What Do Immigration and Customs Inspector Do?
Position Description 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.
A Day in the Life of an Immigration & Customs Inspector
- Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
- Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
- Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
- Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.
- Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
- 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.
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Immigration & Customs Inspector Required Skills
When polled, Immigration and Customs Inspectors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Immigration & Customs Inspector Jobs
- Duty Officer
- Chief, Port Director
- Immigration Inspector
- Customs Port Director
- US Customs and Border Officer
Is There Job Demand for Immigration and Customs Inspectors?
In the United States, there were 110,900 jobs for Immigration and Customs Inspector in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 5,000 new jobs for Immigration and Customs Inspector by 2026. There will be an estimated 7,500 positions for Immigration & Customs Inspector per year.

The states with the most job growth for Immigration & Customs Inspector are Nevada, Utah, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maryland, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Immigration & Customs Inspector Salary
The typical yearly salary for Immigration and Customs Inspectors is somewhere between $43,800 and $138,860.

Immigration and Customs Inspectors who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Immigration and Customs Inspectors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $64,750 |
Alaska | $118,360 |
Arizona | $81,810 |
Arkansas | $60,340 |
California | $107,120 |
Colorado | $87,280 |
Connecticut | $90,470 |
Delaware | $89,930 |
District of Columbia | $122,460 |
Florida | $76,560 |
Georgia | $66,430 |
Hawaii | $107,010 |
Idaho | $73,510 |
Illinois | $87,470 |
Indiana | $75,150 |
Iowa | $73,320 |
Kansas | $62,260 |
Kentucky | $71,300 |
Louisiana | $65,090 |
Maine | $70,620 |
Maryland | $102,370 |
Massachusetts | $101,800 |
Michigan | $86,580 |
Minnesota | $76,640 |
Mississippi | $64,150 |
Missouri | $70,860 |
Montana | $81,210 |
Nebraska | $73,480 |
Nevada | $87,680 |
New Hampshire | $80,370 |
New Jersey | $102,600 |
New Mexico | $77,890 |
New York | $91,250 |
North Carolina | $60,810 |
North Dakota | $84,340 |
Ohio | $75,310 |
Oklahoma | $66,130 |
Oregon | $93,840 |
Pennsylvania | $85,730 |
Rhode Island | $86,580 |
South Carolina | $60,420 |
South Dakota | $72,050 |
Tennessee | $71,940 |
Texas | $79,950 |
Utah | $80,840 |
Vermont | $83,060 |
Virginia | $98,850 |
Washington | $85,440 |
West Virginia | $86,340 |
Wisconsin | $76,590 |
Wyoming | $81,750 |
What Tools & Technology do Immigration and Customs Inspectors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Immigration and Customs Inspectors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- SAP
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- National Crime Information Center NCIC database
- Law enforcement information databases
- Treasury Enforcement Communications System TECS
Becoming an Immigration & Customs Inspector
Individuals working as an Immigration and Customs Inspector have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become an Immigration & Customs Inspector?

Immigration and Customs Inspectors Sector

Below are examples of industries where Immigration and Customs Inspectors work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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