, or other law enforcement roles) demonstrating firearm judgment, tactful public interaction, rapid analysis and decision-making; OR
  • A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of related graduate-level education; OR
  • A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)
• Applicants with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify for higher grade levels (GL‑9 / GS‑11); follow instructions in the job announcement for advanced credit
• Physical fitness, medical, and background investigation clearances are required (details provided during the hiring process)
• Spanish language proficiency is helpful; language training is provided during the Academy

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Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs (GL‑5 / GL‑7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (grade-dependent)
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 after Academy completion + $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location, where applicable)
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for eligible hires
• Additional locality and pay reform adjustments may apply (a fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional ~25% of base pay in certain locations)
• Federal benefits package including health and dental insurance, generous leave accrual, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

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Location & Duty Assignments

Duty assignments are based on operational needs and may include mission-critical locations nationwide, including the Southwest Border and various sector stations. Examples of prioritized or mission-critical areas include (not exhaustive):

• Selected stations in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and other U.S. sectors
• Some positions are designated as prioritized locations for incentive eligibility
• You will be asked to indicate preferred duty locations, but relocation may be required at time of offer

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Training & Career Progression

• New hires attend approximately six months of intensive instruction at the Border Patrol Academy covering immigration and nationality laws, law enforcement tactics, firearms, driver training, physical techniques, and Spanish language instruction as needed
• This position is a career-ladder role: GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12. Promotion to the next grade typically occurs after successful completion of required time-in-grade (e.g., 52 weeks per grade) without reapplying

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Additional Requirements & Notes

• Candidates will undergo background investigations, medical and fitness exams, and firearms qualification
• Veterans’ Preference and certain hiring authorities may affect age restrictions and appointment pathways
• This role involves law enforcement duties that may include irregular hours, night operations, physical risk, and enforcement actions
• Reasonable accommodations are provided in accordance with applicable law for candidates with disabilities

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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.