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 / Homeland Security.

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

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Overview

This opportunity is for an entry-level Border Patrol Agent (BPA) at Confidential Client. These are full-time, federal law enforcement positions. This role suits candidates seeking a long-term public service career protecting the nation’s borders and communities. Training is provided at the Border Patrol Academy; previous public safety, military, or law enforcement experience may qualify for higher grade placement.

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Salary & Incentives

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 - $92,912 per year.
• Estimated salary for this location (approx.): $78,976 per year.
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid after Academy graduation; remaining $10,000 for accepting prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.
• Eligible for federal benefits including health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), and generous annual/sick leave.
• Locality and law-enforcement pay reforms may increase total compensation (up to an additional ~25% in some locations).

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Duty Locations & Assignment Notes

• Duty assignments may include mission-critical locations along the Southwest Border and other sectors nationwide. A list of sectors and stations is provided by the agency.
• Duty assignment is determined by operational needs at the time of offer; relocation may be required.
• Candidates will be asked to select preferred locations but should expect assignments based on agency priorities.

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Key Duties & Responsibilities

Typical duties include:

• Detecting, questioning, and inspecting persons and documents to determine citizenship and identify violations.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers through surveillance and enforcement operations.
• Interpreting physical evidence such as tracks and marks to determine illegal entry.
• Conducting farm, building, traffic, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, vessels, horses, ATVs, motorcycles, and other government assets.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at the GL-5 grade level if you have one of the following:

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, and the ability to learn procedures and gather information through questioning and observation; OR
• A bachelor's degree (or equivalent four-year course of study); OR
• A combination of relevant work experience and post-secondary education (calculated from resume and transcripts).

You may qualify at the GL-7 grade level if you have one of the following:

• One (1) year of specialized experience showing the ability to make sound judgments in use of firearms, deal tactfully and effectively with people on law enforcement matters, analyze information rapidly, and perform law-enforcement-related duties (e.g., criminal code enforcement, corrections, security, military policing); OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate-level study; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts).

Note: Applicants with previous federal civilian or military law-enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9, GS-11, etc.) — consult the specific announcement for GL-9–11 eligibility.

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Other Requirements & Eligibility

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred for selection before reaching their 40th birthday, subject to federal law-enforcement retirement provisions; certain veterans or those with prior covered federal civilian LEO service may be exempt.
• Veterans’ preference and excepted service hiring options (e.g., VRA) may apply in some cases.
• Formal training: Selected candidates will attend approximately six (6) months at the Border Patrol Academy (Artesia, NM) covering law, tactics, firearms, driver training, physical techniques, and language training. Spanish proficiency is beneficial; language training is provided.
• Background: Standard federal background checks, medical and fitness standards, and drug screening apply.

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Career Progression & Training

• This is a career-ladder position with grade progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12). Promotion to the next grade level typically occurs after successfully completing 52 weeks at each grade.
• Ongoing training and professional development are provided throughout the career.

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What We’re Looking For

• Commitment to public service and adherence to professional, ethical standards.
• Ability to work in varied, sometimes austere or remote environments.
• Strong decision-making, observation, and communication skills.
• Physical fitness and willingness to complete required training.
• Candidates with prior public safety, security, or military backgrounds are encouraged to apply and may qualify for advanced placement.

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What Applicants Should Know

• This posting represents hiring for Confidential Client (federal law enforcement). Recruitment materials may direct candidates to official federal job announcements for final application and documentation submission.
• Candidates will be evaluated on resume content, submitted supporting documents (e.g., transcripts), and required entrance assessments.
• No part of the hiring process should request payment for application processing.

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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.