Pros and Cons of CBP

[mhoudek]

I just finished taking my written exam for the CBP and I passed with a 91. I feel I am very qualified for the position, but thats just my opinion. I am also pursuing local law enforcement where the pay is a lot better and I wouldnt have to relocate. My question is, what are some pros and cons of the CBP from LEs already in?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[O'Gee]

Im just finishig up the process for NYC. The one BIG con is no 6c which means there is no LEO status , no 20 year retirement ,etc. I also hear the managment is pretty bad but all this depends on which port your in. The CBP'ers will be here soon to give you there real deal on the Job. Like you, I have other jobs in the works but Im not 100 % sure I want to turn CBP down yet either so we shall see. I scored a 92 I think and I took ther test last june.
Good Luck

[Ctgoat]

Con: They take forever to hire

[mhoudek]

Like you, I have other jobs in the works but Im not 100 % sure I want to turn CBP down yet either so we shall see. I scored a 92 I think and I took ther test last june.
Good Luck

Glad someone knows what Im going through. Good luck to you as well.

[Sierra]

PRO:
Certification is national. You don't need to worry if the state you move to will accept you or if you will have to go to the academy again. Could cme in handy if the significant other gets a better paying job elsewhere or wants to move closer to mom.

CON:
You aren't a street cop. Dunno if that would be important to you or not, but you won't be handling the cool stuff like pursuits, DVs, DOAs or spectacular accidents.

[drevel]

Any advice on the BP or CBP test? I am schedules to take the CBP on 2/2/07 & the BP on 2/26/06. Thank you.

[BP348]

I am also pursuing local law enforcement where the pay is a lot better

Pay is a lot better? :confused: Where are you located? Most federal jobs pay better. Maybe the starting pay is better but in the long run I would bet the CBP officer would be better. Don't know for sure but I think CBP officers make $75K a year. Yes a lot of officers make that but they have to work a bunch of overtime to get it.

Good Luck

[BP348]

Any advice on the BP or CBP test? I am schedules to take the CBP on 2/2/07 & the BP on 2/26/06. Thank you.

What do you want to know? Biggest difference is that CBP Officer is not 6C Border Patrol is. Where are you located? All new USBP Agents go the Border. Southern that is.

[weasel0311]

...local law enforcement where the pay is a lot better...

Pay is a lot better? :confused: Where are you located? Most federal jobs pay better. Maybe the starting pay is better but in the long run I would bet the CBP officer would be better. Don't know for sure but I think CBP officers make $75K a year. Yes a lot of officers make that but they have to work a bunch of overtime to get it.

mhoudek:
I was wondering where you live too. My local PD starts off at $40,000 now, but when I was looking into it 10 years ago it was more like $25,000. I went with Customs (now CBP). Not so much for the pay but because I had prior service and the federal system was a better option to me. If I had to do it over again I would have gone with a local PD or a different agency with 6c.

BP348 is right about the statement that federal jobs do pay better in the long run. $75k used to be around norm with OT at my port (for a 9 or 11). A starting CBPO GS-05/07 would be making about $25k to $30k (from the 2007 GS pay scale). That's with out COLA/locality pay or OT.

[mhoudek]

I live in Chicago. The suburbs out here start at around 50k and within 5 years is around 70k. Thats base pay without overtime for a uniformed officer. Chicago Police Department starts around 56k and after one year moves to low 60s. It just seems that the starting pay for CBP, which is 35k for GS-05 is low.

How do I make 75K in the CBP? Im all for that!!

[mhoudek]

Any advice on the BP or CBP test? I am schedules to take the CBP on 2/2/07 & the BP on 2/26/06. Thank you.

The test is easy as long as you study. I studied the packet that CBP gives you in the mail. The logic and reading comprehension is kind of basic, mostly stuff I had in school. The only thing I really studied for was the ALT. My only advice is to memorize the grammatical rules, not the vocabulary.

Im not sure if I should be talking about the test though. haha. I think I signed a confidentiality waiver. No details. Sorry.

[CBPMarine]

There are still a few positions in CBP that are 6c.

Marine Enforcement Officers (MEO) now called Marine Interdiction Agents and Air Enforcement Officers now called known as Air Interdiction Agents (AIA).

Both are 6c gun toter postions that do have the excitement you may find as a street cop.

They are now in the GS-1881 series (combination of 1801 and 1811).

I doubt you will see an announcement soon, the first job announcements go out CBP wide, then DHS wide, before they hit the general public.

A CBP inspectors job may be dull, but it pays well and it gets your foot in the USG door.

[chewy]

You may start as a GS 5 or 7 and the pay isn't real great but we are a journeyman rate of GS-11... Based on 2006 payscale, a GS-11 in Chicago (basically, your third or fourth year... depending on what you start as) will make 55958 then it goes up about a grand every year after that. That isn't including ANY other pay such as weekend/holiday pay, night/afternoon diferential or overtime. Detroit is very similar in pay and I'm making 62K a year base, then my afternoon diff is another 7k or so and overtime I can work up to 30K a year. If I max out on overtime I'll make just under 100,000. I didn't work hardly any overtime in 2006 and my pay was just under $70,000 with nine years on. The pay doesn't look so good as a GS 5 or 7 but when you consider that if you start as a 5 making $30,000 then after you have one year in you'll go to a GS-7 and make $37,000 then another year and $46,000 then hit GS-11 and get the $56,000. I think when you look at it you'll find that a lot, if not most departments you hit a plateau and max out after so many years.. with us once you get to journeyman you still get anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 increase with each step increase you do plus your yearly cost of living increase and any overtime or shift premium. The overtime is another big plus, there aren't a lot of departments that pay straight double time for overtime pay, most are time and a half at best. Whem I'm working making $35 an hour and hit overtime suddenly I'm making $70 an hour... that extra adds up in a hurry! Of course overtime depends on what port you are at but in larger ports, like Detroit for example, we get a ton of people that make $20K - $25K plus in overtime alone every year... Our pay is WAY better than any of the departments I've delt with.

[chewy]

There are still a few positions in CBP that are 6c.

Marine Enforcement Officers (MEO) now called Marine Interdiction Agents and Air Enforcement Officers now called known as Air Interdiction Agents (AIA).

Both are 6c gun toter postions that do have the excitement you may find as a street cop.

They are now in the GS-1881 series (combination of 1801 and 1811).

I doubt you will see an announcement soon, the first job announcements go out CBP wide, then DHS wide, before they hit the general public.

A CBP inspectors job may be dull, but it pays well and it gets your foot in the USG door.

What are you saying DULL???? We do WAY more exciting stuff than you MEO's!!!


BAawwwhahahahaha... no matter how I say it I just can't get it out without laughing my butt off!:D
I just applied for the new openings... I'm hoping with nine years Customs/CBP and 6 years Coast Guard plus my EMT and hazmat etc that I can get lucky and get picked up.... I hit 37 in July so it'll be a close race!

[CBPMarine]

Sorry Chewy, I meant no offense.
I was referring to the booth work and “Stamping passports” as the dull part.

You have the background that the Marine job looks for, so you should do good.
The 37-age limit hurts a lot of people.
Good luck!