Border Patrol Agent; BPA Entry Level

February 2026 Update – GL‑5/7 grade levels Border Patrol Agent (BPA) – Entry Level

A mission worthy of a career! If you're looking for just a job, stop reading. If you desire a long‑term federal law‑enforcement career that makes a difference every day, the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) invites you to become an entry‑level Border Patrol Agent. USBP is hiring immediately for full‑time, entry‑level, career federal law‑enforcement positions that may qualify with your prior experience in public safety, security, military police, or law enforcement.

Train and work with an elite team of professionals whose camaraderie, pride, and sense of purpose are hallmarks of their daily mission of protecting America. This opportunity comes with excellent base pay, exceptional benefits, job stability, and up to $60,000 in additional incentives (see details below).

Annual base salary for newly appointed BPAs varies by grade:

• GL‑5 $ 51,632 per year
• GL‑7 $ 92,219 per year

Border Patrol Agents are eligible for federal employment benefits, including health, dental, and other insurance plans; generous annual and sick leave; and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement plan similar to a traditional ROTH 401(k)).

Recruitment Incentive

• Up to $20,000 in incentives upon successful completion of the Border Patrol Academy (first $10,000) and acceptance of a prioritized location (additional $10,000).

Retention Incentive

• Up to $40,000 in incentives distributed over the first four years of service.

Duty assignments available at the time of offer may include the Southwest Border, including prioritized locations. U.S. Border Patrol determines duty assignments at the time of offer based on operational needs, which may or may not align with candidates' first‑choice preferences. Relocation may be required. Duty location impacts pay rates; locality pay for federal law enforcement is higher in some locations than others.

A fully trained BPA may be eligible for up to an additional 25% of base pay per the BPA Pay Reform Act of 2014.

This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GL‑5, GL‑7, GL‑9, GS‑11, and GS‑12. Promotion to the next higher grade level (without reapplying) occurs after 52 weeks completed in each grade level.

You will be asked to select your preferred location from one of the following mission‑critical locations:

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

• Detecting and questioning individuals suspected of violating immigration and custom laws and inspecting documents and possessions to determine citizenship or violations.
• Preventing and apprehending undocumented noncitizens and smugglers of noncitizens at or near boundaries by maintaining surveillance from covert positions, including night operations with infrared scopes.
• Interpreting and following tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry of persons 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 to accomplish the USBP mission.