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, Customs and 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

This entry-level Border Patrol Agent role supports the mission of a federal customs and border protection organization. As a Border Patrol Agent you will:

• Detect, question, and inspect people and possessions to determine citizenship and possible violations.
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance, checkpoints, and patrols.
• Use and interpret physical evidence (tracks, marks) and operate observation equipment including infrared scopes for night operations.
• Conduct farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation inspections.
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, ATVs, motorcycles, and other government assets.
• Work as part of a team to deter illicit activity and protect community safety.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy completion; additional $10,000 for accepting a prioritized location).
• Retention incentive: up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying hires — combined incentives up to $60,000.
• Federal benefits including health and dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (a retirement savings plan).
• Opportunity for locality pay adjustments and a career-ladder promotion path (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12).

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Where You May Work

Duty assignments are mission-driven and determined at the time of offer; relocation may be required. Available sectors and stations include (examples):

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Sierra Blanca, Alpine, 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
• El Centro Sector: El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Laredo Sector: Laredo, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Tucson, Yuma and others across southwestern and other borders

Prioritized locations (eligibility for location incentive) include Sierra Blanca, Presidio, Sanderson, Comstock, Lordsburg, Freer, Hebbronville, and Ajo. Operational needs determine final assignments.

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Who We’re Looking For

Minimum qualifications vary by grade level:

GL-5 (Entry qualification — choose one):

• One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, the ability to learn regulations/procedures, and information-gathering through questioning and observation; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; OR
• A combination of education and experience (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

GL-7 (Specialized qualification — choose one):

• One year of specialized experience demonstrating: firearms judgment, effective interaction in law enforcement contexts, rapid information analysis and decision-making, and relevant law enforcement/security work; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (class standing, GPA ≥ 3.0, or honor society) or one year of related graduate study; OR
• A combination of experience and education (evaluated from resume/transcripts).

Candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify for higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11). All experience/education claims are reviewed and verified.

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Other Requirements & Training

• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship required.
• Residency: Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
• Age: Candidates must be referred before reaching their 40th birthday per law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions apply for certain prior federal civilian law enforcement service and Veterans’ Preference eligibility.
• Background & Medical: Successful completion of background checks, medical and fitness assessments, and suitability determinations.
• Formal training: New hires attend approximately six months of intensive training at the Border Patrol Academy covering immigration and nationality laws, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, and firearms.
• Language: Ability to read and speak English is required; applicants should be willing to learn Spanish if needed — language training is provided during academy instruction.

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Selection & Evaluation

Candidates are evaluated based on submitted resumes, supporting documents (transcripts, etc.), the BPA entrance exam, and the results of background and medical/fitness screenings. Selected candidates will be notified by the confidential client’s recruiting team and provided details about academy reporting and onboarding.

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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.