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 (Customs & 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 (BPA) role is a frontline federal law enforcement position focused on protecting the nation’s borders, deterring illicit activity, and supporting lawful trade and travel. You will train at the Border Patrol Academy and operate as part of a mission-driven team.

• Detect and question individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations
• Conduct covert and overt surveillance (including nighttime operations using infrared scopes)
• Interpret and follow tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry or contraband
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation inspections
• Patrol international boundaries and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles
• Make arrests and take enforcement actions after completing required training

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Salary & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs (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 over the first four years (combined incentives may reach $60,000)
• Federal benefits including health and dental plans, generous annual and sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement/savings)
• Locality pay and BPA pay reform provisions may add up to ~25% of base pay in qualifying locations
• Career-ladder progression (GL-5 → GL-7 → GL-9 → GS-11 → GS-12) with eligibility for promotion based on time-in-grade

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Locations & Duty Assignments

Duty assignments may include mission-critical sectors across the U.S., including prioritized Southwest Border locations. Candidates will select preferred duty locations, but final assignment is based on operational needs. Relocation may be required.

Representative duty sectors include (not exhaustive): Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, El Centro, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, San Diego, Tucson, Yuma, Swanton, Houlton, Grand Forks, Spokane, Buffalo, and Havre.

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Qualifications

You may qualify for GL-5 or GL-7 based on experience and/or education:

GL-5 (minimum):

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating the ability to take charge, make sound decisions under stress, learn regulations/methods through training, and gather concise information via questioning and observation; OR
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; OR
• A combination of relevant experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)

GL-7 (specialized):

• One (1) year of specialized work experience showing the ability to:

  • Make sound judgments in the use of firearms
  • Interact courteously and tactfully in law enforcement contexts
  • Rapidly analyze information and make prompt decisions (including making arrests after training) OR education substitution options (e.g., bachelor’s with superior academic achievement or one year of relevant graduate-level study)

• Additional notes:

• Prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify candidates for higher entry grades (GL-9 / GS-11); see relevant announcements for those levels

• Border Patrol duties require the ability to read and speak Spanish; language training is provided at the Academy as needed

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Other Requirements & Important Notices

• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is required.
• Residency: Must have maintained 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 law enforcement retirement provisions; exceptions may apply for veterans or certain prior federal law enforcement service.
• Veterans: Veterans’ Preference and certain excepted appointment pathways (e.g., VRA) may apply.
• Training: New hires attend approximately six months of intensive training at the Border Patrol Academy (immigration and nationality law, driver training, firearms, physical techniques, and mission-specific operations).
• Duty assignments may include prioritized Southwest Border locations; these assignments can affect pay and incentives.

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Why This Role (Quick Highlights)

• Start a long-term federal law enforcement career with a clear promotion path
• Competitive base pay plus locality adjustments and substantial incentive programs (up to $60K)
• Comprehensive federal benefits and retirement savings options
• Training and language support provided

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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.