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Protective Services33-3051.04Specialization

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.

$72,280
Median Pay
Less than 6 months
Training
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This is a specialization of

Law Enforcement Officers

Career Overview Video

AI Impact Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 4/6: low AI task exposure means AI will assist but humans remain essential (estimated from legacy data)

🟡AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Low+2

19% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

0% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 18/25

Total Score4/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09
View full methodology →

Key Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
  • Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
  • Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
  • Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.

Education & Training

Typical Entry Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Time to Job Ready

1-3 years

Based on Job Zone 3. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.

Technology Skills

Automated Manifest System AMSCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteGlobal positioning system GPS softwareIBM WebSphere MQLaw enforcement information databasesMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordNational Crime Information Center (NCIC) databaseSAP softwareTreasury Enforcement Communications System TECS

Key Abilities

Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityInductive ReasoningNear VisionWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionWritten Expression

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Compensation Details

$45,200
10th Percentile
$72,280
Median
$111,700
90th Percentile

Based on 646,310 employed workers

Also Known As

Agriculture SpecialistAir Import SpecialistBorder Patrol AgentCanine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer)Customs and Border Patrol AgentCustoms Import SpecialistCustoms InspectorCustoms OfficerCustoms OpenerCustoms Packer

Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics

O*NET Code: 33-3051.04