Home / Federal careers / GS-1884
Customs Patrol Officer
Performs customs patrol work including border patrol, interdiction, and enforcement between ports of entry.
What GS-1884 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1884, as written.
⚠️ CANCELLED SERIES\n\nThis occupational series has been officially cancelled by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).\n\nStatus: Cancelled\n\nReplacement Series:\n- GS-1801: General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance Series\n- GS-1895: Customs and Border Protection Series\n\nNote: If you are interested in this type of work, please search for the replacement series listed above.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-1884
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Typical duties
- Patrol border areas
- Interdict smuggling
- Apprehend violators
- Conduct surveillance
- Process detainees
- Coordinate with agencies
Key competencies
Patrol Operations
Skill in conducting patrol and surveillance activities.
Law Enforcement
Knowledge of customs and immigration laws.
Detection
Ability to detect smuggling and illegal activity.
Vehicle Operation
Skill in operating patrol vehicles.
Surveillance
Ability to conduct surveillance operations.
Arrest Procedures
Knowledge of arrest and detention procedures.
Firearms Proficiency
Qualification with assigned firearms.
Communication
Ability to communicate and coordinate with other officers.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1884
What is a Customs Patrol Officer?
NOTE: GS-1884 Customs Patrol Officer is a CANCELLED series. This occupational classification has been officially discontinued by OPM. Border patrol and interdiction work between ports of entry is now primarily covered under GS-1896 (Border Patrol Agent) series. Port of entry inspection work is covered under GS-1895 (CBP Officer series).
What replaced the Customs Patrol Officer series?
When CBP was formed under DHS, the GS-1884 Customs Patrol Officer series was merged with Border Patrol functions under GS-1896. Customs patrol work at and near ports is now performed by CBP Officers (GS-1895) or Border Patrol Agents (GS-1896) depending on specific location and duties.
How do I become a Border Patrol Agent instead?
To pursue the patrol and interdiction work formerly done by Customs Patrol Officers, apply for GS-1896 Border Patrol Agent positions through USAJOBS. Border Patrol Agents patrol between ports of entry, interdict smuggling, apprehend illegal crossers, and enforce immigration and customs laws along U.S. borders.
What are the requirements for Border Patrol Agent positions?
GS-1896 Border Patrol Agent positions require U.S. citizenship, bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, passing physical fitness test and medical examination, firearms qualification, and extensive background investigation. Age limits apply (generally under 40 at entry). Spanish language proficiency is required or must be acquired during training.
Can military experience qualify for Border Patrol positions?
Yes, military experience is highly valued for Border Patrol Agent (GS-1896) positions. Veterans with infantry, military police, reconnaissance, or combat arms experience have excellent backgrounds. Military discipline, weapons proficiency, tactical skills, and experience in austere environments transfer directly. Veterans preference provides significant hiring advantages.
Where can I find current border security jobs?
Search USAJOBS.gov for GS-1896 (Border Patrol Agent) for patrol work between ports of entry, or GS-1895 (CBP Officer) for port of entry work. CBP is one of the largest federal law enforcement agencies and actively recruits. Positions are available along the Southern border, Northern border, and coastal areas.
Ready to apply for GS-1884?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.