Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Customs and Border Protection Officers
Occupation · SOC 33-3051.04
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.
Also called: 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
Job family: Protective Service Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-33-3051-04/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+3.1% by 2034)
- 53,700 openings/yr
- Moderate AI exposure
- Median pay $76,290/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
41st-percentile task overlap — yet about 53,700 openings a year (+3.1% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 30th | -0.7 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 51st | 0.6 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 47th | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.3), with simple added tooling (β 0.5), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.6). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
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.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.1 · 28th percentile among occupations · Low
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S. | 3.4% | |
| Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers. | 0.3% | |
| Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations. | 0.2% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +3.1% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 53,700 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 698,800 → 720,800 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international 2 occupations below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Customs and Border Protection Officers sits at the 48th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure eased from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
26% mean task exposure (2025)
48th percentile of 427 placed occupations
−1 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Customs and Border Inspectors · 3351 | 32% | Minimal |
| Police Officers · 5412 | 14% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 11 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S. Core · importance 4.8
- Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation. Core · importance 4.6
- Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations. Core · importance 4.6
- Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise. Core · importance 4.6
- Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers. Core · importance 4.4
- 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 · importance 4.3
- Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court. Core · importance 4.2
- Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions. Core · importance 4.2
- Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods. Core · importance 4.0
- Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing. Core · importance 3.8
- Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted. Supplemental · importance 3.1
Work activities
- Interview people to obtain information about actions or status of individuals.
- Examine personal documentation to ensure that it is valid.
- Detain suspects or witnesses.
- Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.
- Confiscate prohibited or dangerous items.
- Inform others about laws or regulations.
- Inspect cargo to identify potential hazards.
- Maintain operational records.
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to share information.
- Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
- Calculate tax information.
- Obtain property information.
- Investigate legal issues.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Law and Government | 4.5 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 4.3 | |
| English Language | 3.9 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.6 | |
| Psychology | 3.4 | |
| Administrative | 3.2 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.2 | |
| Geography | 3.2 | |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 3.1 | |
| Education and Training | 3.1 | |
| Foreign Language | 3.0 |
Essential skills
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Writing | 3.6 | |
| Monitoring | 3.6 | |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
Abilities
| Oral Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Oral Expression | 4.0 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.0 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 4.0 | |
| Near Vision | 4.0 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.9 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.9 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.8 | |
| Written Expression | 3.6 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.4 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.4 | |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.3 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.3 | |
| Far Vision | 3.3 |
Transferable skills
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | |
| Coordination | 3.4 | |
| Persuasion | 3.1 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | |
| Negotiation | 3.0 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — 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.
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related 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.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services , Natural Resources and Conservation . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 39.0% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 27.1% | |
| Some College Courses | 14.2% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.1% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 7.3% | |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 2.2% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Work styles
| Dependability | 7.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 6.0 | |
| Integrity | 5.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 4.0 | |
| Self-Control | 3.0 | |
| Stress Tolerance | 2.5 |
Interest areas
| Protective Service | 6.8 | |
| Law | 4.9 | |
| Management/Administration | 2.6 | |
| Public Speaking | 2.4 | |
| Accounting | 2.3 |
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Conventional | 5.3 | |
| Enterprising | 4.3 | |
| Realistic | 3.4 | |
| Investigative | 2.6 | |
| Social | 2.6 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $47,640 |
| 25th percentile | $58,980 |
| Median (50th) | $76,290 |
| 75th percentile | $97,190 |
| 90th percentile | $115,280 |
| People employed | 666,990 |
Wages and employment are reported by BLS for the broader occupation group this specialty belongs to (SOC 33-3051), not for the specialty alone.
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services · Sector | 25,630 | $64,310 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 2,450 | $65,410 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 450 | $81,200 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | — | $86,720 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services · Sector | 0.43× | 25,630 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 0.02× | 2,450 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 0.01× | 450 |
Related occupations
Part of the Public Service & Safety career cluster.
- Customs Brokers · 13-1041.08 Compare →
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators · 33-3021.00 Compare →
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers · 33-3051.00 Compare →
- Compliance Officers · 13-1041.00 Compare →
- Transit and Railroad Police · 33-3052.00 Compare →
- Transportation Security Screeners · 33-9093.00 Compare →
- Private Detectives and Investigators · 33-9021.00 Compare →
- Cargo and Freight Agents · 43-5011.00 Compare →
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives · 33-1012.00 Compare →
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators · 13-1041.04 Compare →
- Freight Forwarders · 43-5011.01 Compare →
- Security Guards · 33-9032.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Customs and Border Protection Officers — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- High school diploma or equivalent · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services · field of study
- Natural Resources and Conservation · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 48th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Customs and Border Protection Officers show 41st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 53,700 annual U.S. openings
- Customs and Border Protection Officers rank in the 41st percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 53,700 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+3.1%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $76,290, across about 666,990 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Customs and Border Protection Officers show 41st-percentile AI task overlap — and about 53,700 annual U.S. openings • Customs and Border Protection Officers rank in the 41st percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 53,700 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+3.1%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $76,290, across about 666,990 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Customs and Border Protection Officers". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-33-3051-04 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Customs and Border Protection Officers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-33-3051-04
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Customs and Border Protection Officers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-33-3051-04
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-33-3051-04,
title = {Customs and Border Protection Officers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-33-3051-04}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.