Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

Also called: Broker, CCS (Certified Customs Specialist), Corporate Licensed Broker, LCB (Licensed Custom Broker), LCB (Licensed Customs Broker), Air Export Agent, Air Export Operations Agent, Air Import Agent, Cargo Agent, Cargo Broker, Cargo Office Agent, CBP Agent (Customs and Border Patrol Agent), Customs Agent, Customs Analyst, Customs Brokerage Agent, Customs Brokerage Coordinator, Customs Brokerage Entry Writer, Customs Brokerage Representative, Customs Brokerage Specialist, Customs Compliance Analyst, Customs Compliance Specialist, Customs Consultant, Customs Entry Specialist, Customs Entry Writer, Customs House Broker, Customs Specialist, Export Administrator, Export Agent, Export Coordinator, Export Specialist, Exporter, Import Administrator, Import Agent, Import Coordinator, Import Specialist, Importer, International Trade Specialist, Ocean Export Agent, Ocean Import Agent, Ocean Import Representative, Ocean Import Specialist

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments.
Classify goods according to tariff coding system.
Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients.
Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.
Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues.
Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments.
Confer with officials in various agencies to facilitate clearance of goods through customs and quarantine.
Obtain line releases for frequent shippers of low-risk commodities, high-volume entries, or multiple-container loads.
Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents.
Advise customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, or other customs-related matters.

Skills, machines and equipment

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Writing
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Active Learning
Judgment and Decision Making
Monitoring
Time Management
Learning Strategies
Coordination

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (35.00% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

61,280–109,010 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 13-1041.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop inventory, scheduling, planning, and supply-chain analysis experience; explore coordinator, planner, or logistics-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (35.00% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
O*NET Job Zone 3: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Customs Brokers