Customs and Border Protection Officers

People in this career inspect travelers, cargo, and carriers to identify violations of federal laws and regulations. Daily tasks involve getting information, analyzing data, and evaluating details to determine compliance with standards. Officers must make decisions, solve problems, and work directly with the public, which requires strong skills in active listening, speaking, and social perceptiveness. They also document information, work with computers, and communicate regularly with supervisors and peers.

Success in this role requires deep knowledge of law and government, public safety, security, and the English language. Officers also benefit from understanding customer service, psychology, and geography. Because the work involves security and public contact, key work styles include integrity, dependability, self-control, and high stress tolerance. This occupation strongly appeals to individuals with conventional interests who enjoy organized, rule-following activities.

To enter this career, the typical educational requirement is a high school diploma. However, the occupation generally requires medium preparation, which often includes vocational training, an associate degree, or related work experience.

Students interested in this path frequently major in criminal justice and corrections, security science and technology, or environmental and natural resources management and policy. For professional development, some individuals in this field obtain the Certified Central Service Vendor Partner credential from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association.

The median annual pay for this profession is $76,210, based on 2025 figures for the broader group of police and sheriff's patrol officers. Earnings range from less than $47,510 for the lowest 10% of workers to more than $115,120 for the highest 10% of earners.

There are 670,520 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.5%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth and turnover are expected to result in approximately 51,500 job openings each year.