How To Become A Border Patrol Agent: What It Is and Career Path

What is a border patrol agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jill Myers

Border patrol agents work diligently every day around the clock to secure international borders and coastal waters between ports of entry. As part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection unit of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, they prevent or apprehend illegal border crossers, smugglers, and potential criminals from entering the U.S. and carrying out illegal activities and attacks.

If you decide to work in this field, you'll need to be a master of observation. Border patrol agents are responsible for watching the border, performing traffic checkpoint operations, detecting, preventing, or apprehending undocumented aliens and smugglers, using electronic surveillance equipment, responding to alarms, and conducting patrols and other law enforcement duties. These agents also collaborate closely with other local and federal agencies, including customs enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

If you're interested in becoming a border patrol agent, you'll need to be under the age of 40, be physically fit, be eligible for Veteran's Preference or have previous federal law enforcement experience. You'll also have to undergo extensive training.

As part of your training, you will also need to complete an intensive Spanish language training program if you are not already proficient in the language. Students who fail to meet any of the academic standards, including language proficiency, are dismissed.

What general advice would you give to a border patrol agent?

Jill Myers

Director of the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

The more skill sets you have the better prepared you will be for future advancement and salary increases. Having a solid education, a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a masters degree will sometimes result in increased wages. Having federal certifications and competencies will enhance your opportunities and create potential marketability for your career. It is always a great skill set to have people skills, communication in both written and oral formats. It will enhance your ability to explain yourself in court, in the warrants one prepares, and with dealing with the public in all circumstances from victims and witnesses and suspects, to legislators, the funding sources like mayors and city council and the public at large.

ScoreBorder Patrol AgentUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,060

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.89%

Asian 2.91%

Black or African American 9.12%

Hispanic or Latino 21.97%

Unknown 4.32%

White 60.79%

Gender

female 13.97%

male 86.03%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a border patrol agent

Explore border patrol agent education requirements

Most common border patrol agent degrees

Bachelor's

62.8 %

Associate

18.7 %

High School Diploma

8.2 %

Start to develop specific border patrol agent skills

Skills	Percentages
Patrol	72.00%
CBP	13.60%
DHS	2.16%
Federal Laws	1.89%
Illegal Entry	1.77%

Complete relevant border patrol agent training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New border patrol agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a border patrol agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real border patrol agent resumes.

Research border patrol agent duties and responsibilities

Manage surveillance of DUI traffic offenders in Jacksonville
Interview U.S. citizens to accomplish anti-terrorism and anti-smuggling mission.
Certify in CPR and license by S.L.E.D.
Document incidents, apply wound care, and administer CPR.

Prepare your border patrol agent resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your border patrol agent resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a border patrol agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable border patrol agent resume templates

Build a professional border patrol agent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your border patrol agent resume.