Occupation Summary

Customs and Border Protection Officers

O*NET 33-3051.04

Description:

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.

Annual Wages:
$75,974.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 11.05%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
  2. Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
  3. Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
  4. Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
  5. Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
  6. Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
  7. 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.
  8. Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
  9. Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
  10. Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
  11. Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Customs and Border Protection Officers employed Annual Growth Rate
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 2.9 0.45


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $36.53
2024 National average hourly wage $38.14
2022 National employment 684,000
2022 Texas employment 59,931
Texas projected employment by 2032 66,551
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 5,461




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
89.60%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
86.40%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
78.20%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
71.40%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
68.40%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
64.20%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
64.00%
Geography
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
63.40%
Sociology and Anthropology
Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
61.80%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
61.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
77.60%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
77.60%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
72.40%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
72.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
72.40%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
67.60%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
67.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
80.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
77.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
77.60%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
77.60%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
75.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
72.40%


  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Working with Computers
    -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    -- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Other Activities


  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Working Conditions
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.



Tools

Bar code reader equipment: Barcode scanners;

Binocular light compound microscopes: Compound light microscopes;

Biometric identification equipment: Fingerprint scanners;

Calipers: Measurement calipers;

Convex security mirrors: Security inspection mirrors;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras;

Hand sprayers: Pepper spray;

Handcuffs: Plastic handcuffs; Metal handcuffs;

Handguns: Service revolvers;

Hydrometers: Hydrometers;

Magnetic stripe readers and encoders: Identification card scanners;

Mainframe console or dumb terminals: Radiation portal monitor terminals;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers; Mobile data computers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Police or security shotguns: Police shotguns;

Radiation detectors: Radiation isotope identifier devices RIID; Radiation portal monitors RPM; Radioisotope detection devices; Personal radiation detectors PRD;

Riot batons: Side-handle batons;

Spectrometers: Gamma ray spectrometers;

Speed stoppers: Tire deflation devices;

Two way radios: Two way radios;

Videoconferencing systems: Videophones;

Weapon or explosives detectors and supplies: Ion mobility spectrometers; Hazardous material detectors;

X ray radiography examination equipment: Mobile truck X ray units; Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System VACIS; X ray inspection equipment;


Technology

Cloud-based management software: IBM WebSphere MQ;

Data base user interface and query software: Law enforcement information databases; Automated Manifest System AMS; National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database; Treasury Enforcement Communications System TECS;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software;

Mobile location based services software: Global positioning system GPS software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software; Corel WordPerfect Office Suite;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Customs and Border Protection Officers include:
  • 43-5011.00 Cargo and Freight Agents
  • 13-1041.00 Compliance Officers
  • 13-1041.08 Customs Brokers
  • 33-3021.00 Detectives and Criminal Investigators
  • 33-1012.00 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
  • 13-1041.04 Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
  • 33-3051.00 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
  • 33-9021.00 Private Detectives and Investigators
  • 33-3052.00 Transit and Railroad Police
  • 33-9093.00 Transportation Security Screeners

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.