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, a federal law enforcement agency (border security & customs).

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) to join a federal law enforcement team protecting the nation’s borders. This is a full-time, career-track position with academy training, federal benefits, and performance-based grade progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12).

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Compensation & Incentives

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs (grade-dependent): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (GL-5 / GL-7 range).
• Estimated midpoint shown: $78,645 per year (estimate).
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid after Border Patrol Academy completion; remaining $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location).
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Eligible for federal benefits including health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), and generous leave accrual.
• Note: locality pay and duty location can affect total pay; certain locations may add up to ~25% per applicable pay rules.

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Key Responsibilities

Typical duties for an entry-level Border Patrol Agent include:

• Detecting, questioning and inspecting individuals and belongings for immigration/customs compliance.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers by maintaining surveillance and conducting investigations.
• Interpreting physical evidence (tracks, marks) and conducting farm, building, traffic, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling borders and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off‑road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and related government assets.
• Working day and night shifts, including covert surveillance operations using optical/infrared equipment as required.

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Duty Locations

Duty assignments are determined at the time of offer based on operational need and may require relocation. Prioritized/mission-critical locations include (but are not limited to):

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Buffalo Sector: Wellesley Island
• Del Rio Sector: Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass (North & South), 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
• Grand Forks Sector: Pembina
• Havre Sector: Havre, Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass
• Houlton Sector: Calais, Fort Fairfield, Jackman, Rangeley, Van Buren
• Laredo Sector: Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Laredo West, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley Sector: Rio Grande City, Fort Brown, McAllen, Brownsville, Falfurrias, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen
• San Diego Sector: Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Spokane Sector: Colville, Curlew, Metaline Falls, Oroville
• Swanton Sector: Beecher Falls, Burke, Champlain, Newport, Richford
• Tucson Sector: Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Brian A Terry, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• Yuma Sector: Blythe, Yuma, Wellton

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Minimum Qualifications

You may qualify for appointment at GL-5 or GL-7 depending on experience and/or education.

GL-5 (one of the following):

• One year of general work experience demonstrating responsibility, decision-making under stress, ability to learn regulations and procedures, and information-gathering skills; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (or completion of a full four-year course of study from an accredited college/university); OR
• A combination of qualifying experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

GL-7 (one of the following):

• One year of specialized work experience showing ability to:
  • Make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms;
  • Deal tactfully and effectively with people in law enforcement contexts;
  • Rapidly analyze information and make prompt decisions, including performing arrests after required training;
  • Or comparable law enforcement/security/military experience.
• OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA or class standing/honor society), OR one year of related graduate-level study; OR
• A combination of relevant experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

Note: Applicants with prior civilian federal law enforcement or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9 or GS-11). Confidential Client will evaluate relevant experience during application review.

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Other Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Must have maintained primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age restriction: candidates must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday per relevant federal law enforcement retirement provisions; exemptions may apply for certain federal service or Veterans’ Preference eligibilities.
• Candidates may be eligible for Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA).
• After hire, candidates attend the Border Patrol Academy (~6 months) for intensive training in immigration/nationality law, enforcement operations, firearms, driver training, physical techniques, and Spanish language proficiency. Language training is provided as part of the Academy.
• This role may require night operations, fieldwork in remote areas, and physical fitness appropriate for law enforcement duties.

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Preferred Attributes

• Experience in public safety, security, military police, corrections, or law enforcement.
• Ability to remain composed and exercise sound judgment in stressful and fast-changing situations.
• Strong observational and investigative skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
• Willingness to relocate to meet operational needs and to work varied shifts.

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Selection Process & Next Steps

Applications will be evaluated based on submitted resume, supporting documents (transcripts where applicable), and the BPA entrance exam and pre-screening steps. Confidential Client will provide further instructions for completing required application materials and assessments.

(Recruitment and application instructions are handled through the client’s official channels; specific "How to Apply" steps are omitted here per Careertakes process guidance.)

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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.