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 & 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 full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agents to join a federal law enforcement team protecting U.S. borders and deterring illicit activity. Typical duties include:

• Detecting, questioning, and inspecting persons and possessions to determine immigration or customs violations
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance and patrol tactics
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and physical evidence of illegal entry
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation inspections
• Patrolling boundaries and waterways using a variety of assets (vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, motorcycles, etc.)

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs typically falls in the GL-5 / GL-7 salary band: $51,632 – $92,912 per year (varies by grade and duty locality).
• Estimated midpoint/market examples may appear higher in some locations due to locality pay.
• Federal benefits package includes health, dental, life insurance options, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings).
• Training and career-ladder progression opportunities: GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 with eligibility for promotion after qualifying time in grade.

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Incentives

• Recruitment Incentive: Newly appointed agents may be offered up to $20,000 ($10,000 paid after successful completion of the training academy; an additional $10,000 for accepting prioritized duty locations).
• Retention Incentive: Eligible newly appointed agents may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Total potential incentives: up to $60,000 (subject to program rules and availability).

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Duty Locations

Duty assignments are determined based on operational needs and may include prioritized or remote border locations. Relocation may be required. Examples of sectors and stations (selection at application/offer stage):

• 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
• El Centro Sector — El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• San Diego Sector — Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Tucson Sector — Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points
• Yuma Sector — Blythe, Yuma, Wellton
• (Additional sectors/stations across the U.S.; mission-critical and prioritized locations may be noted in offer materials.)

Duty location affects locality pay and total compensation.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at GL-5 or GL-7 based on the following pathways:

GL-5 eligibility (choose one):

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating ability to learn procedures, make sound decisions, maintain composure, and gather concise information; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college/university; OR
• A combination of education and general work experience (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

GL-7 eligibility (choose one):

• One (1) year of specialized work experience demonstrating skills such as:
  • Sound judgment and decision-making in the use of firearms
  • Effective, courteous interaction with the public on law enforcement matters
  • Rapid analysis of information and prompt law-enforcement decision-making (e.g., arrests, enforcement duties)
• OR education substitution:
  • Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA or class standing/honors), OR
  • One full year of relevant graduate-level education (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic technology, etc.), OR
  • A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated via resume and transcripts).

Note: Applicants with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9, GS-11); review announcement details for those pathways.

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Other Requirements

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have been a primary U.S. resident for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates must generally be referred for selection before their 40th birthday per applicable federal law-enforcement retirement provisions. Exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or veterans’ preference eligibility.
• Veterans’ Preference: Eligible candidates may qualify for special hiring authorities that affect age and appointment rules.
• Training: Selected candidates will attend an approximately six-month law-enforcement academy for instruction in immigration and nationality laws, operations, driver training, physical techniques, and firearms.
• Language: Work requires ability to read and speak English; training is provided to improve Spanish proficiency as needed.
• Other background checks, medical, and fitness-for-duty requirements will apply for federal law enforcement positions.

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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.