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.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Overview

Confidential Client is recruiting entry‑level Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at GL‑5 / GL‑7 grade levels. This is a full‑time, federal law enforcement career that includes formal academy training, a defined career ladder, and eligibility for substantial recruitment and retention incentives. Duty assignments are determined at offer and may require relocation. Primary advertised location: Sammamish, WA (positions available across multiple mission‑critical U.S. locations).

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What You’ll Do

Border Patrol Agents protect the border, deter illegal activity, and support public safety. Typical duties include:

• Detect, question, and inspect people and documents to assess immigration and customs compliance.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance and investigative techniques.
• Interpret tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Conduct farm, building, traffic, city, and transportation checks.
• Patrol boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, motorcycles, and other government assets.

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Salary & Incentives

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs: GL‑5 / GL‑7 — $51,632 to $92,912 per year.
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after Academy graduation; remaining $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying hires.
• Additional locality and pay differentials may apply — a fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an extra 25% of base pay under BPA pay reforms.
• Federal benefits: health/dental, generous annual and sick leave, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and other federal employment benefits.

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Duty Locations

Duty assignments may include Southwest Border and other mission‑critical sectors. Assignments are made based on operational need at the time of offer and may not match initial preferences. Selected stations include (not exhaustive):

• Big Bend Sector — Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Del Rio Sector — Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso Sector — Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Ysleta
• Laredo Sector — Laredo, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Zapata
• San Diego Sector — Boulevard, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Tucson Sector — Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• Yuma Sector — Blythe, Yuma, Wellton
• Additional stations across northern and coastal sectors

Relocation may be required.

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Qualifications — GL‑5 and GL‑7

You may qualify at GL‑5 if you meet one of the following:

• Experience: One year of general work experience demonstrating decision‑making, composure under stress, ability to learn regulations/methods, and information‑gathering skills; OR
• Education: Bachelor’s degree (four‑year) from an accredited college or university; OR
• Combination of experience and education (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

You may qualify at GL‑7 if you meet one of the following:

• Experience: One year of specialized work experience demonstrating firearm judgment, effective interpersonal skills in law enforcement contexts, rapid information analysis, and arrest authority/use of force application; OR
• Education: Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate‑level study (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic studies, etc.); OR
• Combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

Note: Prior military or civilian law enforcement experience may qualify candidates for higher grade levels (GL‑9, GS‑11). Those applicants should reference the applicable announcement.

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Other Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Must be referred for selection before reaching 40 years of age (statutory law enforcement retirement rules apply). Exceptions exist for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference eligibilities.
• Training: Successful candidates will attend approximately six months of the Border Patrol Academy (intensive instruction in immigration/nationality law, law enforcement operations, driver training, firearms, physical techniques, and Spanish language training). Spanish reading/speaking skills are advantageous; language proficiency will be trained as needed.
• Background: Candidates will undergo background checks, medical, physical, and suitability vetting as part of the federal hiring process.

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What We’re Looking For (Skills & Attributes)

• Strong situational judgment and decision‑making under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Physical fitness and ability to complete Academy and field duties.
• Integrity, teamwork, and commitment to public service.
• Prior public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement experience is beneficial but not required.

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What You’ll Gain

• A stable, career‑track federal law enforcement role with clear promotion pathways (GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12).
• Comprehensive federal benefits and retirement options.
• Training and professional development, including Academy instruction and on‑the‑job progression.
• Potential significant financial incentives for recruitment and retention.

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Recruitment Notes

• Duty assignment, grade, and pay depend on operational needs and candidate qualifications.
• Some prioritized locations are eligible for higher recruitment incentives.
• This posting represents multiple openings across numerous U.S. sectors; advertised location is Sammamish, WA, with other assignments nationwide.

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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.