Aviationluver

I went to the April 21st FAPA in Vegas. The most visited booth was UPS. However, the second most visited booth wasn't Emirates, Air Japan, Air Wisconsin or the American WHO. The second most visited booth was Customs and Border Protection.

I just received a call from CBP and the recruiter stated that starting pay is min between $105,000 to $111,000 and that upgrade is quick, maybe 100 hours right seat time if you're experienced.

Is there something I'm missing? Am I being misled? What's the other side of the story that's being left out?

If you had a choice between a regional with starting pay of around $48000/year, including bonuses (with 2 year upgrade) and a gov job with $105,000 and quick upgrade, wouldn't it be a no brainer to take the gov job?

Thanks.

CaptainRJ

Check to see what other benefits you get like a pension, health insurance,vactation and "other bennies". You might get shot at though from time to time heck some get shot at departing around Chicago and Detroit . I'd say go for it!

galaxy flyer

Not the upside potential of being at a legacy, but then you might not get there, either. Pension pays pays 1% per year of service x average monthly salary (highest 30 of 42 months), pays good vacation and sick accrual.

GF

zondaracer

It's not for everyone but it is a good job for many. You will have to go to their police academy and I heard guys fly around 300 hours a month with some office work too. When I lived in Tucson, I was interested and talked to some of those guys and it is a pretty cool mission.

Saafer

And some even fly about 300 hours a year :-)

USMCFLYR

There are a few CBP threads on APC if you use the search function.

The latest gouge from CBP is that is is rough going right now.
CBP would have been my first choice too, but you'll have to be able to make it through FLETC.
Maybe some of the current, and former, pilots will chime in - but that starting pay seems a bit on the high end, though the retirement and benefits are good.

There are quite a few other gov't flying jobs too. There was a recent ad for the Dept of Energy pilot flying the 737 out of ABQ and another one for a NASA Research pilot (though prior military - not necessarily test pilot - was a requirement).

If you are interested in that path, sign yourself up for an account on USAJobs.gov and have an e-mail alert sent you for openings in the -2181 career field for starters.

Ag89

I retired from CBP in January. I was a gs-13 step 9
My base was 105k then you get LEAP which adds 25% so I was making roughly 130-135k. Federal LEO retirement is figured different than normal civil service. You get 1.7% per year for your first twenty and 1% a year after that of your high three years plus a social security supplement. You can retire at 20 years if your over 50 and anytime if you have 25 years in. Generally new hires start as a gs11 for a year then a gs12 for a year then a 13. GS13 is top unless you go into management or fly the P3.
The GS scales are published on the OPM Website. Look for the special salary rate for LEO then add 25% to get an idea of pay. Some of this may have changed but that's the way it was.
I did way better than my friends who went to airlines for a while, now they are all at majors and will far surpass my career earnings.

boboseatlle

I would do some research on the hiring process of the CBP. There's a reason that they're short handed. From talking to recruiters and others that are currently employed by the CBP they will hire anyone that meets their minimum requirements. The hold up is that over 60% fail the polygraph. Reading about it, they're ridiculous on they're poly and that will go on your permanent record for any other government job in the future.

I've held a TS clearance and have had several polys throughout my career and a dick examiner can make the process a miserable one. The deciding factor for me not to apply to the CBP was that you will have to move to the location that they offer and it looks like the middle of nowhere TX is most likely where you're going to start.

minimwage4

Chasing illegals from above in a dash 8 sounds very tempting.

FlexNinja

As a dual rated ATP and former cop, CBP is my dream job. However, I have zero desire to move/live on the SW border of the US. Thats essentially where all the action is located. I know there is some minor possibility for a Florida assignment, but essentially everyone starts down south. Having a family and 2 kids, that just doesnt appeal to me.

It does seem like a great job, and a cool mission. Also, as the former CBP pilot said above, after doing the math, CBP versus the Airlines, your leaving millions on the table, and thats not a gross exaggeration.