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Border patrol agent salary
Average border patrol agent salary
$46,060
Understanding the Salary of a Border Patrol Agent
The position of a Border Patrol Agent is vital for maintaining national security. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Border Patrol Agent is $46,060 per year, equivalent to about $22 per hour. This salary can vary based on several factors, including state, years of experience, and specific duties.
Factors Influencing Salary
Border Patrol Agents in states like California and Texas often earn higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for border security. Additionally, those with more years of experience typically command higher salaries, reflecting their expertise and skills.
Salary Insights by Experience Level
Entry-level positions may start around $35,000, while seasoned agents can earn upwards of $70,000 annually. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective agents gauge their earning potential and make informed career decisions.
Exploring Opportunities
For job seekers, Zippia offers a platform to explore various Border Patrol Agent positions across the U.S. Utilize our tools to compare salaries by state and experience level to find the best opportunities available in this field.
Let Zippia find your next border patrol agent job
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Where can a Border Patrol Agent earn more?
Border patrol agent salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level border patrol agent | $36,300 | $17.46 |
| Mid-level border patrol agent | $48,000 | $23.10 |
| Senior-level border patrol agent | $58,400 | $28.08 |
Border patrol agent salary estimates from across the web
Average border patrol agent salary by state
The highest-paying states for border patrol agents are Alaska, California, and Washington. The lowest average border patrol agent salary states are Kentucky, North Carolina, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for border patrol agents
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $57,771 | $27.77 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $54,040 | $25.98 |
| 3 | Texas | $60,500 | $29.09 |
| 4 | Nevada | $55,001 | $26.44 |
| 5 | Nebraska | $53,296 | $25.62 |
| 6 | California | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| 7 | Washington | $62,860 | $30.22 |
| 8 | Ohio | $51,966 | $24.98 |
| 9 | Alaska | $65,797 | $31.63 |
| 10 | Michigan | $52,367 | $25.18 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $55,410 | $26.64 |
| 12 | Colorado | $54,627 | $26.26 |
| 13 | Delaware | $53,464 | $25.70 |
| 14 | Oregon | $52,158 | $25.08 |
| 15 | Illinois | $54,010 | $25.97 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $54,058 | $25.99 |
| 17 | New York | $55,769 | $26.81 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $48,878 | $23.50 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $55,786 | $26.82 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $50,223 | $24.15 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $49,283 | $23.69 |
| 22 | Montana | $47,878 | $23.02 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $51,250 | $24.64 |
| 24 | Vermont | $48,052 | $23.10 |
| 25 | Indiana | $49,549 | $23.82 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $54,277 | $26.09 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $49,028 | $23.57 |
| 28 | Utah | $46,852 | $22.52 |
| 29 | Missouri | $46,215 | $22.22 |
| 30 | Maryland | $54,807 | $26.35 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $57,421 | $27.61 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $53,634 | $25.79 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $46,594 | $22.40 |
| 34 | Iowa | $48,616 | $23.37 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $44,657 | $21.47 |
| 36 | Florida | $45,243 | $21.75 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $46,091 | $22.16 |
| 38 | Alabama | $42,837 | $20.59 |
| 39 | Idaho | $45,041 | $21.65 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $42,543 | $20.45 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $42,903 | $20.63 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $39,509 | $18.99 |
| 43 | Maine | $45,049 | $21.66 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $40,940 | $19.68 |
| 45 | Virginia | $46,575 | $22.39 |
| 46 | Kansas | $43,485 | $20.91 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $38,896 | $18.70 |
| 48 | Georgia | $42,495 | $20.43 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $40,236 | $19.34 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $42,223 | $20.30 |
Highest paying cities for border patrol agents
The highest-paying cities for border patrol agents are Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and El Paso, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $63,971 | $30.76 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $62,937 | $30.26 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $62,271 | $29.94 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $57,815 | $27.80 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $57,419 | $27.61 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $55,738 | $26.80 |
| 7 | Bridgeport, CT | $55,738 | $26.80 |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | $55,575 | $26.72 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $54,931 | $26.41 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $54,854 | $26.37 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $54,653 | $26.28 |
| 12 | Newark, NJ | $54,327 | $26.12 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $54,093 | $26.01 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $54,070 | $26.00 |
| 15 | Cheyenne, WY | $53,858 | $25.89 |
| 16 | Wilmington, DE | $53,499 | $25.72 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $53,346 | $25.65 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $52,401 | $25.19 |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $52,137 | $25.07 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $51,800 | $24.90 |
Border Patrol Agents are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Border patrol agent salary details
A border patrol agent's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $68,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a border patrol agent's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $46,060 | $3,838 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying border patrol agent jobs
The highest paying types of border patrol agents are first officer, law enforcement specialist, and patrol sergeant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Safety Officer | $36,596 | $3,050 | $17.59 | 122,048 |
| Campus Safety Officer | $35,875 | $2,990 | $17.25 | 114,874 |
| Ranger | $32,117 | $2,676 | $15.44 | 748 |
| First Officer | $82,510 | $6,876 | $39.67 | 89,899 |
| Community Services Officer | $38,039 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 181,257 |
| Police Cadet | $33,243 | $2,770 | $15.98 | 94,220 |
Top companies hiring border patrol agents now:
Which companies pay border patrol agents the most?
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department of Homeland Security | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| 2 | U.S. Customs and Border Protection | $53,013 | $25.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Border patrol agent salary trends
The average border patrol agent salary has risen by $7,948 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average border patrol agent earned $38,112 annually, but today, they earn $46,060 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for border patrol agents over the last decade.
Compare border patrol agent salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average border patrol agent salary over time
Compare border patrol agent salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Border patrol agent salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,100 | $22.14 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $44,400 | $21.34 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $43,100 | $20.74 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $42,900 | $20.63 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $41,900 | $20.16 | +2.3% |
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