Customs and Border Protection Officer - Entry Level

Border Patrol Agent - Experienced (GL-9/GS-11) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This full-time career opportunity protects America's borders, deters illicit activity, and provides federal benefits. Duty assignments may include the Southwest Border and prioritized locations. Relocation may be required. Salary varies by location and experience.

• Base pay range: GL-9/GS-11 $ 63,148 - $120,145 per year
• Locality pay varies by duty location
• Overtime pay:
  Up to 25%
• Recruitment incentives:
  Up to $30,000 for new Border Patrol Agents. The first $20,000 is paid after training at the Border Patrol Academy; the remaining $10,000 after completing a three-year service agreement. New BPAs accepting a prioritized location (Sierra Blanca, Presidio, Sanderson, Comstock, Freer, and Hebbronville, TX; Lordsburg, NM; or Ajo, AZ) will be eligible for an additional $10,000.
• Benefits include health and life insurance options, paid leave, sick leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (retirement).

• Detect and question people suspected of violating immigration and customs laws; inspect documents and belongings to determine citizenship or violations.
• Prevent and apprehend aliens and smugglers near the borders by maintaining surveillance from covert positions, including night operations with infrared equipment.
• Interpret and follow tracks, marks, and other physical evidence of illegal entry or contraband.
• Perform farm checks, building checks, traffic checks, city patrols, and transportation checks.
• Patrol the international boundary and coastal waterways using government assets such as vehicles, horses, vessels, watercraft, off-road vehicles, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles to accomplish the USBP mission.

GL-9:
You qualify for the GL-9 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:

• Perform physical searches of detained individuals, their vehicles, and surroundings for weapons, contraband, currency, and other evidence.
• Apprehending, physically restraining, or working with law enforcement officials to identify or apprehend violators of state, federal, or immigration laws.
• Proficient in the use of firearms, preparing investigative reports, serving court orders (e.g., warrants, subpoenas), and gathering evidence for criminal cases prosecuted through the court system.

If you have prior or current law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at the GS-11 grade level.

GS-11:
You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, with the authority to enforce laws, make arrests, and investigate crimes in an official law enforcement capacity, e.g.:

• Utilizing intelligence information to track illegal operations, criminal activity, threats to the nation, and/or contraband as a state, federal, or military law enforcement official.
• Leading investigations of fraud, contraband, criminal activity, threats to our nation, and/or illegal operations to determine sources and patterns.
• Apprehending violators of state, federal, or immigration laws using various forms of technology including surveillance, detection, situation awareness systems, and communications equipment.

The above experience will be applied to make arrests, use firearms appropriately, interact with the public professionally, analyze information rapidly, and maintain informant networks.

There are no education substitutions for the GL-9 or GS-11 grade levels.

Click the Apply button on this site to be linked to the CBP Talent Network registration page. For Position of Interest, select Border Patrol Agent, and complete the pre-screening questions. You will then receive a link to the BPA Job Opening Announcements (JOAs) on USAJOBS to complete your application. Review ALL details of the job opportunity and follow instructions in the application process, including items such as resume and transcripts.

You will be evaluated based on your resume, supporting documents, and the BPA Entrance Exam.