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 confidential client in Federal Law Enforcement & Border Security.

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

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What You’ll Do

This full-time, entry-level Border Patrol Agent role supports a confidential federal border security agency’s mission to protect the nation’s borders and deter illicit activity. You will receive intensive academy training and then perform patrol, surveillance, and law-enforcement duties as directed by the agency.

• Detect, question, and inspect persons and property to determine compliance with immigration and customs laws
• Conduct surveillance and covert operations, including night operations using infrared and other surveillance equipment
• Patrol border areas and coastal waterways using vehicles, ATVs, watercraft, horses, motorcycles, or off-road platforms
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation inspections
• Collect and interpret physical evidence (tracks, marks) and prepare concise reports of investigations
• Make arrests and process suspects in accordance with agency policy and applicable law

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary (entry-level, grade GL-5 to GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year
• Estimated midpoint shown by third-party sites: approximately $87,409/year (estimate)
• Recruitment incentives: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy completion; additional $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations)
• Retention incentives: may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed during the first four years
• Federal benefits package including health/dental insurance, paid annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings)

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Duties & Typical Assignments

You will be part of a large federal law enforcement workforce performing mission-critical border security tasks. Typical assignments include:

• Tactical and roving border patrols
• Surveillance from fixed and mobile observation points
• Apprehension of undocumented entrants and smugglers
• Document inspection and interviewing individuals to determine admissibility
• Participation in multi-disciplinary operations with other federal/state/local partners

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Minimum Qualifications

You must meet at least one of the following to qualify at the GL-5 level:

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

To qualify at the GL-7 level, you must have one year of specialized experience showing the ability to:

• Make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms
• Deal effectively, courteously, and tactfully with people in law enforcement contexts
• Rapidly analyze information, make prompt decisions, and apply arrest and enforcement authority in a law enforcement capacity

Education substitutions for GL-7 include a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate-level study.

Note: Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11). Those applicants should consult the applicable announcement or recruiter.

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Other Requirements & Hiring Conditions

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred prior to their 40th birthday per applicable federal law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions exist for certain prior federal civilian law enforcement or Veterans’ Preference eligibilities.
• Formal Training: New hires will attend an approximately six-month Border Patrol Academy for intensive instruction in immigration law, law enforcement operations, driver/vehicle operations, physical techniques, firearms, and Spanish language training if required.
• Duty Assignments: Offers may include duty assignments at the Southwest Border and other mission-critical locations. Relocation may be required; duty location affects locality pay.
• Physical & Background Requirements: Selection is conditioned on successful background investigation, medical and fitness assessments, and any required clearances.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation during the hiring process may request assistance; the agency provides accommodations in accordance with federal law.
• Veterans: Veterans may be eligible for special hiring authorities (e.g., VRA); such eligibilities can affect age restrictions and appointment status.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in law enforcement, security, military police, corrections, or related public-safety roles
• Spanish language proficiency (training is provided, but existing proficiency is beneficial)
• Demonstrated experience with surveillance, patrol operations, or firearms in a professional setting
• Strong decision-making, communication, and report-writing skills

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Location & Mobility

Duty locations include a range of sector stations across multiple states and territories. Candidates will be asked to indicate preferred locations, but final assignments are based on operational needs. Some prioritized locations are eligible for additional incentives. Expect potential relocation and variable work environments, including remote rural sectors and border towns.

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Recruiting & Selection Notes

• This is a career, full-time federal law enforcement position with a multi-grade career ladder (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12).
• Promotion to the next grade generally occurs after completion of required time-in-grade (e.g., ~52 weeks per grade), subject to agency policy.
• Applicants are evaluated on submitted resume, supporting documents (transcripts, etc.), and required exams/assessments.

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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.