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How to hire a customs broker

Customs broker hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring customs brokers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a customs broker is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new customs broker to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a customs broker, step by step

To hire a customs broker, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a customs broker, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step customs broker hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a customs broker job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new customs broker
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the customs broker you need to hire. Certain customs broker roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect customs broker also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    Here's a comparison of customs broker salaries for various roles:

    Type of Customs BrokerDescriptionHourly rate
    Customs Broker$17-42
    BrokerBrokers can either be a firm or an individual acting as an intermediary between a securities exchange and an investor. They often provide services to individual investors and traders who cannot engage directly with security exchanges, which only accept orders from their members... Show more$32-109
    Customs Entry WriterCustoms entry writers are responsible for preparing, collating, and maintaining all documentation and records needed to clear goods through US customs. They should precisely classify all imported goods and then gather the important documentation, together with cargo-control papers, certificates of origin, and customs invoices... Show more$17-36
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Data Entry
    • Customer Service
    • Customs Regulations
    • US Customs
    • FDA
    • HTS
    • Logistics
    • Customs Documentation
    • Forwarders
    • Government Agencies
    • CBP
    • Customs Entries
    • ABI
    • NAFTA
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Call new and return customer leads for Medicare solutions.
    • Manage all office relate matters to include accounting, international traffic and logistics.
    • Work with procedures for FDA and understands all government regulations.
    • Handle all issues pertaining to FDA & USDA and all other CFR regulations for all customers.
    • Consult clients on the various types of documentations that are need for inspection and clear through CBP and OGA.
    • Handle entries with ADA/CVD and NAFTA.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your customs broker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A customs broker salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, customs brokers' average salary in wyoming is 33% less than in new york.
    • Seniority. Entry-level customs brokers earn 58% less than senior-level customs brokers.
    • Certifications. A customs broker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a customs broker's salary.

    Average customs broker salary

    $58,184yearly

    $27.97 hourly rate

    Entry-level customs broker salary
    $37,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025
  4. Writing a customs broker job description

    A customs broker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a customs broker job description:

    Customs broker job description example

    · Minimum 2 years of experience in ocean and/or air customhouse brokerage.

    · Knowledge of CBP rules and regulations, HTS and commodity classification.

    · Knowledge of various transportation modes including air freight, LCL, FCL as well as knowledge of domestic trucking and rail movements.

    · Strong analytical and conflict resolution skills.

    · Excellent written & oral communication skills.

    · General knowledge of geography and international transactions as related to the forwarding industry.

    · Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.

    · Ability to perform/prioritize multiple tasks to meet various deadlines.

    · Self-motivated and have the ability to work with minimal supervision.

    · Proficiency in general office computer skills – Email, internet, Microsoft office products.

    Essential Duties / Responsibilities: The essential duties and responsibilities of this position are listed below. Other duties may be assigned to meet changing business needs.

    · Prepare and execute the submission of Customs Entries to ensure the timely release of import shipments.

    · Ensure collection of commercial documents from the responsible party to submit customs entry prior to arrival of goods.

    · Track/trace shipments with airline carriers, ocean carriers, and other 3rd parties to confirm departure dates, arrival dates and release dates. Update CVI’s operational system with the latest information.

    · Arrange last mile deliveries with the client and assigned trucking company when required.

    · Bill responsible parties for services render as quickly as possible and assist with collections as needed.

    · Generate internal or external reports as required.

    · Report any issues, delays, customs holds to the client when needed.

    · Build a strong business relationship with the clients and 3rd party providers.

    · Provide prompt, courteous and proactive service to the clients.

    · Seek opportunities to promote the company and gain additional business.

    The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by a person assigned to this position. Nor is this summary an employment contract or promise of ongoing employment .

    Company DescriptionCVI is a premier provider of freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and trade compliance services to the international shipping community.
  5. Post your job

    To find customs brokers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any customs brokers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level customs brokers with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your customs broker job on Zippia to find and recruit customs broker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting customs brokers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new customs broker

    Once you have selected a candidate for the customs broker position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a customs broker?

There are different types of costs for hiring customs brokers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new customs broker employee.

Customs brokers earn a median yearly salary is $58,184 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find customs brokers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $17 and $42.

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