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Border Patrol Aviation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Line & Ramp Communications Coordinator

Teterboro, NJ · On-site

$16.75 - $20.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Liaise with Customs and Border Patrol regarding international arrivals and departures to facilitate ... Represent Jet Aviation as one company internally and externally with industry groups, regulatory ...

Line & Ramp Communications Coordinator

Teterboro, NJ · On-site

$16.75 - $20.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Liaise with Customs and Border Patrol regarding international arrivals and departures to facilitate ... Represent Jet Aviation as one company internally and externally with industry groups, regulatory ...

Line & Ramp Communications Coordinator

Bedford, MA · On-site

$21 - $23/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Liaise with Customs and Border Patrol regarding international arrivals and departures to facilitate ... Represent Jet Aviation as one company internally and externally with industry groups, regulatory ...

Line & Ramp Communications Coordinator

Bedford, MA · On-site

$21 - $23/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Liaise with Customs and Border Patrol regarding international arrivals and departures to facilitate ... Represent Jet Aviation as one company internally and externally with industry groups, regulatory ...

... airport patrols, access control, air carrier security services, and more. Covenant Aviation ... S. Customs and Border Patrol * Must be able to pass a Security Background Check as administered by ...

Ensure compliance with all Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Customs & Border Patrol (CBP), and customer requirements. * Computer system proficiency ...

AIRPORT SECURITY SCREENER

Franklin Park, IL · On-site

$24.35 - $25.49/hr

Covenant Aviation Security has immediate openings for Cargo Screeners Must have a PERC card ... S. Customs and Border Patrol * Must be able to pass a Security Background Check as administered by ...

Senior Cyber Assessment Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Experience with C-UAS, Aviation, Maritime, and/or Border operations and systems * Experience with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to include: U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Support to Federal, State ...

Senior Cyber Assessment Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$154K - $220K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Experience with C-UAS, Aviation, Maritime, and/or Border operations and systems * Experience with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to include: U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Support to Federal, State ...

Senior Cyber Assessment Engineer

Chantilly, VA

$220K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Experience with C-UAS, Aviation, Maritime, and/or Border operations and systems * Experience with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to include: U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Support to Federal, State ...

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Border Patrol Aviation information

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$12

$20

$37

How much do border patrol aviation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for border patrol aviation in the United States is $20.78, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $22.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is Border Patrol Aviation?

Border Patrol Aviation refers to the branch of the U.S. Border Patrol that uses aircraft to monitor and secure the nation's borders. Aviation units operate helicopters and airplanes to conduct surveillance, support ground agents, and respond quickly to illegal border crossings or emergencies. These operations play a crucial role in border security by providing aerial views, transporting personnel, and assisting in search and rescue missions. The aviation program enhances the effectiveness and safety of border enforcement efforts.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Border Patrol Aviation officer?

To thrive as a Border Patrol Aviation Officer, you need expertise in aviation operations, a valid commercial pilot’s license, and completion of relevant federal law enforcement training. Familiarity with aircraft navigation systems, surveillance technology, and federal aviation regulations is typically required. Strong decision-making, situational awareness, and effective communication skills help officers respond rapidly to dynamic border security scenarios. These competencies are critical for ensuring the safe, lawful, and effective airborne support of border security operations.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Border Patrol Aviation, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Border Patrol Aviation often encounter challenges such as operating in remote and rugged terrain, rapidly changing weather conditions, and the need for precise coordination with ground units. Managing fatigue during long or irregular shifts is also a common concern. To address these challenges, it's important to maintain strong communication with team members, adhere strictly to safety protocols, and participate in ongoing training to stay current with both aviation technology and law enforcement tactics.

What is the difference between Border Patrol Aviation vs Border Patrol Pilot?

AspectBorder Patrol AviationBorder Patrol Pilot
Required CertificationsFAA Commercial Pilot Certificate, specific agency trainingFAA Commercial Pilot Certificate, agency-specific training
Work EnvironmentAircraft operations in border regions, surveillance, and patrol missionsFlying patrol routes, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions
Employer & Industry UsageU.S. Customs and Border Protection, federal governmentU.S. Customs and Border Protection, federal government

Border Patrol Aviation refers to the broader department responsible for operating aircraft, including various roles such as pilots and support staff. Border Patrol Pilot specifically describes the individual licensed pilot flying patrols and surveillance missions. Both roles require similar certifications and work within the same agency, but the term 'Border Patrol Pilot' emphasizes the individual pilot's responsibilities.

How do you become a border patrol aviation?

To become a Border Patrol aviation officer, candidates typically need to meet age, education, and physical fitness requirements, and obtain a private pilot license or higher. Relevant experience in aviation, law enforcement, or related fields is beneficial, and applicants must pass background checks and training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

How much do border patrol pilots make?

Border patrol pilots typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and rank. They often require specialized training, certifications, and operate aircraft such as helicopters and fixed-wing planes in law enforcement environments.
More about Border Patrol Aviation jobs

What cities are hiring for Border Patrol Aviation jobs?

Cities with the most Border Patrol Aviation job openings:

What states have the most Border Patrol Aviation jobs?

States with the most job openings for Border Patrol Aviation jobs include:

Infographic showing various Border Patrol Aviation job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, and 3% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $43,217 per year, or $20.8 per hour.

Program Manager

Customs and Border Protection

Aliso Viejo, CA • On-site, Remote

$106K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


U.S. Customs and Border Protection rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 28 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

169th of 846 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

Summary
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Facilities and Asset Management, Operational Support Facilities, 2 vacancies in the following locations:
  • Selfridge, MI
  • Houlton, ME
  • Buffalo, NY
  • Aliso Viejo, CA
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Euless, TX
  • Washington, DC

Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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The Operational Support Facilities' Border Patrol & Air and Marine (BPAM) Program Management Office (PMO) provides our business partners, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Air and Marine Operations (AMO), with long-term planning, construction, and maintenance capabilities. These components include Sector headquarters, stations, air and marine units, hangers, checkpoints, and forward operating bases - but the primary goal remains the same: to provide material solutions and facilities that support USBP and AMO in achieving primary homeland security missions.
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Enterprise Services (ES), Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM), Operational Support Facilities Division (OSF), Border Patrol & Air and Marine (BPAM) Program Management Office (PMO). The purpose of this position is to plan, organize, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate program activities within an assigned Area of Responsibility (AOR) in support of BPAM customers, including the United States Border Patrol (USBP) and Air & Marine Operations (AMO).
This position starts at a salary of $106,437.00 (GS-13, Step 1) to $138,370.00 (GS-13, Step 10).Major Duties for this position include, but are not limited to:
  • Planning, organizing, coordinating, controlling, and evaluating the program activities in support of BPAM's customers, United States Border Patrol (USBP), Air & Marine Operations (AMO), and the Office of Information Technology (OIT).
  • Managing and coordinating program activities and projects by collaborating with professional specialists (e.g. engineers, IT specialists, budget analysts) who possess the necessary educational qualifications and technical expertise.
  • Coordinating contracts with the executing agency, such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Federal Aviation Administration, General Services Administration (GSA), or CBP Procurement.
  • Serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative for projects where responsibilities include assisting with the development of statements of work, performing independent government cost estimates, reviewing contractor schedules and work plans, performing quality control on contractor work, and reviewing and processing contractor invoices.
  • Ensuring that assigned programs and processes are supported by effective internal controls that prevent fraud, waste, and misuse of resources in compliance with the Federal Managers' Integrity Act.

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position.Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
  • Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
  • All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
  • You may be required to pass a background investigation.
  • CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures.
  • As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
  • DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities.
  • Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU.

Qualifications
Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Independently developing comprehensive program plans, including objectives, milestones, resource requirements, and risk assessments by using program management principles and methods to ensure alignment with organizational priorities.
  • Conducting cost-benefit analyses to support broad and complex planning, evaluation, control, and resource allocation problems, and providing authoritative advice to management on the use of substantial resources or extensive changes in established procedures prior to implementation.
  • Independently developing and preparing detailed evaluation reports for senior leadership, including findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations to ensure effective internal controls and compliance and enhance program efficiency and meet evolving program needs.
  • Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring their needs and concerns were addressed throughout program planning and execution.

Special Considerations: Incumbent serves as a COR and must acquire a COR II certification within 18 months after onboarding. Some assigned portfolios may require COR III certification within 36 months of onboarding.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.
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.
You must:
  • Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and
  • Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 08/17/2026.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers
Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
  • Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
  • A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
  • Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
  • Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government

Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position.
Education
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Additional information
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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About U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection serves and protects America with a workforce of more than 60,000 law enforcement and support professionals. We're united by our mission to guard our borders from threats and illicit activities while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

Year founded

2003