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 is hiring full‑time Border Patrol Agents (BPA) at entry-level grade bands (GL‑5 / GL‑7). This is a federal law‑enforcement career focused on protecting U.S. borders, deterring illicit activity, and supporting lawful trade and travel.

Key responsibilities:

• Detect, question, and inspect individuals and property to determine immigration/customs violations
• Maintain surveillance (including night operations using infrared equipment) and apprehend undocumented entrants and smugglers
• Interpret and follow physical evidence of illegal entry (tracks, marks)
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks
• Patrol boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off‑road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles
• Work as part of a team in operational assignments and contribute to law‑enforcement reporting and investigations

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Salary & Benefits

Confidential Client offers competitive federal pay scales and a comprehensive benefits package.

• Annual base pay for newly appointed BPAs: GL‑5 / GL‑7 — $51,632 to $92,912 per year (grade dependent)
• Eligible for the federal benefits package: health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid annual and sick leave
• Participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (federal retirement savings plan)
• Locality and LEO pay adjustments may apply (some locations offer higher locality pay; fully trained BPAs may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay per applicable pay reform)
• Incentives: up to $60,000 total in additional hiring/retention incentives (see Recruitment & Retention Incentives below)

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Recruitment & Retention Incentives

Confidential Client is offering recruitment and retention incentives for qualified new hires:

• Recruitment incentive up to $20,000 (e.g., $10,000 upon successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy + $10,000 for accepting a prioritized duty location)
• Retention incentives up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years for qualifying employees

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Duty Locations & Assignment Notes

This role may require assignment to mission‑critical and prioritized locations, including but not limited to Southwest Border sectors and other U.S. sectors listed during the application process.

Important:

• Duty assignment is determined by operational needs at the time of offer and may require relocation
• Duty location affects pay (locality/LEO pay); candidates should expect varying pay by assignment
• This is a career‑ladder position: GL‑5 → GL‑7 → GL‑9 → GS‑11 → GS‑12 with promotion eligibility after successful completion of required time-in-grade

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Qualifications

Minimum requirements for each grade level:

GL‑5 (entry level) — one of:

• One (1) year of general work experience demonstrating ability to take charge, make sound decisions under stress, learn regulations/methods, and gather information via observation/questioning; OR
• A bachelor’s degree (or completion of a 4‑year course of study) from an accredited college/university; OR
• A combination of general work experience and college education (evaluated via resume and transcripts)

GL‑7 — one of:

• One (1) year of specialized work experience demonstrating ability to:
  • Make sound judgments in the use of firearms
  • Deal tactfully and courteously with the public in law enforcement situations
  • Analyze information quickly and make prompt decisions (experience in criminal enforcement, corrections, security, military police, or similar)
• OR a bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA, class standing, or honor society), or one year of graduate study in a related field; OR
• A combination of specialized experience and education (evaluated via resume and transcripts)

Notes:

• Applicants with prior law enforcement or military law enforcement experience may qualify at higher grade levels (GL‑9, GS‑11). See the specific announcement for experienced‑hire opportunities.

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Other Requirements & Eligibility

To comply with federal hiring rules, applicants must meet these baseline requirements:

• U.S. citizenship required
• Primary U.S. residency for at least 3 of the last 5 years
• Age: Candidates must be referred for selection before turning 40 for this law enforcement retirement‑covered role, unless age waiver applies (e.g., current/previous federal civilian LEO service covered under applicable statutes) or Veterans’ Preference exceptions apply
• Successful completion of required vetting: background investigation, medical and fitness standards, and suitability for a federal law enforcement position
• Willingness to complete formal training at the Border Patrol Academy (approximately 6 months)
• Ability to speak and read English; Spanish language training is provided at the Academy, and Spanish proficiency is highly beneficial

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Training & Career Development

• New hires attend an approximately 6‑month Border Patrol Academy for intensive instruction in immigration and nationality law, operational procedures, driver training, firearms, physical techniques, and other essential LEO skills
• Ongoing career development and a defined grade‑ladder with promotion opportunities based on time‑in‑grade and performance
• Opportunity to work in varied operational environments and to receive specialized on‑the‑job training

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Why Join

• Purpose‑driven federal law enforcement career with job stability and advancement pathways
• Significant recruitment and retention incentives for qualifying hires
• Comprehensive federal benefits and retirement options
• Real impact protecting communities and securing the border

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How You’ll Be Evaluated

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Resume and supporting documents (transcripts, certifications)
• Responses to pre‑screening questions and the BPA entrance exam (where applicable)
• Background and suitability checks required for federal law enforcement positions

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Next Steps

If you meet the minimum qualifications and want to pursue an entry‑level Border Patrol Agent career, apply through the Careertakes application flow. You will be directed to the Confidential Client’s candidate portal and to the applicable Job Opportunity Announcement(s) where additional instructions, required documents, and timelines are 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.