Customs and Border Protection Officer

U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America's Borders Discover a challenging and rewarding career with the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders from terrorism, human/drug smuggling, illegal migration, agricultural pests, and enforcing legitimate travel and trade. CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to exemplify the core values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity.

Learn more at https://www.cbp.gov/about

Being a Customs and Border Protection Officer makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession. Typical assignments include: Enforcing customs, immigration, and agriculture law and regulations; Enforcing the flow of legitimate trade and travel; Conducting inspections of individuals and conveyances; Determining the admissibility of individuals for entry into the United States; and Preventing the illegal entry of individuals and prohibited goods and the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband Salary: Selections from this announcement will be at the GS-5, GS-7 or GS-9 grade levels with promotion potential to the GS-11 and GS-12.

Promotions are not guaranteed and are at the discretion of the agency. Your pay will be determined after you successfully complete all pre-employment processes. Pay rates are based on the 2026 OPM Salary Tables - these tables do not take into consideration any potential overtime earnings, recruitment incentives, location incentives or yearly cost of living increases.

The ending salary posted includes overtime, if worked. Duty Locations : Before you submit your application you will be asked to select your preferred location. The location you select does not affect your application and it does not affect the locations that are offered to you at the time of your final offer. You will be asked to select from one of the following: Arizona: Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales, San Luis California: Andrade, Calexico, Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, Tecate Hawaii: Honolulu Maine: Calais, Eastport, Houlton, Jackman, Madawaska, Van Buren, Vanceboro Minnesota: Grand Portage, International Falls Montana: Raymond, Roosville, Sweetgrass, Wild Horse New Mexico: Columbus New York: Alexandria Bay, Champlain, Massena North Dakota: Dunseith, Maida, Pembina, Portal Texas: Eagle Pass, Presidio Vermont: Beecher Falls, Derby Line, Highgate Springs, Norton, Richford Washington: Blaine, Oroville NOTE: The above preference locations are expected to have vacancies available in the future, however, if the duty locations do not have vacancies at the time of your final offer, you may be offered a different duty location within the United States.

Locations offered at the time of your final offer are based on operational and mission requirements as determined by the CBP Office of Field Operations. This announcement is open to the public to attract new entry-level applicants. Current CBP Officers looking for lateral opportunities within the Office of Field Operations should apply under the National Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin (NROB), Lateral Reassignment Opportunity Bulletin (LROB) and/or other reassignment opportunities identified in the National Collective Bargaining Agreement (NCBA).

Recruitment IncentiveNewly appointed Customs and Border Protection Officers who select a prioritized location at the time of their final offer will be offered up to a $15,000 incentive per year with a three-year service contract . Prioritized locations include: Arizona: Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales, San Luis; California: Calexico; Hawaii: Honolulu; Maine: Eastport; Montana: Raymond, Roosville; New Mexico: Columbus; New York: Alexandria Bay, Champlain, Massena, Trout River; North Dakota: Dunseith, Portal; Texas: Eagle Pass; Washington: BlaineRecruitment Incentive Newly appointed Customs and Border Protection Officers who select a prioritized location at the time of their final offer will be offered up to a $15,000 incentive per year with a four-year service contract .

Prioritized locations include: California: Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, Tecate; Florida: Key West; Maine: Calais, Houlton, Jackman, Madawaska, Van Buren, Vanceboro; Minnesota: Grand Portage, International Falls; Montana: Sweetgrass; North Dakota: Pembina; Texas: Presidio; Vermont: Beecher Falls, Derby Line, Highgate Springs, Norton, Richford; Washington: Oroville Bargaining Unit: This position is covered under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

For more information, please visit https://www.nteu.org/who-we-are/what-we-do Firearm Proficiency: This position requires you to carry a firearm. Firearm proficiency is required for all CBP Officers and is part of the training provided.

Qualifications

must be met by the closing date of this announcement. GS-5: You qualify for the GS-5 grade level if you possess one of the following : Experience: A minimum of 3 years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, performing duties that required the ability to meet and deal with people and the ability to learn and be able to apply a body of facts; OR Education Substitution: A conferred bachelor's degree or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of general experience AND successfully completed college education.

This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. GS-7: You qualify for the GS-7 grade level if you possess one of the following : Experience: A minimum of 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, that includes: Performing physical inspections of persons, documents or goods for criminal activity, fraud, and/or illegal operations.

Utilizing observational techniques, evaluating facts, and reviewing documentation while applying Federal, State, or local laws and regulations. Making determinations in compliance with laws and regulations that may lead to arrests, seizure of property, fines, and/or penalties based on findings. The above experience will be applied in connection with the CBPO Individual Occupational Requirement : Performing inspections work at borders, seaports, airports or other ports of entry and/or work involving preliminary screening of persons for entry and immigration status; or compliance/regulatory work.

Education

A conferred bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (i.e., GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0), or (3) honor society membership. Submitted transcripts must show the applicant does not have more than 10% pass/fail courses in order to qualify for SAA with GPA.

Go to Superior Academic Achievement to see if you qualify under this provision; OR One full year of graduate level education from an accredited college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level AND successfully completed graduate level education.

This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. GS-9: You could qualify for the GS-9 grade level in one of the following ways : experience, education, or a combination of both. Experience: A minimum of 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that includes: Detaining suspected violators of Federal, State, or local laws and/or arresting violators using the proper law enforcement methods.

Enforcing the laws and regulations relating to importing, exporting, and/or international shipping to and from the United States. Utilizing intelligence techniques and behavior analysis to identify potential threats and perform risk assessments for violations of laws and threats to national security. Conducting interviews in a law enforcement capacity for the purposes of gaining information from suspected violators of laws to determine the appropriate course of action.

Education

A conferred master's (or higher) degree, or two or more years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D. from an accredited college or university; OR Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience AND successfully completed graduate level education beyond the first 18 semester hours.

This will be calculated using your resume and official or unofficial transcripts submitted with your application. Paid, Unpaid & Volunteer Experience: Any qualifying experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri. Corps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You may receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experienceand experience as a CBP EXPLORER if your resume contains the sufficient information such as duties performed, exact dates, and hours worked.

See the Qualifications Section for education substitution for each grade level. Successful completion of the following pre-employment processes are required for this position. All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English. Applicants must receive and accept a tentative offer for this position in order to start the pre-employment process.

Polygraph Examination : You will be required to undergo a polygraph exam and must have favorable results in order to continue in the process. For more information, see Polygraph Examination . NOTE: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. Certain veterans may be eligible for a polygraph waiver.

Entrance Exam: Applicants selected at the GS-5 or GS-7 grade levels must complete and pass the CBP Officer Entrance Exam. For more information, videos, and study guides, visit CBP.gov CBP Officer Entrance Exam . Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process.

Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information, visit CBP's Medical Exam Process Drug Testing Requirements: Employees are subject to drug testing in compliance with the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Program.

You must complete a drug test as a condition of employment. For more information, visit our Drug Testing FAQs and the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Drug Test Physical Fitness Test: You will be required to successfully pass the Fitness Test. For more information, please see the Pre-Employment Fitness Test Physical Readiness Program and the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Fitness Test Interview Process: You will be required to pass a structured interview.

For more information, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: Structured Interview Background Investigation : This position is a sensitive National Security position and, upon selection, applicants will be required to undergo, and must successfully pass, a Tier 5 investigation or equivalent for placement and retention.

For more information, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Background Investigation . After you successfully complete all the pre-employment steps, you will be at the final offer step. For more information on the final offer, please see the Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Final Offer .