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.
Customs Broker Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Customs Brokers earn a median of $80,730 per year ($38.81/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.0% through 2034, with about 33,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 13-1041Business and Financial OperationsLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $80,730
- Projected growth
- +3.0%
- Openings a year
- 33,300
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Corporate Licensed Broker, Customs Broker.
How much do Customs Brokers make?
10th percentile$48,220
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$61,280
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$80,730
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$109,010
Upper quartile
90th percentile$133,720
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $80,730 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $38.81/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $88,400 |
| People employed | 417,070 |
Versus all US occupations
At $80,730, Customs Brokers earn 58% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $29,750 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
The median is typical for the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $133,720 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,220, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 67% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $111,030, and still leads at $101,027 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Customs Brokers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,030 | $101,027 | 4,380 |
| Massachusetts | $102,060 | $96,504 | 13,190 |
| New Jersey | $100,000 | $91,908 | 13,310 |
| California | $96,980 | $87,590 | 49,880 |
| Connecticut | $91,810 | $88,611 | 3,610 |
| Delaware | $91,050 | $91,225 | 2,150 |
| Vermont | $90,420 | $92,305 | 1,960 |
| New York | $90,080 | $83,468 | 23,500 |
| Washington | $88,790 | $82,971 | 11,130 |
| Rhode Island | $87,620 | $85,667 | 970 |
Is Customs Broker a growing career?
Customs Brokers3.0%
All US occupations3.1%
+3.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Customs Brokers to change 3.0% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 12,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 33,300 openings are projected each year, 8.0% of the 418,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
Demand for compliance officers will stem from the need for businesses and government agencies to comply with various laws and regulations. Compliance officers will be needed to understand the complexities of these regulations and to help their employers avoid the costs associated with noncompliance.
How to become a Customs Broker
Customs broker is one of the few individual occupations licensed directly by the federal government. The licence is issued by US Customs and Border Protection under 19 CFR part 111, and the gate is the Customs Broker License Examination: 80 multiple-choice questions in 4.5 hours, open reference, passing at 75 percent. It is held twice a year, on the fourth Wednesday in April and October, and it is hard. CBP's own published pass rates for recent sittings were 22 percent in April 2026, 12 percent in October 2025 and 30 percent in April 2025.
The credential path, step by step
- Check you are eligible to sit the exam
On the date of the examination you must be a US citizen, at least 18 years old, and not an officer or employee of the US Government. Note the age gap that catches people out: 18 to take the exam, but 21 by the date you submit the licence application.
- Register and prepare for the CBLE
CBP publishes a notice for each examination and the registration window closes roughly six weeks beforehand; you must complete the electronic application at least 30 calendar days before the scheduled examination date and pay the $390 examination fee at that time. The exam covers entry and entry summary (including partner government agencies, foreign trade zones, bonded warehouses, bonds, intellectual property rights, marking and country of origin, and drawback), classification, valuation and duty assessment, broker compliance, quota and practical exercises. Candidates work from published references including the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and Title 19 of the CFR.
- Pass at 75 percent4.5 hours
80 multiple-choice questions, 4.5 hours, delivered electronically, mostly at centralised exam facilities. A score of 75 percent is required to pass, which is 60 correct answers. Results letters are emailed within two to three weeks; first appeals are due no later than 60 days from the date of the results letter and second appeals within 60 days of the first appeal result. From the April 2026 exam CBP set an appeals threshold: examinees scoring 57 or more of 80, within three questions of the pass mark, may appeal up to four questions.
- Apply for the licence within three years
The application must be executed on CBP Form 3124 and submitted to the processing Center after you pass, within the 3-year period after taking and passing the examination. It carries a $300 fee for an individual licence, plus an FBI fingerprint processing fee, and you must submit fingerprints at the time of the interview. To hold the licence you must be a US citizen, at least 21 on the date of application, not an officer or employee of the US Government, and of good moral character.
- Add a permit and keep up the continuing education
The licence alone does not let you transact customs business: a national permit under 19 CFR 111.19 carries a $100 application fee plus an annual permit user fee. Individual brokers must complete at least 36 continuing education credits of qualifying continuing broker education in each triennial period, the three-year cycles that run from 1 February, with exceptions during voluntary suspension and for brokers who have not held the licence for a whole triennial period.
Exams you have to pass
Customs Broker License Examination (CBLE)
80 multiple-choice questions in 4.5 hours, delivered electronically, with a passing score of 75 percent. Held twice a year, generally on the fourth Wednesday in April and October, with a $390 fee payable at least 30 calendar days before the exam date. Designed under 19 CFR 111.13(a) to determine knowledge of customs and related laws, regulations and procedures, bookkeeping, accounting and other matters necessary to render valuable service to importers and exporters. CBP publishes the pass rate for each sitting: 22 percent in April 2026, 12 percent in October 2025 and 30 percent in April 2025, each before appeal decisions.
Administered by US Customs and Border Protection.
- How long the training takes
No required programme; the exam and the application are the whole path
There is no accredited course, no degree requirement and no apprenticeship in the regulation. What sets the timetable is the exam calendar, twice a year, and the 3-year window in which a passing score stays usable for a licence application. The published pass rates mean multiple attempts are common, and each attempt is six months apart.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
All individual brokers must complete at least 36 continuing education credits of qualifying continuing broker education each triennial period, the three-year cycles beginning 1 February. Exceptions apply during a period of voluntary suspension and where the broker has not held the licence for an entire triennial period at the time of the status report. After reinstatement following voluntary suspension the requirement is prorated at one credit for each complete remaining month of the period.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
Not a state credential at all. The customs broker licence is federal, issued by US Customs and Border Protection under 19 CFR part 111, and it is valid throughout the customs territory of the United States. State residency is irrelevant; US citizenship is not.
Who governs the credential
- US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — Writes and administers the Customs Broker License Examination, issues the individual broker licence and the national permit, sets and enforces the continuing education requirement, and processes triennial status reports. There is no state or private body in the path.
Credential detail for customs brokers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- eCFR, 19 CFR part 111: Customs Brokers · checked August 23, 2026
- CBP: General CBLE Information · checked August 23, 2026
- CBP: Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE), including published pass rates and appeal deadlines · checked August 23, 2026
- CBP: Customs Brokers · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Compliance officers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. They often receive training on the job. Employers may prefer or require candidates to have experience related to the position.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as customs brokers.
- High School Diploma45.0%
- Post-Secondary Certificate20.0%
- Bachelor's Degree20.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)10.0%
- Less than a High School Diploma5.0%
What does a Customs Broker do?
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.
Compliance officers make sure that people and organizations meet legal and regulatory requirements.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.
- Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients.
- Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments.
- Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments.
- Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents.
- Classify goods according to tariff coding system.
- Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues.
- Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most compliance officers work full time, standard schedules. They sometimes need to work longer hours, such as when conducting research for an investigation.
Where the work happens
- Almost never works outdoors
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where customs brokers work
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 37% |
|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | 12% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Speaking3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Learning Strategies3.1/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Service Orientation3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3/5
- Time Management3.3/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Negotiation3.0/5
- Instructing3.0/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Compliance software
- Internet browser software
- Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
- Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Customs Broker?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic2.4
Investigative1.5
Artistic1.0
Social2.2
Enterprisingprimary5.0
Conventionalprimary6.1
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
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.
Customs Broker: frequently asked questions
How much do Customs Brokers make?
Customs Brokers earn a median of $80,730 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 58% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $38.81/hr. The middle half earn between $61,280 and $109,010. The top 10% earn $133,720 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Customs Broker?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Customs Brokers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. 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, 45.0% hold high school diploma.
Is Customs Broker a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.0% over 2024–2034, about the same as the 3.1% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 33,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Customs Broker do?
Compliance officers make sure that people and organizations meet legal and regulatory requirements. A core O*NET task: prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software.
Which states pay Customs Brokers the most?
The highest state medians for Customs Brokers are District of Columbia ($111,030), Massachusetts ($102,060), New Jersey ($100,000) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Customs Broker?
O*NET scores Customs Brokers highest on the Conventional and Enterprising 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 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Customs Broker?
No required programme; the exam and the application are the whole path. There is no accredited course, no degree requirement and no apprenticeship in the regulation. What sets the timetable is the exam calendar, twice a year, and the 3-year window in which a passing score stays usable for a licence application. The published pass rates mean multiple attempts are common, and each attempt is six months apart.
Do you need a license to work as a Customs Broker?
Not a state license. Not a state credential at all. The customs broker licence is federal, issued by US Customs and Border Protection under 19 CFR part 111, and it is valid throughout the customs territory of the United States. State residency is irrelevant; US citizenship is not.
What exams and certifications apply to a Customs Broker?
The CBLE (Customs Broker License Examination). 80 multiple-choice questions in 4.5 hours, delivered electronically, with a passing score of 75 percent. Held twice a year, generally on the fourth Wednesday in April and October, with a $390 fee payable at least 30 calendar days before the exam date. Designed under 19 CFR 111.13(a) to determine knowledge of customs and related laws, regulations and procedures, bookkeeping, accounting and other matters necessary to render valuable service to importers and exporters. CBP publishes the pass rate for each sitting: 22 percent in April 2026, 12 percent in October 2025 and 30 percent in April 2025, each before appeal decisions.