Customs and Border Protection Officers in Texas
Thinking about a career as a Customs and Border Protection Officers in Texas? Below are the key facts. Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.
What do Customs and Border Protection Officers Make in Texas?
For a customs and border protection officers working in Texas, the typical annual salary is $76,350 per year (or about $36.71/hour).Annual wages span from $51,590 at the 10th percentile to $99,450 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,590 | $24.80 |
| 25th percentile | $61,080 | $29.37 |
| Median (50th) | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| 75th percentile | $93,070 | $44.75 |
| 90th percentile | $99,450 | $47.81 |
The job concentration index in Texas compared to the national average — is 1.04.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, customs and border protection officers earn a median of $50,191 per year ($24.13/hour), exceeding the Texas median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 353,771 customs and border protection officers in the U.S.. In Texas alone, around 62,230 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 8,920 customs and border protection officers.
Top Texas Metros for Customs and Border Protection Officers
These are the Texas metros with the most customs and border protection officers in Texas.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 16,120 | $91,470 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 15,910 | $75,450 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 4,920 | $71,490 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 4,280 | $83,820 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 1,820 | $57,550 |
| El Paso, TX | 1,700 | $77,300 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,000 | $72,420 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 950 | $57,490 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 920 | $77,590 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 880 | $77,620 |
| Laredo, TX | 770 | $80,790 |
| Lubbock, TX | 750 | $76,260 |
| Waco, TX | 720 | $76,740 |
| Amarillo, TX | 670 | $79,830 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 530 | $76,740 |
| Longview, TX | 530 | $64,340 |
| Tyler, TX | 500 | $76,680 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 420 | $70,030 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 410 | $57,510 |
| Abilene, TX | 400 | $76,970 |
| Midland, TX | 350 | $80,850 |
| San Angelo, TX | 310 | $65,510 |
| Odessa, TX | 300 | n/a |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 260 | $75,570 |
| Victoria, TX | 230 | $58,060 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 190 | $52,430 |
Top States for Customs and Border Protection Officers Employment
These states have the highest employment of customs and border protection officers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 65,170 |
| Texas | 62,230 |
| New York | 54,360 |
| Florida | 48,340 |
| Illinois | 29,790 |
| Pennsylvania | 24,280 |
| Ohio | 24,050 |
| North Carolina | 21,650 |
| New Jersey | 21,620 |
| Georgia | 21,540 |
| Virginia | 19,400 |
| Massachusetts | 17,000 |
| Michigan | 16,290 |
| Louisiana | 14,340 |
| Tennessee | 13,780 |
| Indiana | 13,480 |
| South Carolina | 12,820 |
| Missouri | 12,750 |
| Arizona | 12,430 |
| Alabama | 12,060 |
Highest-Paying States for Customs and Border Protection Officers
These states pay the most for customs and border protection officers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $115,400 |
| Washington | $102,640 |
| Illinois | $101,530 |
| Alaska | $100,300 |
| Colorado | $96,100 |
| New York | $93,050 |
| Hawaii | $89,390 |
| New Jersey | $89,030 |
| District of Columbia | $88,330 |
| Oregon | $88,140 |
Skills
Key customs and border protection officers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for customs and border protection officers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Customs and Border Protection Officers typically:
- Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
- Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
- Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
- Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
- Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
- 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.
- Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
- Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
- Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
- Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
- Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Working with Computers
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Processing Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Documenting/Recording Information
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: IBM WebSphere MQ
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Criminal Justice & Corrections
- Security Science and Technology
- Natural Resource Management
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like customs and border protection officers include:
- Compliance Managers
- Compliance Officers
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
- Customs Brokers
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
Also Known As
Agriculture Specialist, Air Import Specialist, Border Patrol Agent, Canine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer), Customs Import Specialist, Customs Inspector, Customs Officer, Customs Opener, Customs Packer, Customs Specialist, Customs Verifier, Customs and Border Patrol Agent, Deportation Officer, Drug Enforcement Agent, Drug Inspector.
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: 33-3051.04