Customs and Border Patrol Agents

Learn to become a U.S. border patrol agent

U.S. border patrol agents protect America’s borders. These professionals patrol between ports of entry, with a focus on monitoring more than 7,500 miles of land borders and 2,500 miles of coastal waters.

It’s demanding work that takes you to remote locations, often in extreme weather. That said, this career path offers federal job security, solid benefits and a clear path up the ranks. If you’re considering becoming a U.S. border patrol agent, here’s what you need to know about getting hired, what the job actually pays and where the opportunities are heading.

• Patrolling the border using vehicles, horses, boats or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
• Responding to sensor alerts
• Apprehending and processing people who cross the U.S. border illegally
• Detecting and seizing contraband
• Testifying in court
• Providing emergency assistance to people in distress at or near the border

The job involves irregular hours, intense physical demands and time away from family. “It’s a dangerous job,” Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said in an interview with the CBP. “And oftentimes we have to move to remote areas that are away from our support network. But it is absolutely worth it.”

You need at least a high school diploma to become a U.S. border patrol agent. However, your starting pay grade depends on your background and education.

If you don’t already speak Spanish, you’ll learn it there. Spanish fluency isn’t optional—all U.S. Border Patrol agents must pass a proficiency test within their first year on the job.

The academy has high standards. You need to maintain at least a 70% average across all courses and pass multiple fitness tests. Trainees receive full pay and benefits during training, and the government covers all expenses.

Aspiring border patrol agents can apply through USAJobs.gov , the federal government job site. The hiring process generally takes eight to 12 months and includes:

• Physical fitness tests
• Medical examinations
• An extensive background check
• Polygraph tests
• A structured interview

You’ll also have to meet several basic requirements, including:

• A valid driver’s license
• Residency in the U.S. for three of the past five years

You’ll also need to be under 40 years old (veterans get age waivers) and meet strict medical standards. These standards include 20/40 vision correctable to 20/20, good hearing and no conditions that would impair your ability to work in rugged terrain.

The background investigation is thorough. Any involvement with illegal drugs is an automatic disqualification. Investigators will contact former employers, teachers and references, so you’ll need to be 100% honest throughout the hiring process.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for police and detectives (which includes border patrol agents and related officers) is $76,290 across all experience levels. Entry‑level agents may start around $49,739 in base pay or $64,229 in total compensation, while the highest earners make over $137,000 in total compensation.

In this career, base salary doesn’t tell the whole story. The Border Patrol Pay Reform Act adds up to 25% extra for the irregular schedules most agents work. Factor in overtime (common in this job), locality pay adjustments and night differential, and total compensation often reaches over six figures.

As of 2024, new hires also receive recruitment incentives: $20,000 split between academy completion and a three‑year service commitment, with another $10,000 available for agents who are willing to take on certain duty stations.

The comprehensive benefits help attract aspiring border patrol agents to this career. Federal benefits include:

• Health insurance with multiple plan options (the government pays most of the premium)
• Dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts

You get 13 days of annual leave your first three years, increasing to 20 days, plus 13 days of sick leave and 11 federal holidays.

The retirement package is a major draw too. As law enforcement officers, border patrol agents can…