Customs Inspector

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Work Tasks

• Make sure import and export laws are followed (laws telling what can be brought into and taken out of a country)
• Look at, count, weigh, and measure shipments coming into and leaving the United States to make sure they are allowed
• Decide how much tax should be paid on the items
• Look at baggage and clothes worn by passengers to make sure that items are declared, taxes are paid, and there are no illegal goods
• Work indoors behind luggage counters and in offices or outdoors where cars go over the country border
• Work with luggage, freight, special measuring equipment, passenger lists, forms, and reports of violations

Salary, Size & Growth

• $80,500 average per year ($38.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (134,900 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.7% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A US citizen and a 4-year degree or the equivalent work experience
• Employers Prefer: Experience in administration, law enforcement, or other work that demonstrates the ability to deal with people and to learn and interpret facts
• Skills/Courses: On-the-job training in laws, inspection procedures, and using a firearm; speaking a foreign language.