How To Become An Import/Export Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an import/export specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

An import/export specialist is an individual who organizes and oversees the shipment of products to domestic and international locations. They prepare and process all required documents and permits for shipping purposes, conduct quality inspections of shipments, and maintain records of all invoices and transactions.

Import/export specialists also monitor and track shipments, and work with vendors and transportation companies to ensure that products arrive at their destinations on time as requested by the customer. These professionals also work with staff and ensure that all imports and exports adhere to company and regulatory standards.

Many import/export specialists may have a bachelor's in business or a related field, however, an advanced degree is not required if the individual has comparable experience and skills. Many states do require some sort of brokerage licensing to operate as an import/export specialist. These individuals should possess strong organizational, communications, and coordination skills, and should be familiar with all domestic and international customs and border regulations. An import/export specialist can make up to $46,000 per year, and the job market is expected to grow 6% by 2028.

ScoreImport/Export SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,246

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 16.05%

Black or African American 7.25%

Hispanic or Latino 26.48%

Unknown 6.80%

White 42.64%

Gender

female 62.62%

male 37.38%

Age - 41.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41.5

Stress level

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.0

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an import/export specialist

Explore import/export specialist education requirements

Most common import/export specialist degrees

Bachelor's

61.2 %

Associate

17.0 %

Master's

9.8 %

Start to develop specific import/export specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Logistics	11.97%
Import Export	9.94%
Data Entry	7.64%
Export Compliance	5.23%
Customer Service	5.03%

Complete relevant import/export specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New import/export specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an import/export specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real import/export specialist resumes.

Research import/export specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage NAFTA program, including determining of eligibility and issuance of certificates of origin.
Initiate and monitor procedures for the adherence of other government agency guidelines such as FDA and USDA.
Work with customers and transport companies on a daily basis answering questions relate to CBP entry processing and crossing procedures.
Process EEI documentation for southbound shipments.

Prepare your import/export specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your import/export specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an import/export specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable import/export specialist resume templates

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