Customs Brokers in Pennsylvania
Thinking about a career as a Customs Brokers in Pennsylvania? Below are the key facts. 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 Pennsylvania?
The customs brokers working in Pennsylvania, the median annual wage is $73,840 per year (or about $35.50/hour).Annual wages span from $46,800 at the 10th percentile to $125,520 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| 25th percentile | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| Median (50th) | $73,840 | $35.50 |
| 75th percentile | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| 90th percentile | $125,520 | $60.35 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Pennsylvania relative to the national average — is 0.99.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, customs brokers earn a median of $67,529 per year ($32.47/hour), above the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 237,330 customs brokers across the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, about 15,320 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 4,100 customs brokers.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Customs Brokers
These are the Pennsylvania metros with the most customs brokers in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,690 | $81,730 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 2,760 | $67,890 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 1,350 | $73,280 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 560 | $72,480 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 560 | $62,270 |
| Lancaster, PA | 360 | $61,760 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 290 | $69,570 |
| Reading, PA | 270 | $64,400 |
| Erie, PA | 210 | $63,420 |
| State College, PA | 190 | $70,440 |
| Williamsport, PA | 160 | $67,620 |
| Johnstown, PA | 130 | $60,510 |
| Altoona, PA | 120 | $61,080 |
| Lebanon, PA | 120 | $73,360 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 90 | $59,130 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 50 | $58,670 |
Top States for Customs Brokers Employment
View the states that employ 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
Key customs brokers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for customs brokers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
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:
- Natural Resources Conservation
- Natural Resource Management
- Human Resource Management
- Health/Medical Admin Services
- Public Health
- Environmental Geosciences
- Criminal Justice & Corrections
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to customs brokers include:
- Purchasing Managers
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
- Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
- Compliance Officers
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
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 13-1041.08