The median pay for Customs and Border Protection Officers is $76,210 a year ($36.64/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.5% through 2035, with about 51,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 33-3051
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Custom and Border Protection Officer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $76,210a year, or $36.64/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $115K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.5%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 51,500693,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025693.2K
- Projected 2035717.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 693.2K Projected 2035 717.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school39%
- Certificate10.1%
- Some college14.2%
- Associate's7.3%
- Bachelor's27.2%
- Post-bacc certificate2.2%
Highest education held by customs and border protection officers Segment Value High school 39% Certificate 10.1% Some college 14.2% Associate's 7.3% Bachelor's 27.2% Post-bacc certificate 2.2%
Also advertised as: Canine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer), Customs Inspector, Customs Officer, Import Specialist, Special Agent, US Customs and Border Protection Officer (US CBPO).
Pay
How much do customs and border protection officers make?
Customs and Border Protection Officers earn a median of $76,210 a year ($36.64 an hour, or about $6,350 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $47,510 and the top 10% more than $115,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is California, with a median of $118,880. See Custom and border protection officer salary in California and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($143,520 average): salary in every city.
Every custom and border protection officer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$76,210
Middle half earn $59,290 to $97,600
- 10th
- $47,510
- 25th
- $59,290
- 75th
- $97,600
- 90th
- $115,120
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,510 |
| 25th | $59,290 |
| Median | $76,210 |
| 75th | $97,600 |
| 90th | $115,120 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $76,210
- Median hourly wage
- $36.64/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $79,200
- People employed
- 670,520
Versus all US occupations
At $76,210, Customs and Border Protection Officers earn 49% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $25,230 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $74,060, this is 3% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $115,120 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,510, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 51% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $118,880, and still leads at $107,370 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay customs and border protection officers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $118,880 | $107,370 | 65,940 |
| 2Washington | $102,080 | $95,390 | 9,160 |
| 3Illinois | $100,520 | $100,562 | 29,180 |
| 4Alaska | $99,130 | $96,845 | 1,260 |
| 5Colorado | $97,350 | $94,467 | 9,610 |
| 6Delaware | $92,970 | $93,149 | 1,800 |
| 7New York | $92,790 | $85,980 | 53,470 |
| 8New Jersey | $92,610 | $85,116 | 21,780 |
| 9District of Columbia | $88,650 | $80,664 | 4,720 |
| 10Oregon | $88,140 | $85,274 | 5,030 |
Job outlook
Is custom and border protection officer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Customs and Border Protection Officers | +3.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Customs and Border Protection Officers to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 24,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 51,500 openings are projected each year, 7.4% of the 693,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of police and detectives varies by occupation (see table).
A desire for public safety may result in a need for more officers. However, demand for employment is expected to vary by location, driven largely by local and state budgets. Even when crime rates fall, demand for police services to maintain public safety is expected to continue.
AI exposure: high
BLS places this occupation in its high relative AI exposure category, above the middle of the pack: a substantial share of the work overlaps with what AI can do.
Getting in
How to become a custom and border protection officer
The education typically required to enter the occupation ranges from a high school diploma to a college degree. Most police and detectives must graduate from their agency’s training academy before completing a period of on-the-job training. Other requirements vary, but candidates usually must be at least 21 years old and able to meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications. A felony conviction or drug use may disqualify a candidate.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as customs and border protection officers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)39%
- Bachelor's Degree27.2%
- Some College Courses14.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate10.1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree7.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 39% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 27.2% |
| Some College Courses | 14.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 7.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a custom and border protection officer 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.
Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of crimes.
Day-to-day tasks
- Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
- Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
- Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
- 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.
- Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
- Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most police and detectives work full time. Paid overtime is common, and shift work is necessary to protect the public at all times.
FBI special agents must work at least 50 hours a week and are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Writing3.6
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Learning3.4
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Coordination3.4
- Persuasion3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Negotiation3.0
- Service Orientation3.0
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.4 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Mobile location based services software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a custom and border protection officer?
Women make up 16.4% of customs and border protection officers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
Only 12.1% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce.
The median worker is 39.9 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 16.4%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 39.9All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 12.1%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 705,000Police officers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of customs and border protection officers | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 16.4% | 47.1% |
| White | 78.2% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 13.1% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 3.6% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.2% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 12.1% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 5.1% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Police officers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a custom and border protection officer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Custom and Border Protection Officer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.3
- Enterprising4.3
- Realistic3.4
- Investigative2.6
- Social2.6
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Custom and Border Protection Officer
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Business and Financial Operations
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with customs and border protection officers highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- Police Identification and Records Officer$93,790
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| Police Identification and Records Officer | $93,790 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within custom and border protection officer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Custom and Border Protection Officer appears on
Questions
Custom and Border Protection Officer: frequently asked questions
How much do customs and border protection officers make?
Customs and Border Protection Officers earn a median of $76,210 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 49% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $36.64/hr. The middle half earn between $59,290 and $97,600. The top 10% earn $115,120 or more.
How much do customs and border protection officers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for customs and border protection officers is $36.64 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $76,210 annual median works out to about $6,350 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a custom and border protection officer?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of customs and border protection officers earn less than $47,510 a year and the bottom quarter less than $59,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do customs and border protection officers make $100k?
A minority do. $100,000 sits between the 75th percentile ($97,600) and the 90th ($115,120), so roughly 10% to 25% of customs and border protection officers earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 3 states the median itself is above $100,000: California ($118,880), Washington ($102,080), Illinois ($100,520).
Which states pay customs and border protection officers the most?
The highest state medians for Customs and Border Protection Officers are California ($118,880), Washington ($102,080), Illinois ($100,520) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of custom and border protection officer earns the most?
BLS does not split customs and border protection officers' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $115,120, against a median of $76,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are California ($118,880), Washington ($102,080), Illinois ($100,520). BLS also counts a specialty career inside this occupation (border patrol agent), which shares its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a custom and border protection officer?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Customs and Border Protection Officers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a custom and border protection officer?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for customs and border protection officers is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing medium preparation.
Is custom and border protection officer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 51,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a custom and border protection officer do?
Police officers protect lives and property. A core O*NET task: detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation. Employers most often ask for Cloud-based management software, Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software.
Do customs and border protection officers work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 63% of customs and border protection officers usually work more than 40 hours a week, 37% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 75% say their schedule is regular and 25% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a custom and border protection officer?
O*NET scores Customs and Border Protection Officers highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of customs and border protection officers are women?
Women make up 16.4% of customs and border protection officers, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. Only 12.1% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs): a young workforce. The median worker is 39.9 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Police officers".