Customs Officer

Shift Ladder; United States; On-site; USD 40,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Shift Ladder is seeking a border security professional to guard the border, inspect cargo, luggage, vehicles, and people. You will catch smugglers, process travelers, and ask travelers if they have anything to declare.

The role involves long hours in cold airport environments and requires a sixth sense for detecting concealed items. You will rely on strong observation, ethical judgment, and precise communication to verify information and maintain security across high-volume shifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus CBP Officer training at FLETC.
• Ability to process thousands of travelers per shift with vigilance.
• Proficiency in operating X-ray scanners and inspection equipment.
• Strong interviewing and deduction skills to detect inconsistencies.

Responsibilities

• Guard the border and inspect cargo, luggage, vehicles, and people.
• Catch smugglers and process travelers.
• Ask travelers 'anything to declare?' and verify answers.
• Maintain vigilance through repetitive shifts while ensuring security.

Skills

Alertness

Ethical judgment

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree + CBP Officer training at FLETC

Tools

Customs law & HTS codes

X-ray screening equipment

Passport verification

Interview techniques

Job description

You guard the border and inspect everything coming into the country — cargo containers, luggage, vehicles, and people who are sweating more than the situation warrants. You'll catch smugglers, process travelers, and ask 'anything to declare?' 500 times per shift. The hours are terrible, the airport terminals are freezing, and you develop a sixth sense for people who are hiding something.

Salary Range

Low

$40k

Median

$65k

High

$95k

10-Year Growth

average

US Workers

29K

Education

Bachelor's degree + CBP Officer training at FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement)

Tools & Technical Skills

• ▸ Customs law and tariff classification (HTS codes)
• ▸ Cargo inspection and X-ray screening equipment
• ▸ Passport and travel document verification
• ▸ Interview and interrogation techniques

People & Mindset Skills

• ▸ Alertness and observation
• ▸ Ethical judgment
• ▸ Communication in multiple contexts

Learn the skills

Courses and certifications to get you job-ready

• 01 Inspect passports and visas while looking for documents that seem slightly off
• 02 Ask travelers where they've been and what they're bringing in — and notice when the answers don't match
• 03 Search luggage and cargo for contraband that ranges from undeclared cheese to something much worse
• 04 Process thousands of travelers per shift while maintaining vigilance that doesn't fade with repetition
• 05 Operate X-ray machines and scanners that reveal everything your suitcase is hiding
• 06 Make split-second decisions about who gets through and who gets pulled aside for secondary inspection