How to hire a customs brokerage agent

How to hire a customs brokerage agent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step customs brokerage agent 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 brokerage agent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new customs brokerage agent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your customs brokerage agent job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a customs brokerage agent for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A customs brokerage agent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, customs brokerage agents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents customs brokerage agent salaries for various positions.

   Type of Customs Brokerage Agent	Description	Hourly rate
   Customs Brokerage Agent		$14-35
   Agent	Agents are individuals who are employed by their clients to represent them in various dealings. Agents are usually employed by people in the show business industry, such as actors, writers, or directors... Show more	$9-34
   Customs Entry Writer	Customs 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:

   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • Government Agencies
   • Entry Processing
   • US Customs
   • Customs Regulations
   • Patrol
   • Customs Entries
   • FDA
   • Forwarders
   • DHL
   • CBP
   • USDA
   • ABI

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all office relate matters to include accounting, international traffic and logistics.
   • Classify merchandise accordingly to U.S. Customs guidelines for importation (FDA, OGA, HTS, & ABI).
   • Process all entries via ABI so that all CBP and other government agency requirements are fulfilled.
   • Comply and provide all require information for FDA entries.
   • Provide support to analysts and agents with service providers (transportation, broker, forwarders).
   • Provide daily support to import manager and supervisor by presenting daily statements to CBP for duties paid.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your customs brokerage agent job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A customs brokerage agent salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, customs brokerage agents' average salary in wyoming is 37% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level customs brokerage agents earn 58% less than senior-level customs brokerage agents.
   • Certifications. A customs brokerage agent 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 brokerage agent's salary.

   Average customs brokerage agent salary

   $48,655yearly

   $23.39 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level customs brokerage agent salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a customs brokerage agent job description

   A customs brokerage agent 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. Below, you can find an example of a customs brokerage agent job description:

   Customs brokerage agent job description example

   Purpose of Job To perform the operational tasks tied to the Company's Customs Brokerage services product. The duties include all tasks related to Customs clearance at the desk level, including Customs entry, clearance follow up with Customs & Border Protection (CBP), and other Partner Government Agencies (PGA), such as Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others as needed. Summary of Benefits KINTETSU WORLD EXPRESS (U.S.A.), INC. SUMMARY OF BENEFITS Medical Plan including Prescription Eligible for medical coverage on the 1 st month following one (1) month of employment. CIGNA is the current provider, offering 3 plans. Dental Plan Eligible for dental coverage on the 1 st month following one (1) month of employment. CIGNA is the current provider, offering 2 plans. Vision Care Eligible for vision coverage on the 1 st month following one (1) month of employment. VSP Vision Care is the current provider, offering 1 plan. Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Medical Flexible Spending Account Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account Health Savings Account (HSA) Health Savings Account when enrolled in Cigna High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) Life Insurance Life insurance (1½ times annual salary up to a maximum benefit of $50,000); Supplemental life insurance (at the expense of the employee); Long term disability (LTD) coverage; Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage Paid Time Off (PTO) PTO begins to accrue for eligible new hires on their first day of employment with the Company, subject to the accrual cap. Paid Holidays Newly hired employees are entitled to all mandatory and optional/shift holidays that remain for the calendar year. A newly hired employee who begins employment after January 1 of the calendar year is not entitled to more than ten (12) paid holidays for that calendar year. Retirement Plan 401(k) Plan (current employer match .50 cents for each employee dollar) subject to the current vesting schedule. Wellness Day Eligible for one (1) Wellness Day for an annual physical exam per year subject to submission of required documentation. Voluntary Benefits Hospital Indemnity Insurance Accident Insurance Critical Illness Insurance Commuter Benefits - Parking and Transit This summary is provided for informational purposes only. Plan details are subject to change. Once employed with Kintetsu World Express (U.S.A.), Inc. plan details and enrollment forms will be provided. RESPONSIBILITIES Essential Duties & Responsibilities 1. Customs clearance processing for local and assigned HUB accounts
   2. Follow up on all Customs and PGA clearances
   3. Communicate with clients related to entry and delivery instructions; this responsibility involves managing a large volume of e-mails and phone calls
   4. Communication with vendors related to delivery or other issues in carrying out services.
   5. Dispatch shipments for delivery, monitor progress, obtain Proof of Delivery (POD) and update delivery milestones.
   6. Provide notification to Supervisors, Managers, and Corporate Trade Compliance Group (CTCG) as applicable for issues which require escalation such as Customs or PGA holds, CBP or PGA exams, and any written notices received from CBP or a PGA
   7. Compliance with all Import Brokerage Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) statements which relate to the desk level work for Import Brokerage as issued and monitored by local Management and CTCG
   8. Compliance with all Company Security policies
   9. Compliance with all applicable government laws and regulations as pertaining to work performed BASIC QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS Basic Qualifications & Requirements List any required educational attainments (degrees, certificates, licenses, etc.): Customs Brokerage License would be a benefit to the company for this position. List any required skills (computer, machinery, typing, etc.): Computer skills, including Microsoft Office knowledge is required. List any required special attributes (ability to move/pick-up certain weight capacity, personality traits, certain aptitudes, etc.): Must be highly organized, and able to communicate effectively List any required experience (of what type, for what duration, in what industry, etc.): The position requires knowledge of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Customs regulations, and PGA regulations related to FDA, FCC, DOT, EPA, etc. Industry experience is extremely useful in determining success in this position. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Preferred Qualificatio ns List any preferred educational attainments (degrees, certificates, licenses, etc.):
   List any preferred skills (computer, machinery, typing, etc.): N/A
   List any preferred special attributes (ability to move/pick-up certain weight capacity, personality traits, certain aptitudes, etc.):
   List any preferred experience (of what type, for what duration, in what industry, etc.): The position requires knowledge of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Customs regulations, and PGA regulations related to FDA, FCC, DOT, EPA, etc. Industry experience is extremely useful in determining success in this position.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find customs brokerage agents 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 brokerage agents they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level customs brokerage agents 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 brokerage agent job on Zippia to find and recruit customs brokerage agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting customs brokerage agents 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 brokerage agent

   Once you've decided on a perfect customs brokerage agent candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new customs brokerage agent. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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