Border Patrol Agent - Entry Level

About the role

The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) is hiring immediate entry-level positions in federal law enforcement. These roles are suitable for those with prior experience in public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Deterring illicit activity and safeguarding the American people by protecting borders.
• Inspecting documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers of noncitizens.
• Maintaining surveillance from covert positions, including using infrared scopes during night operations.
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry.
• Performing various types of checks, including farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling the international boundary and coastal waterways using a variety of government assets.

Requirements

• One year of general work experience demonstrating the ability to take charge, make sound decisions, and maintain composure in stressful situations.
• One year of specialized work experience showing skills necessary to make sound judgments and decisions in the use of firearms, deal effectively with people in a courteous manner, and analyze information rapidly.
• A bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full four-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• A combination of general work experience and education, or a combination of experience and education, as calculated using the resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with the application.
• Superior academic achievement in a field of study related to law enforcement, or a combination of experience and education, as calculated using the resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with the application.
• Spanish proficiency, as Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish, as well as English.

Qualifications

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Residency: Must have had primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age Restriction: Must be referred for selection to the Border Patrol Agent position before reaching their 40th birthday.
• Veterans’ Preference: Eligible for Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA).
• Formal Training: After being hired, detailed to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy for approximately six months of intensive instruction.

Benefits

• Annual Base Salary for newly appointed BPAs varies per grade, ranging from $51,632 to $92,912 per year.
• Exceptional benefits include health, dental, and other insurance plans, a generous annual and sick leave program, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan.
• Up to $60,000 in additional incentives, including a $20,000 recruitment incentive and up to $40,000 in retention incentives.

Pay

Annual Base Salary for newly appointed Border Patrol Agents varies per grade, as follows: GL-5/GL-7 $51,632- $92,912 per year.

Schedule

Duty locations may include the Southwest Border, including prioritized locations such as Sierra Blanca, TX; Presidio, TX; Sanderson, TX; Comstock, TX; Lordsburg, NM; Freer, TX; Hebbronville, TX; Ajo, AZ. Duty location impacts pay rates; locality pay for federal law enforcement is higher in some locations than others.