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Customs Brokers in California

Customs Brokers in California

Considering working as a Customs Brokers in California? Here’s what the data says. Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere. Excludes “Financial Examiners" (13-2061), “Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents” (13-2081), “Occupational Health and Safety Specialists” (19-5011), “Occupational Health and Safety Technicians” (19-5012), “Transportation Security Screeners” (33-9093), “Agricultural Inspectors” (45-2011), “Construction and Building Inspectors” (47-4011), and “Transportation Inspectors” (53-6051).

What do Customs Brokers Make in California?

For a customs brokers working in California, wages run about $92,350 per year (or about $44.40/hour).Annual wages span from $53,990 at the 10th percentile to $149,040 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $53,990 $25.96
25th percentile $67,380 $32.39
Median (50th) $92,350 $44.40
75th percentile $121,690 $58.51
90th percentile $149,040 $71.65
Salary ranges for Customs Brokers in California

The job concentration index in California relative to the national average — is 1.02.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, customs brokers earn a median of $67,529 per year ($32.47/hour), higher than the California median.

Customs Brokers earnings in California vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 237,330 customs brokers nationwide. In California alone, around 47,420 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 4,100 customs brokers.

Customs Brokers in California vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Customs Brokers

Top California Metros for Customs Brokers

These are the California metros with the most customs brokers in California.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 16,220 $90,370
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 7,350 $104,000
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 6,000 $98,190
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 3,420 $79,130
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 2,690 $118,490
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 2,680 $89,010
Fresno, CA 950 $78,270
El Centro, CA 850 $101,110
Bakersfield-Delano, CA 680 $78,610
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 680 $87,210
Stockton-Lodi, CA 460 $78,730
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA 430 $84,670
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 390 $82,220
Modesto, CA 310 $70,440
Vallejo, CA 270 $81,330
Salinas, CA 230 $91,360
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 210 $82,320
Visalia, CA 190 $67,190
Chico, CA 180 $83,550
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA 180 $78,080
Napa, CA 170 $79,630
Merced, CA 150 $80,650
Redding, CA 130 $74,590
Yuba City, CA 90 $69,050
Hanford-Corcoran, CA 60 $74,150

Top States for Customs Brokers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most customs brokers work.

State Number Employed
California 47,420
Texas 39,870
Florida 31,610
New York 23,690
Pennsylvania 15,320
Virginia 15,120
Georgia 13,730
New Jersey 12,000
Arizona 11,590
Massachusetts 11,460
Ohio 11,320
Washington 10,820
Illinois 10,190
Michigan 9,660
North Carolina 9,080
Maryland 8,860
Tennessee 8,140
Colorado 7,470
Missouri 7,000
Minnesota 6,460

Highest-Paying States for Customs Brokers

These states pay the most for customs brokers.

State Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia $103,010
New Jersey $93,520
Massachusetts $92,890
California $92,350
Alaska $88,730
Vermont $88,550
Delaware $88,450
Maryland $87,580
Connecticut $87,210
Maine $86,940

Skills

Top customs brokers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Complex Problem Solving  3.8 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.8 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.8 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.8 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Transportation  4.2 / 5
0
5
English Language  4.1 / 5
0
5
Administrative  4.0 / 5
0
5
Law and Government  4.0 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  4.0 / 5
0
5
Computers and Electronics  3.5 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for customs brokers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Written Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.8 / 5
0
5
Written Expression  3.8 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  3.8 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  3.8 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, customs brokers typically:

  • Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.
  • Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients.
  • Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments.
  • Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments.
  • Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents.
  • Classify goods according to tariff coding system.
  • Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues.
  • Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney.
  • Advise customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, or other customs-related matters.
  • Post bonds for the products being imported or assist clients in obtaining bonds.
  • Quote duty and tax rates on goods to be imported, based on federal tariffs and excise taxes.
  • Arrange for transportation, warehousing, or product distribution of imported or exported products.

Work Activities

  • Getting Information
  • Working with Computers
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Processing Information
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Access In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

Other careers like customs brokers include:

Also Known As

Air Export Agent, Air Export Operations Agent, Air Import Agent, Boarding Agent, Cargo Agent, Cargo Broker, Cargo Office Agent, Corporate Licensed Broker, Customs Agent, Customs Analyst, Customs Broker, Customs Brokerage Agent, Customs Brokerage Coordinator, Customs Brokerage Entry Writer, Customs Brokerage Representative.

References

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