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Customs Brokers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $80,730 Median per year · $38.81/hr Most earn $48,220–$133,720

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney.
  • Inform importers and exporters of steps to reduce duties and taxes.
  • Arrange for transportation, warehousing, or product distribution of imported or exported products.
  • Apply for tariff concessions or for duty drawbacks and other refunds.
  • Maintain relationships with customs brokers in other ports to expedite clearing of cargo.
  • Suggest best methods of packaging or labeling products.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 32,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service16.4%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals10.9%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals7.5%
  • Management of companies and enterprises5.0%
  • Credit intermediation and related activities3.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Customs broker is not usually a straight-out-of-school job. Most people start in a related entry role in shipping or freight, build 1 to 2 years of experience, and then move into customs brokering, often after earning a certificate or completing training.

  1. High school diploma plus a customs, freight, or logistics certificate or short training program

    6-12 months

    Basic training in trade documents, shipping terms, and how imports and exports work gives you a foundation for entry-level freight work.

  2. Cargo and Freight Agent

    1-2 years

    You arrange shipments, track cargo, and handle paperwork with carriers, which teaches you the documents and timelines that customs work depends on.

  3. Customs Broker

    Career step

    You prepare customs documents, calculate duties and taxes, sign under a power of attorney, and represent clients with customs officials. Many brokers also need a federal license, which requires passing an exam.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Customs Broker

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more complex clients and classifications, train other staff, and handle harder disputes and refund cases.

  2. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You move into managing logistics teams and supply chain operations, which usually calls for a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and computer classesStrong math helps with calculating duties and taxes, and computer skills help with the spreadsheets and databases used in trade work.
  • Take a business, economics, or foreign language classBusiness and economics show how trade works, and a second language can be valuable when working with international clients and partners.
  • Get a part-time job in retail stockroom, warehouse, or delivery workHands-on work with shipping, inventory, and deadlines gives you a feel for the logistics side of trade.
  • Join a DECA or Business Professionals of America chapter, if your school has oneClubs like these build presentation, teamwork, and professional skills that help when you meet clients and officials.
  • Volunteer with a local business or nonprofit that ships goodsHelping organize donations or shipments teaches you how packages move and how records are kept.

In college

  • Take courses in international trade, logistics, or supply chain managementThese classes explain tariffs, shipping rules, and trade regulations, which are the core of customs brokerage.
  • Get an internship at a freight forwarder, customs broker, or import companyHands-on experience with real shipments and customs paperwork is one of the best ways to prepare for this career.
  • Take a campus job in an office, shipping center, or bookstore inventoryWorking with records, deadlines, and accuracy builds the habits brokers rely on every day.
  • Join an international business, logistics, or supply chain student clubClubs connect you with people in the field and can lead to internship and job leads.
  • Look into a customs or trade certificate program at a community collegeA certificate in customs or trade compliance can help you qualify for entry jobs and meet early steps toward a brokering career.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for entry jobs at freight forwarders, customs brokerage firms, or import companies, and ask to learn the customs paperwork side of the work.
  • Get comfortable with spreadsheets and detail-heavy work, since accuracy with codes, values, and deadlines matters a lot in this job.
  • Ask a working customs broker about the license requirements and exam in your area so you know the steps early.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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