Pay is 55-75k a year to start (not that great), it's working a lot outside in the elements/extreme heat, it's dangerous, have to speak Spanish or be able to learn it by the academy, etc.

A 25 year old who stays 10 years will make 100k at 35 and retire at 57 with an annual retirement pension of 80K and if they made the maximum contribution on their 401k and got a 9 % ROI they would have $ 2 million in their 401 K.

The turn over is not particularly high if you consider that most of the people leaving are making lateral movements into other Federal LEO jobs that are not in the sun and closer to their home city.

It's possible to get promoted after 52 weeks in the current grade but not automatic and some are starting at GL-5. In your scenario, the retirement income would be 74k with 32 years of service under FERS, 2.5% the first 20 years and 2% a year after that.

Turnover is still turnover if they are leaving the agency, doesn't matter if they stay in federal law enforcement, the BP still has to start all over recruiting a new person. But I agree, the Border Patrol is looked at as an entry-level stepping stone to get a foot in the door for a more preferable federal LEO job.

They get a 2 grade promotion every year until they reach grade 12.

Most enter at 9 and and reach 12 in 2 years. Some enter at 7 and reach it at 3.

This 'fast tracking' includes all LEO positions in DHS, Customs, BP, and ICE and some others like US Marshals and Air Marshals.

It does not include LEOS in federal parks, BLM, or Fish and Wildlife nor corrections officers that are face tracked but only to Grade 11.

Two years ago Border Patrol Agents had a dramatic change in overtime rules and now only can get 2 hours compensated at straight hour calculation which resulted in about a $ 7,000 pay reduction.

After reaching their fast track level (either 11 or 12) all LEOS revert to the standard 1 step a year increase.

There are no Border Patrol Agents entering at grade 5.

$55 to $75K is pretty good money. Don't get me wrong. It's not something I would be interested in doing, but it pays more than a beginning cop or firefighter. Most communities along the border have a fairly low cost of living. Median household income in El Paso is $44K. You can buy a new 3 br, 2 bath house for $150K.

I'm an old white lady with a college degree and I'd LOVE to find a job paying $55 to $75K.

I'm in California, starting police officer pay is $43 an hour, or about 90k a year. The garbagemen for the city start at $29 an hour and top out at $37 under the bargaining agreement, so 65k-80k a year or more depending on overtime. It would be a decent income in rural Texas but it isn't that great in California even with the extra percentage built into the payscale for higher cost of living areas (locality pay).

The polygraph process is pretty brutal too, with a lot of washouts. That, on top of the maximum age limit of applicants, is probably a few of the things keeping recruiting down.

I had the opportunity to transfer to CBP or ICE, but decided I had a soul instead.

is one of those 33 hires! They signed on about three months ago. I was told that there's a pretty hefty sign on bonus which they found attractive coming out of the military.

Who's getting a kickback on this?

Get thee to the greatest page

Most of the "work" I have seen from them as a contractor has consisted of them managing sub-contractors or partners with new college graduates or vets who just left the Military. Sure, their management is typically experienced or otherwise qualified, but they're still basically a pass-through LLP to generate Federal funding for their stockholders and executives. They don't really have a product or service, they manage the product or service.
If you look at their promotional package, it's full of corporate-speak with tech terms sprinkled in.

Haele