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: Agriculture Specialist, Air Import Specialist, Border Patrol Agent, Canine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer), Customs and Border Patrol Agent, Customs Import Specialist
Median pay
$76,210
Pay for the broader BLS group “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,510 – $115,120
People employed
670,520
Whole BLS group
Holland code
CER
Conventional · Enterprising · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 4.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 6.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
Customs and Border Protection Officers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers”.
Customs and Border Protection Officers salary in every state →
What customs and border protection officers do
- 01Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
- 02Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
- 03Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
- 04Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
- 05Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
- 06Institute 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.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from customs and border protection officers
- Compliance Officers89% · —
- Private Detectives and Investigators86% · —
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives81% · —
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators81% · group pay
- Customs Brokers80% · group pay
Change into customs and border protection officers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Compliance Officers81% · $80,730
- Customs Brokers80% · $80,730
- Private Detectives and Investigators79% · $51,220
- First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers75% · $77,970
- Retail Loss Prevention Specialists75% · $42,540
Majors that lead here
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General
- Criminal Justice/Police Science
- Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing
- Law Enforcement Record-Keeping and Evidence Management
- Critical Incident Response/Special Police Operations
- Protective Services Operations
- Maritime Law Enforcement
- Criminalistics and Criminal Science
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.