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 (border security).

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

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Position Overview

Confidential Client is hiring entry-level Border Patrol Agents to join federal border security operations. This full-time, career-position offers competitive GS pay (varies by grade), comprehensive federal benefits, and up to $50,000 in recruitment and retention incentives for qualified new hires. Typical work includes patrolling borders and coastal waterways, preventing illegal entry and smuggling, conducting inspections and checks, and using a variety of law-enforcement assets and surveillance techniques.

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What You’ll Do

You will perform law-enforcement duties to protect national borders and enforce immigration and customs laws. Typical responsibilities include:

• Detect and question individuals suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and possessions
• Prevent and apprehend undocumented noncitizens and smugglers using surveillance and patrol techniques (including night operations with infrared scopes)
• Conduct farm, building, traffic, city, and transportation checks
• Patrol boundaries and waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles
• Collect and interpret physical evidence (tracks, marks) related to illegal entry or contraband
• Prepare reports, interact courteously with the public, and exercise sound judgment in use-of-force situations
• Complete required training and follow federal policies, procedures, and protocols

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Qualifications

Minimum qualifications (varies by grade level). Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet federal law-enforcement requirements.

You may qualify at one of multiple grade levels (GL-5, GL-7, GL-9 or GS-11) depending on experience and/or education:

• GL-5: One year of general work experience demonstrating decision-making, composure under stress, ability to learn regulations and gather information; OR a bachelor’s degree; OR a combination of experience and education.
• GL-7: One year of specialized experience demonstrating firearms judgment, interpersonal skills in law-enforcement settings, and rapid analysis/decision-making; OR superior academic achievement at the bachelor level; OR one year graduate-level education related to law enforcement; OR combination of experience and education.
• GL-9 / GS-11: If you have previous state, federal, or military law-enforcement experience you may qualify at these higher levels — examples include conducting physical searches, making arrests, using firearms and investigative techniques, utilizing intelligence to track criminal activity, and leading investigations.

Other required conditions:

• 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 their 40th birthday per DHS Directive 251-03, unless exempt by prior federal law-enforcement service or Veterans’ Preference eligibility.
• Ability to meet physical, medical, drug-screening, and background investigation requirements.
• Willingness to attend the Border Patrol Academy (approximately six months in Artesia, NM) and complete language and law-enforcement training.

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Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAOs)

Candidates (especially at GL-9 / GS-11) should demonstrate:

• Knowledge of immigration and nationality law, criminal law and procedure, and use-of-force policy
• Skill with firearms and defensive physical techniques (handgun, shotgun, M-4, baton, OC spray)
• Ability to analyze information quickly and make enforcement decisions
• Skill operating vehicles and common field equipment; ability to use surveillance and detection technologies
• Effective interpersonal skills for working with diverse communities

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Preferred / Helpful Experience

• Prior law-enforcement, military police, security, or corrections experience
• Formal education in criminal justice, homeland security, or related fields
• Spanish language ability (training provided, but applicants with Spanish are advantaged)
• Experience with field patrol, search procedures, or investigative reporting

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Compensation & Benefits

• Annual base salary for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents varies by grade: $51,632 – $124,717 (GS-equivalent ranges).
• Recruitment incentives: up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy completion; additional $10,000 for selecting a prioritized duty location).
• Retention incentives: up to $30,000 paid over the first three years for eligible agents.
• Total potential incentives for eligible hires: up to $50,000.
• Federal benefits: health, dental, retirement (Thrift Savings Plan), leave accrual, and other standard federal employee benefits.

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Locations & Duty Stations

Primary posting location: Upper Holland, PA. Duty stations span multiple sectors nationwide; prioritized locations may qualify for additional incentives. Duty station assignment may vary based on vacancies and operational needs.

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Equal Opportunity, Background Checks & Legal Notices

• Federal hiring prerequisites include background investigations, drug testing, and medical/physical clearance.
• Applicants must comply with federal eligibility rules (citizenship, residency, age limits where applicable).
• Veterans’ Preference and certain appointment authorities may apply as described in federal hiring announcements.
• Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities; please disclose accommodation needs at the appropriate point in the application process.

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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.