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 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 position is an entry-level Border Patrol Agent (BPA) role with a Confidential Client in federal law enforcement. As a BPA you will help protect U.S. borders, deter unlawful activity, and support lawful trade and travel. Typical assignments and responsibilities include:

• Detecting, questioning, and inspecting to determine citizenship or violations of immigration and customs laws
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance, patrols, and field operations (day and night)
• Interpreting and following physical signs of illegal entry, including tracks and marks
• Conducting farm checks, building checks, traffic stops, city patrols, and transportation inspections
• Patrolling boundaries and waterways using vehicles, vessels, horses, ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and other government assets

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Salary & Incentives

Confidential Client offers competitive federal pay grades and additional incentives:

• Annual base salary range for newly appointed BPAs (GL-5 / GL-7): $51,632 – $92,912 per year (grade and location dependent)
• Recruitment incentive: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 paid after successful completion of the academy; remaining $10,000 for accepting selected prioritized locations)
• Retention incentive: may qualify for up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years
• Locality and pay reform provisions may provide up to an additional ~25% of base pay in certain locations
• Standard federal benefits including health and dental insurance, generous leave programs, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement savings)

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Duty Locations & Assignment Notes

Duty assignments are driven by operational needs at the time of offer. Candidates should expect that relocation may be required. Prioritized and mission-critical locations include (but are not limited to):

• Big Bend Sector: Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Buffalo Sector: Wellesley Island
• 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, Ysleta
• El Centro Sector: El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Grand Forks Sector: Pembina
• Havre Sector: Havre, Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass
• Houlton Sector: Calais, Fort Fairfield, Jackman, Rangeley, Van Buren
• Laredo Sector: Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley Sector: Rio Grande City, Fort Brown, McAllen, Brownsville, Falfurrias, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen
• San Diego Sector: Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Spokane Sector: Colville, Curlew, Metaline Falls, Oroville
• Swanton Sector: Beecher Falls, Burke, Champlain, Newport, Richford
• Tucson Sector: Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points, Willcox
• Yuma Sector: Blythe, Yuma, Wellton

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Qualifications

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

GL-5 qualification (one of the following):

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

GL-7 qualification (one of the following):

• One year of specialized experience showing the ability to make sound firearms judgments, handle law-enforcement interactions tactfully, analyze information quickly, and perform arrests or other law-enforcement duties; OR
• A bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA, class standing, or honor society) OR one year of relevant graduate-level study; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated from resume and transcripts)

Note: candidates with prior federal or military law enforcement experience may qualify for higher grade levels (GL-9 / GS-11); separate announcements cover those classifications.

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Other Requirements & Training

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must have primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age: due to law enforcement retirement provisions, candidates must generally be referred for selection before turning 40 years old. Exceptions apply for certain prior federal civilian law enforcement or veteran eligibility.
• Formal training: selected candidates will attend approximately six months of intensive instruction at a federal Border Patrol Academy covering immigration law, law enforcement operations, driver training, physical techniques, firearms, and language proficiency training. Spanish reading/speaking ability is useful; language training is provided during training.
• This is a safety-sensitive position; selection includes evaluation of application materials, entrance exam(s), and background screening.

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Why Apply Through Careertakes

Careertakes is acting as a third-party recruiting partner to connect qualified candidates with this Confidential Client. Applicants who apply via the Careertakes platform may receive access to additional matched opportunities and recruiter support during the hiring process. Careertakes does not employ applicants for this role — employment will be with the 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.