# 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 33-3051.04
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Customs Inspector
- Customs Officer
- Special Agent
- US Customs and Border Protection Officer (US CBPO)
- Canine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer)
- Import Specialist
- Agriculture Specialist
- Air Import Specialist
- Border Patrol Agent
- Customs Import Specialist
- Customs Opener
- Customs Packer

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.w |
| Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.j |
| Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers. | Core | 4.A.4.a.1.b |
| 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. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.c |
| Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court. | Core | 4.A.4.a.3.a |
| Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.c |
| Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.d |
| Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted. | Supplemental | 4.A.1.a.1.c |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Interview people to obtain information about actions or status of individuals. | 4.A.1.a.1.w |
| Examine personal documentation to ensure that it is valid. | 4.A.2.a.2.e |
| Detain suspects or witnesses. | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Locate suspicious objects or vehicles. | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Confiscate prohibited or dangerous items. | 4.A.3.a.1.k |
| Inform others about laws or regulations. | 4.A.4.a.1.b |
| Inspect cargo to identify potential hazards. | 4.A.1.b.2.j |
| Maintain operational records. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Investigate illegal or suspicious activities. | 4.A.1.a.1.c |
| Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to share information. | 4.A.4.b.1.c |
| Testify at legal or legislative proceedings. | 4.A.4.a.3.a |
| Calculate tax information. | 4.A.1.b.3.c |
| Obtain property information. | 4.A.1.a.1.d |
| Investigate legal issues. | 4.A.1.a.1.c |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Law and Government | knowledge | 4.48 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 4.32 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 4 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 4 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 4 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 4 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 4 |
| Near Vision | ability | 4 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.91 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3.88 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.88 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.88 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.75 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.62 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.62 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.57 |
| Psychology | knowledge | 3.42 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.38 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.38 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3.25 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.25 |
| Far Vision | ability | 3.25 |
| Administrative | knowledge | 3.21 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.2 |
| Geography | knowledge | 3.17 |
| Persuasion | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | knowledge | 3.09 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.08 |
| Foreign Language | knowledge | 3.02 |
| Negotiation | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| IBM WebSphere MQ | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IBM WebSphere MQ | Cloud-based management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | no |
| Automated Manifest System AMS | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Corel WordPerfect Office Suite | Office suite software | no | no |
| Global positioning system GPS software | Mobile location based services software | no | no |
| Law enforcement information databases | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Treasury Enforcement Communications System TECS | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| E-Mail | 5 |
| Contact With Others | 4.83 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 4.8 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.73 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.7 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.64 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.63 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.58 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.55 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.54 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 4.33 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.32 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.22 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.2 |
| Physical Proximity | 4.19 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 4.13 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 4.1 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 3.99 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.95 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.91 |
| Time Pressure | 3.86 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.82 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3.73 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.68 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.64 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 3.58 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.54 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.51 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | 3.51 |
| Level of Competition | 3.51 |
| Exposed to Radiation | 3.47 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 3.42 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 3.42 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 3.39 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.31 |
| Degree of Automation | 3.3 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 3.29 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.25 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 3.24 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 3.15 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 3
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- **Experience:** 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.
- **Svp Range:** (6.0 to < 7.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 39.01 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 27.15 |
| Some College Courses | 14.2 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.12 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.33 |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 2.18 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dependability | work_style | 7 |
| Protective Service | specific_interest_area | 6.76 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 6 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.27 |
| Integrity | work_style | 5 |
| Law | specific_interest_area | 4.87 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 4.29 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 4 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 3.39 |
| Self-Control | work_style | 3 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.64 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 2.62 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 2.6 |
| Stress Tolerance | work_style | 2.55 |
| Public Speaking | specific_interest_area | 2.35 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 2.31 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 13-1041.08 | role-13-1041-08 | Customs Brokers | Primary-Short |
| 33-3021.00 | role-33-3021-00 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | Primary-Short |
| 33-3051.00 | role-33-3051-00 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | Primary-Short |
| 13-1041.00 | role-13-1041-00 | Compliance Officers | Primary-Short |
| 33-3052.00 | role-33-3052-00 | Transit and Railroad Police | Primary-Short |
| 33-9093.00 | role-33-9093-00 | Transportation Security Screeners | Primary-Long |
| 33-9021.00 | role-33-9021-00 | Private Detectives and Investigators | Primary-Long |
| 43-5011.00 | role-43-5011-00 | Cargo and Freight Agents | Primary-Long |
| 33-1012.00 | role-33-1012-00 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | Primary-Long |
| 13-1041.04 | role-13-1041-04 | Government Property Inspectors and Investigators | Primary-Long |
| 43-5011.01 | role-43-5011-01 | Freight Forwarders | Supplemental |
| 33-9032.00 | role-33-9032-00 | Security Guards | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Public Service & Safety | public-service-safety |

## Education Level

- **Category:** High school diploma or equivalent

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services | homeland-security-law-enforcement-firefighting-and-related-protective-services |
| Natural Resources and Conservation | natural-resources-and-conservation |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 76290
- **Mean Wage:** 79320
- **Pct10Wage:** 47640
- **Pct25Wage:** 58980
- **Pct75Wage:** 97190
- **Pct90Wage:** 115280
- **Employment:** 666990
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 25630 | 64310 | 0.43 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 2450 | 65410 | 0.02 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 450 | 81200 | 0.01 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector |  | 86720 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 25630 | 0.43 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 2450 | 0.02 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 450 | 0.01 |
- **Count:** 4

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.098 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.6681123 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -0.6212816 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.6402014 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 43
- **Percentile:** 41
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 30 | felten_aioe |
| 51 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 47 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.6681123 | 30 | Low | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.6190476190476191 | 51 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.14340876064744668 | 47 | Moderate | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.098
- **Percentile:** 28
- **Band:** Low
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.2857142857142857
- **Beta:** 0.45238095238095233
- **Gamma:** 0.6190476190476191

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S. | 0.03368815450537983 | 4.75 |
| Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers. | 0.002567694703153951 | 4.44 |
| Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations. | 0.0015406168218923706 | 4.6 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 3.1
- **Growth Percentile:** 53
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 53.7
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 90
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 698.8
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 720.8

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 11
- **Skills:** 35
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 12
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 0b3a2243cf3ce5be