Border Patrol Agent - Entry Level

Border Patrol Agent (BPA) GL-5/7 grade levels – New Hire Sign‑On and Retention Incentives

If you’re looking for a long‑term federal law enforcement career that makes a difference every day, the U.S. Border Patrol invites you to become an entry‑level Border Patrol Agent.

Annual base salary varies by grade:
GL‑5/GL‑7 $51,632–$92,912 per year.

Additional incentives total up to $60,000:

• Recruitment incentive
  : up to $20,000 (first $10,000 after academy, remaining $10,000 for a prioritized location).
• Retention incentive
  : up to $40,000 distributed over the first four years.

Duty assignments available at the time of offer may include the Southwest Border and prioritized locations.

• Big Bend – Presidio, Van Horn, Sanderson, Alpine, Sierra Blanca, Marfa
• Buffalo – Wellesley Island
• Del Rio – Del Rio, Brackettville, Comstock, Eagle Pass North, Eagle Pass South, Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
• El Paso – Alamogordo, Clint, Deming, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Santa Teresa, Ysleta
• El Centro – El Centro, Indio, Calexico
• Grand Forks – Pembina
• Havre – Havre, Malta, Plentywood, Scobey, Sweetgrass
• Houlton – Calais, Fort Fairfield, Jackman, Rangeley, Van Buren
• Laredo – Laredo South, Cotulla, Hebbronville, Laredo West, Freer, Laredo North, Zapata
• Rio Grande Valley – Rio Grande City, Fort Brown, McAllen, Brownsville, Falfurrias, Weslaco, Kingsville, Harlingen
• San Diego – Boulevard, Brownfield, Campo, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Murrieta, San Clemente
• Spokane – Colville, Curlew, Metaline Falls, Oroville
• Swanton – Beecher Falls, Burke, Champlain, Newport, Richford
• Tucson – Ajo, Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, Brian A Terry, Sonoita, Casa Grande, Three Points Substation, Willcox
• Yuma – Blythe, Yuma, Wellton

As a BPA, you will protect the United States by safeguarding borders, deterring illicit activity, and enhancing economic prosperity. Typical assignments include:

• Detecting and questioning people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws, and inspecting documents to determine citizenship or violations.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers by maintaining surveillance, including night operations with infrared scopes.
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry or contraband.
• Performing farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrolling the international boundary and coastal waterways using vehicles, horses, vessels, watercraft, off‑road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.

• Experience: One year of general work experience demonstrating leadership, decision‑making, composure, learning ability and information gathering.
• Education substitution: A bachelor’s degree or four‑year college coursework from an accredited institution.
• Combination: General work experience plus college education, assessed via resume and transcripts.

• Experience: One year of specialized work experience. Must be able to (1) use firearms under guidance; (2) deal courteously with people in law enforcement matters; (3) analyze information rapidly and make prompt decisions; (4) develop and maintain contact with informants.
• Education substitution: Bachelor’s degree with superior academic achievement (GPA ≥3.0, honors society membership) or one full year of graduate‑level education in a law‑enforcement‑related field.
• Combination: Combination of experience and education, reviewed by resume and transcripts.

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Residency: Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years.
• Age restriction: Must be referred before turning 40, unless applicable exceptions for veterans or federal civilian law enforcement.
• Veterans' preference: Eligible for excepted service Veterans Recruitment Appointment.
• Formal training: After hire, detailed to U.S. Border Patrol Academy for six months covering law, operations, driver training, firearms, Spanish proficiency, and other courses.