Border Patrol Salary - Border Patrol Salary Payscale

If you are currently contemplating a career in law enforcement, specifically being a Border Patrol Agent, then you are of course interested on the salary of Border Patrol Agents. Read on and find out how much does Border Patrol agents make.

So if you pass the Border Patrol Exam and get accepted to be a border agent, the following information will be your compensation.

As a Border Patrol Agent, you will receive all the advantages of being a federal employee. Where you begin on the General Service (GS) salary pay scale depends on your education and experience in law enforcement as well as your geographical location. Salaries can be significantly higher in metropolitan areas but, in general, a starting salary is in the mid 30s to mid 40s. Keep in mind that overtime pay (AUO-Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime) can increase base pay by about 25%.

After 6 1%u20442 months as a GS-5 you will be eligible for promotion to a GS-7; and after one year as a GS-7 you will be eligible for promotion to a GS-9. In addition, you'll enjoy the excellent benefits package offered by the federal government that includes vacation and sick leave, health and life insurance, and a retirement plan that offers retirement at age 50 after at least 20 years of service. The retirement plan is competitive with the private sector and includes pension and savings plans.

Border Patrol agents may enter at one of three pay levels, depending on their academic and law-enforcement backgrounds.

GL-5: $36,658

Requires one of the following:

- Substantial work experience in fields such as interviewing, claims adjusting, journalism or security.

- A bachelor's degree.

- A combination of education and experience.

GL-7: $41,729

Meets GL-5 requirements, as well as demonstrated the ability to:

- Make arrests and exercise sound judgment using firearms.

- Deal "courteously, tactfully and effectively" in law-enforcement matters.

- Quickly analyze information and act appropriately according to laws, court
decisions and law-enforcement procedures.

- Develop and maintain contact with a network of informants.

GL-9: $46,542

Meets GL-7 requirements, as well as demonstrated the ability to:

- Develop cases, conduct interviews or interrogations, make apprehensions and arrests.

- Prepare cases and appear as a professional witness in court.

- Exercise sound judgment using firearms and conduct training or qualification exercises in the proper care and use of firearms.

- Deal effectively with individuals in their detention, control or interrogation, and promote community outreach and public relations.

- Analyze and disseminate intelligence information and data, and apply law enforcement concepts and techniques.

- Develop and maintain a network of informants, social and political organizations, local law enforcement agencies, and citizens.

- Use law-enforcement databases.

- Prepare legal reports and documents concerning illegal activities.

Now you know the salary and pay scale for Border Patrol Agents, and you really have your heart set out on being one, there is still one big hurdle. You still need to pass the Border Patrol Exam.

The Border Patrol Exam is not easy, according to survey only 30% of applicants actually pass the exam and proceed to the other part of hiring process. So if you are really serious about being an agent and passing the exam, I suggest you take a look at this Border Patrol Exam.