How to hire a customs entry writer

Customs entry writer hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring customs entry writers in the United States:

HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
The median cost to hire a customs entry writer is $1,633.
Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per customs entry writer on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
There are currently 10,084 customs entry writers in the US and 15,002 job openings.
Torrance, CA, has the highest demand for customs entry writers, with 11 job openings.
New York, NY has the highest concentration of customs entry writers.

How to hire a customs entry writer, step by step

To hire a customs entry writer, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a customs entry writer:

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

What does a customs entry writer do?

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. They are to sign paperwork for clients using power of attorney, record any customs rejections, and answer client inquiries about the status of their goods. Additionally, they will monitor all duties and taxes owed, make payments on behalf of the client, tariff adjustments, and apply for duty drawbacks and other refunds. In other instances, they may represent clients in meetings with customs officials and arrange for the storage and transportation of goods that have cleared with customs.

Learn more about the specifics of what a customs entry writer does

Post a customs entry writer job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

Before you post your customs entry writer 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 entry writer 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?

You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a customs entry writer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a customs entry writer that fits the bill.

This list presents customs entry writer salaries for various positions.

Type of Customs Entry Writer	Description	Hourly rate
Customs Entry Writer		$17-36
Import Coordinator	An import coordinator, also known as import-export coordinator, is a professional who is responsible for handling the logistics of transporting goods into the country and serving as the liaison between sellers and customers. Import coordinators must arrange shipments and handle monetary exchange rates as well as communicate relevant information to national and international customers and sales companies... Show more	$15-31
Writer	A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry... Show more	$19-51

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Customer Service
- Data Entry
- CBP
- Sops
- Customs Regulations
- Invoice
- Customs Entries
- US Customs
- FDA
- Customer Satisfaction
- Forwarders
- Government Agencies
- ABI
- HTS
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Manage inbound shipments for NAFTA and Europe.
- Manage, maintain and review CIP, CDD and EDD documentation of current and propose clients.
- Work with domestics and OUS freight forwarders to obtain documentation prior to shipment arrival.
- Examine various documents including invoices, bill of ladings, NAFTA, ITAR, shipping documents.
- Provide these numbers to the FDA and other government agencies so that they can be ship to their assign locations.
- Process all entries via ABI in a compliant manner to ensure that all CBP and other government agency requirements are fulfill.
More customs entry writer duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your customs entry writer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A customs entry writer can vary based on:

Location. For example, customs entry writers' average salary in wyoming is 35% less than in new jersey.
Seniority. Entry-level customs entry writers 53% less than senior-level customs entry writers.
Certifications. A customs entry writer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a customs entry writer's salary.

Average customs entry writer salary

$52,758yearly

$25.36 hourly rate

Entry-level customs entry writer salary

$36,000 yearly salary

Updated December 16, 2025

Average customs entry writer salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	New York	$70,848	$34
2	New Jersey	$70,772	$34
3	Massachusetts	$67,789	$33
4	Ohio	$64,322	$31
5	California	$63,410	$30
6	Michigan	$61,640	$30
7	Pennsylvania	$58,100	$28
8	Texas	$57,863	$28
9	South Carolina	$56,398	$27
10	Illinois	$54,292	$26
11	Tennessee	$53,555	$26
12	Washington	$53,503	$26
13	Georgia	$52,117	$25
14	Missouri	$52,104	$25
15	North Carolina	$51,636	$25
16	Minnesota	$50,538	$24
17	Florida	$49,286	$24
18	Puerto Rico	$46,307	$22

Average customs entry writer salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	TalentBurst	$69,710	$33.51
2	UPS	$58,744	$28.24	7
3	Washington State University	$58,448	$28.10
4	SBS Group	$51,341	$24.68
5	D & K Stores Inc	$49,762	$23.92
6	FOH Holdings, Inc	$49,762	$23.92
7	Yusen Logistics	$49,736	$23.91	8
8	Odyssey Logistics	$49,727	$23.91
9	AKA	$49,626	$23.86
10	MTS Logistics	$49,199	$23.65
11	Cavalier Logistics	$49,182	$23.65
12	Radiant Logistics	$48,891	$23.51
13	SEKO Logistics	$48,884	$23.50
14	Supply Chain Solutions	$48,728	$23.43
15	Kuehne+Nagel	$48,450	$23.29	2
16	DSV Panalpina	$48,416	$23.28	20
17	NNR Global Logistics	$48,396	$23.27	1
18	Toll Holdings	$47,699	$22.93	2
19	Laufer Group International	$47,353	$22.77	2
20	C.H. Robinson	$45,902	$22.07	16

Writing a customs entry writer job description
A job description for a customs entry writer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a customs entry writer job description:
Customs entry writer job description example

• Ensure 100% accuracy and timely processing of shipments.

• Understanding of the HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule)

• File Customs entries by following Client's S.O.P. & follow U.S. Customs regulations.

• File PGA data to ensure timely release of cargo.

• Be able to identify Free Trade Agreements (F.T.A.) & how to claim at the time of entry if needed.

• Be able to understand the different country of origins and foreign currency.

• Knowledge on terms of sale on the commercial invoice and what is allowed to be deducted or added to the commercial invoice value.

• Monitor to ensure the release of Customs and all PGA Releases.

• Work with forwarders on any shipping issues: piece count, IT numbers, Master or House B/L mismatches.

• Coordinating shipments with the bonded drayman on exams to ensure they are moved from terminal, rail, or CFS to the exam site.

• Ensure timely responses to client or vendor emails.

• Ensure Clients S.O.P.s are updated as needed.

Skills & Qualifications:

2-3 Years of customs entry writer experience

High School Diploma or GED
About Aston Carter:
Please Note: Scammers are posing as Aston Carter. We'll never contact you via Gmail, Telegram, or WhatsApp and we'll never solicit money from you.

At Aston Carter, we're dedicated to expanding career opportunities for the skilled professionals who power our business. Our success is driven by the talented, motivated people who join our team across a range of positions - from recruiting, sales and delivery to corporate roles. As part of our team, employees have the opportunity for long-term career success, where hard work is rewarded and the potential for growth is limitless.

Established in 1997, Aston Carter is a leading staffing and consulting firm, providing high-caliber talent and premium services to more than 7,000 companies across North America. Spanning four continents and more than 200 offices, we extend our clients' capabilities by seeking solvers and delivering solutions to address today's workforce challenges. For organizations looking for innovative solutions shaped by critical-thinking professionals, visit . Aston Carter is a company within Allegis Group, a global leader in talent solutions.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please call or email for other accommodation options. However, if you have questions about this position, please contact the Recruiter located at the bottom of the job posting. The Recruiter is the sole point of contact for questions about this position.
Post your job
To find customs entry writers 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 entry writers they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level customs entry writers 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 entry writer job on Zippia to find and recruit customs entry writer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
To successfully recruit customs entry writers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.
It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new customs entry writer
Once you have selected a candidate for the customs entry writer 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new customs entry writer. 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.
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 entry writer?

Before you start to hire customs entry writers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire customs entry writers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Customs entry writers earn a median yearly salary is $52,758 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find customs entry writers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $17 and $36.

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Updated December 16, 2025

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How to hire a customs entry writer