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, Legal.

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

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What You’ll Do

Confidential Client seeks entry-level Border Patrol Agents to join a federal law enforcement career focused on protecting the border, deterring illicit activity, and supporting lawful travel and trade. This is a full-time, career-position hiring at GL-5/GL-7 grade levels with structured training and a multi-year career ladder.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws and inspecting documents and possessions to determine citizenship/violations.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers through surveillance (including night operations using infrared scopes).
• Interpreting tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry of persons or contraband.
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic and city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents (GL-5/GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year.
• Eligible for federal benefits including health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), and generous annual and sick leave.
• Recruitment incentive: newly appointed agents may receive up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after Academy completion; remaining $10,000 for accepting certain prioritized locations).
• Retention incentive: newly appointed agents may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed across the first four years.
• A fully trained agent may be eligible for up to an additional 25% locality pay in certain locations per applicable pay reform.

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Duties & Responsibilities

As a Border Patrol Agent you will be a member of a large federal workforce charged with border security and enforcement. Key duties:

• Conduct surveillance, interdiction, and arrest activities near borders and ports of entry.
• Use a variety of field tools and vehicles for patrol and interdiction operations.
• Gather, analyze, and act on investigative information quickly and accurately.
• Interact respectfully and professionally with the public, detainees, and other stakeholders.
• Complete required documentation and reports in accordance with policy.

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Minimum Qualifications

You may qualify at different grade levels based on experience and education:

GL-5 (basic entry):

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, ability to learn regulations/methods, and information-gathering through questioning and observation; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (four-year) from an accredited college or university; OR
• An evaluated combination of education and experience supported by transcripts/resume.

GL-7 (specialized entry):

• One (1) year of specialized work experience showing ability to:
  • Make sound judgments in the use of firearms;
  • Deal effectively and courteously with people in law enforcement contexts;
  • Analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions, including arrest authority after training; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA, class standing, or honor society) OR one year of graduate-level law-enforcement–related study; OR
• Combination of relevant experience and education (documented via resume/transcripts).

Candidates with prior federal or military law-enforcement experience may qualify for higher grade levels (GL-9/GS-11); applicants should refer to applicable job announcements for those levels.

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Other Requirements

• 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 per applicable law and agency directives; exceptions may apply for certain prior federal law enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference eligibilities.
• Veterans’ Preference: Eligible veterans may qualify for special hiring authorities; age restrictions may not apply in some cases.
• Formal training: Hired candidates will be detailed to the Confidential Client’s Border Patrol training academy in Artesia, NM (approximately six months) for intensive instruction, including law, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and language training. Spanish proficiency is helpful; training is provided to develop Spanish skills.
• Medical, physical fitness, background checks, and successful completion of agency entrance exams are required.

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Duty Locations & Assignments

Duty assignments are determined at time of offer based on operational needs and may include Southwest Border and other mission-critical locations. Relocation may be required. Examples of mission-critical sectors and stations include (selection may be requested during application):

• Big Bend Sector — Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Del Rio, El Paso, El Centro, Tucson, Yuma, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, and other sector stations across the country
• Additional inland and seasonal sector stations as operationally required

Note: Duty location affects pay rates and locality pay. This position is a career ladder: GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12 with promotion eligibility after required time-in-grade.

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Recruiting & Selection (What to Expect)

Careertakes is facilitating this hire on behalf of our client, Confidential Client. Qualified applicants who progress will be evaluated on resume documentation, supporting documents (transcripts, etc.), and required exams. Final hiring decisions and formal offers are made by the Confidential Client.

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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.