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Customs and Border Protection Officers

Also called: Customs Inspector, Customs Officer, Inspector, Special Agent

What they do:

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.

On the job, you would:
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Safety and Government

  • law and government
  • public safety and security

Arts and Humanities

  • English language
  • foreign language

Business

  • customer service
  • administrative services

Math and Science

  • psychology

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Social

  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Conventional

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Dependability
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Attention to Detail

Office suite software

  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Microsoft Office software

Data base user interface and query software

  • Automated Manifest System AMS
  • National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $65,790

Education

High school diploma/GED or bachelor's degree is usually needed.

Explore More

See other careers in the Government industry.