What is a customs consultant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A customs consultant provides advice and guidance on customs regulations and procedures. They help clients navigate the complex customs compliance, ensuring that they meet all legal requirements when importing or exporting goods. Customs consultants may assist with tariff classification, valuation and origin determination. They may also train clients on customs procedures and best practices. A customs consultant must constantly stay up-to-date with changes in regulations and interpret complex legal documents.

ScoreCustoms ConsultantUS Average
Salary
7.2

Avg. Salary $91,772

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.9

Growth Rate -4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.67%

Asian 7.53%

Black or African American 11.86%

Hispanic or Latino 18.70%

Unknown 5.65%

White 55.58%

Gender

female 55.95%

male 44.05%

Age - 39
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 - 39
Stress Level
5.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.6

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.5

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Customs Consultant?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Flexibility in terms of work location and schedule

  • Varied client base

  • Possibility of travel

  • Ability to make a positive impact on clients' businesses

Cons

  • Long working hours and irregular schedule

  • Heavy administrative tasks

  • High level of detail-oriented work

  • Dependence on the economic climate, as international trade can be unpredictable

  • Potentially stressful situations when dealing with customs authorities or difficult clients

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Customs Consultant career paths

Key steps to become a customs consultant

  1. Explore customs consultant education requirements

    Most common customs consultant degrees

    Bachelor's

    54.9 %

    Associate

    18.7 %

    High School Diploma

    13.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific customs consultant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Digital Marketing29.49%
    Client Facing7.84%
    Project Management7.17%
    CRM6.83%
    PowerPoint5.32%
  3. Complete relevant customs consultant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New customs consultants 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 a customs consultant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real customs consultant resumes.
  4. Research customs consultant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage call center productivity levels by maintaining CSR schedule adherence.
    • Operate programs through the POS system; including money transactions.
    • Verify insurance eligibility and benefits of patients that are being provide oxygen home and travel units and durable medical equipment.
    • Design and troubleshoot technical data and processes.
  5. Apply for customs consultant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a customs consultant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Customs Consultant Job

Zippi

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Average customs consultant salary

The average Customs Consultant salary in the United States is $91,772 per year or $44 per hour. Customs consultant salaries range between $56,000 and $148,000 per year.

Average Customs Consultant Salary
$91,772 Yearly
$44.12 hourly

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How do customs consultants rate their job?

-/5

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Customs Consultant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Cons

not being able to communicate with a customer

Pros

The people and helping them solve their problems, also being first to help the customers.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Cons

Non caring employer's , standing on my feet all day, working weekends, low pay


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

I enjoyed the satisfaction of assisting customers and solving problems


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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