Customs and Border Protection Officer GS 5-7
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- San Diego and Imperial County
- Sep 07, 2026
Job Description
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 facilitating 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;
- Facilitating 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 or GS-7 grade levels with promotion potential to GS-9, 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 2025 OPM Salary Tables - these tables do not take into consideration any potential overtime earnings, recruitment incentives, location incentives or yearly cost of living increases.
Duty Locations: You will be asked to select your preferred location for one of the following mission critical locations: Douglas, Nogales and San Luis, AZ; Calexico, Los Angeles, Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, and Tecate, CA; Washington, D.C.; Key West and Miami, FL; Honolulu, HI; Chicago, IL; New Orleans, LA; Calais, Fort Kent, Houlton, Jackman, Madawaska, Van Buren, and Vanceboro, ME; Detroit, Port Huron, and Sault Ste Marie, MI; Grand Portage, International Falls, and Warroad, MN; Morgan, Raymond, Roosville, Sweetgrass, and Wild Horse, MT; Newark, NJ; Alexandria Bay, Buffalo, Champlain, Massena, Queens, and Trout River, NY; Dunseith, Hansboro, Neche, Pembina, and Portal, ND; Eagle Pass, El Paso, Hidalgo, Houston, and Progreso, TX; Beecher Falls, Derby Line, Highgate Springs, Norton, and Richford, VT; Blaine, Oroville, and Seattle, WA.
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 duty location in another geographic 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).
If you accept one of the below duty locations you may be eligible to receive an additional 15%-25% of your salary each year for the first 3 years of employment in addition to any overtime pay. If you accept the duty location of San Francisco, you may be eligible to receive an additional 25% of your salary each year for the first 4 years of employment in addition to any overtime pay. These incentives only apply to new federal employees and are dependent upon the availability of funds.
Duty locations offering 25% recruitment incentives: Otay Mesa, San Francisco, San Ysidro, and Tecate, CA; Key West, FL; Calais and Jackman, ME; Detroit, MI; Grand Portage, MN; Raymond and Sweetgrass, MT; Dunseith and Pembina, ND; Beecher Falls, VT; Oroville, WA
Duty locations offering 15% recruitment incentives: Honolulu, HI; Portal, ND; Derby Line and Richford, VT; Blaine, WA
Duty location offering 10% recruitment incentives: Calexico, CA
If you accept Portal, North Dakota as your location you will be eligible for the Special Salary Rate based on the Portal ND Special Salary Rate Table If you accept San Francisco, California as your location you will be eligible for the Special Salary Rate based on the San Francisco Special Salary Rate Table
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.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
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.
Formal Training: You will be detailed to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) located in Glynco, GA, for a 101-day training program of intensive instruction in basic law enforcement skills, immigration laws, etc. Candidates assigned to certain duty locations may be required to pass a Spanish training program. For more information, please visit CBP Field Operations Academy. Successful completion of the academy is required for this position.
Age Requirement: In accordance with Public Law 110-161, this position is covered under enhanced retirement provisions. Candidates must be referred for selection to this position before their 40th birthday in accordance with DHS Directive 251-08. The age restriction may not apply if you are currently serving or have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement (non-military) position covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d). The age restriction does not apply if you are a Veterans' Preference eligible.
Firearm Requirement: This position requires that the incumbent meet initial and continuing qualifications in the use of firearms as outlined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, amended by the Lautenberg Amendment of 1996. An applicant whose background includes any of the following will be ineligible for consideration: 1) convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year; 2) has any outstanding warrants or is a fugitive from justice; 3) unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; 4) adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution; 5) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; 6) renounced U. S. citizenship; 7) subject to a court-ordered restraining (protection) order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner (spouse, former spouse, parent of applicant's child, individual who cohabitates or has cohabitated with the applicant), or child; or 8) convicted under Federal, State, or Tribal Court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against an intimate partner or child.
More requirements listed below.
Qualifications
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 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 or 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.
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.
Education Substitution: A 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
Successful completion of one full year of graduate level education from an accredited or 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.
More information on the qualifications can be found on our CBP.gov CBP Officer Qualifications Aid
If you have previous or current law enforcement or military law enforcement experience, you may qualify at the GS-9 grade level - Apply Here!
National Service Experience: refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) 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 will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Experience as a CBP Explorer may be qualifying if your resume provides sufficient information to credit your experience. To receive full credit for your experience, please be sure to describe your duties, roles and responsibilities in detail.
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.
Uniform/Grooming Standards: While in a duty status, this position requires wearing an officially approved uniform and complying with established grooming standards.
Education
See the Qualifications Section for education substitution.
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
Primary CBPO Special Retirement Coverage: This is a primary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers (5 CFR 842.1003, Conditions for Coverage; 5 USC 8425(b) and 5 USC 8335(b), Mandatory Separation; and 5 USC 8412(d), Immediate Retirement). For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link. If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180.
The Customs and Border Protection Officer mandatory separation provisions of 5 USC 8425 do not apply to an individual first appointed as a Customs and Border Protection Officer before July 6, 2008.
Martin Rivera
Qualifications
State
Immediate Fill
With more than 60,000 employees, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade.
As the United States’ first unified border entity, CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.
VISION STATEMENT
Enhancing the nation’s security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.
MISSION STATEMENT
Protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation’s economic prosperity.
ENDURING MISSION PRIORITIES
Counter Terrorism – Anticipate, detect and disrupt the threat of terrorists, their weapons and actions to protect the people and economy of the United States.
Combat Transnational Crime – Detect, deter and disrupt transnational organized crime that threatens U.S. national and economic security interests at and beyond the border.
Secure the Border – Protect the Homeland through the air, land and maritime environments against illegal entry, illicit activity or other threats to uphold national sovereignty and promote national and economic security.
Facilitate Lawful Trade and Protect Revenue – Enable fair, competitive and compliant trade and enforce U.S. laws to ensure safety, prosperity and economic security for the American people.
Facilitate Lawful Travel – Enhance, enable and transform the travel experience by anticipating, detecting and intercepting threats prior to and at ports of entry.
ETHOS
We are the guardians of our Nation's borders.
We are America's frontline.
We safeguard the American homeland
at and beyond our borders.
We protect the American people against
terrorists and the instruments of terror.
We steadfastly enforce the laws of the United States
while fostering our Nation's economic security through
lawful international trade and travel.
We serve the American people with vigilance,
integrity, and professionalism.
CORE VALUES
Vigilance is how we ensure the safety of all Americans. We are continuously watchful and alert to deter, detect and prevent threats to our nation. We demonstrate courage and valor in the protection of our nation.
Service to Country is embodied in the work we do. We are dedicated to defending and upholding the Constitution of the United States. The American people have entrusted us to protect the homeland and defend liberty.
Integrity is our cornerstone. We are guided by the highest ethical and moral principles. Our actions bring honor to ourselves and our agency.