Customs and Border Protection Officers
Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.
Also called: Canine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer) · Customs Inspector · Customs Officer · Import Specialist · Special Agent · US Customs and Border Protection Officer (US CBPO)
Median pay (national)
$76,290
$47,640–$115,280 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
666,990
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.1%
~53,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for customs and border protection officers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $115,280 versus $47,640 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $76,290 leaves roughly 51% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.1% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 53,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $115,400, +51% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $44,860 — a 157% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
- Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
- Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
- Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
- Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
- Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws.
- Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
- Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
- Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
- Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
Tools & technology
- IBM WebSphere MQ
- SAP software
- Automated Manifest System AMS
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Law enforcement information databases
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database
- Treasury Enforcement Communications System TECS
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Geography