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 (Border Security).

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

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About the Role

This is an entry-level federal law-enforcement opportunity for candidates seeking a long-term career in border security. As a Border Patrol Agent (BPA) with our confidential client, you will train at an intensive academy and join a mission-driven team that protects national borders, deters illicit activities, and supports public safety.

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What You’ll Do

• Detect, question, and inspect persons and possessions to determine citizenship and compliance with immigration and customs laws
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance (including night operations and infrared scopes)
• Interpret tracks, marks, and physical evidence of illegal entry or contraband
• Perform farm, building, traffic, city, and transportation checks
• Patrol international boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and other government assets

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year
• Estimated typical salary shown on some listings: ~$79,920/year (varies by location and grade)
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (example: $10,000 after academy completion + $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location)
• Retention incentives: may qualify for up to $40,000 across the first four years
• Federal benefits: health, dental, life insurance options; generous annual and sick leave; Thrift Savings Plan (retirement)
• Career-ladder progression: GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 with promotion eligibility after successful performance and time-in-grade

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Duty Locations & Assignment Details

Duty assignments are determined at offer based on operational needs; relocation may be required. Some prioritized/mission-critical sectors and stations include (not exhaustive):

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Alpine, Marfa
• El Paso Sector: Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Ysleta
• Laredo Sector: Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Laredo West, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley Sector: Rio Grande City, Fort Brown, McAllen, Brownsville, Falfurrias, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen
• Tucson Sector: Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, Grand Forks, Havre, Houlton, Spokane, Swanton sectors (various stations)

Note: Duty location affects pay (locality and law-enforcement pay differentials). Some locations are prioritized for incentive payments.

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Qualifications

You may qualify at the GL-5 grade level with one of the following:

• Experience: One year of general work experience demonstrating: decision-making under stress, ability to learn regulations and procedures, and ability to gather information through questioning and observation; OR
• Education: Bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college/university; OR
• Combination: A mix of experience and college-level education (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

You may qualify at the GL-7 grade level with one of the following:

• Experience: One year of specialized experience demonstrating law-enforcement-related judgment and responsibilities (e.g., firearms use, arrests, criminal-code enforcement, security, military police, corrections); OR
• Education: Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (high GPA, class standing, or honor society), or one full year of graduate-level study in a related field (criminal justice, homeland security, forensic technology, etc.); OR
• Combination: A qualifying combination of experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts)

Note: Applicants with prior federal or military law-enforcement experience may qualify for higher-grade announcements (GL-9, GS-11). Your application will be evaluated against the grade-specific announcement.

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Other Requirements & Important Notices

• 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 generally must be referred for selection before their 40th birthday per federal law-enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions may apply for certain veterans or prior federal LEOs.
• Training: New hires will attend an intensive academy (approximately six months) covering immigration and nationality law, law-enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, and firearms. Spanish-language training is provided; reading and speaking Spanish proficiency is encouraged.
• Physical & background: Selection includes background checks, medical and fitness standards, and testing (including entrance exam). Veterans’ preference and other hiring authorities may apply per announcement.

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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.