Customs and Border Protection Officers
Machines can already do 40% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 58%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Customs and Border Protection Officers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 40% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 12% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 58% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 670,520 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $76,210 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 90% for contact with people.
- Also called: Canine Enforcement Officer (K-9 Enforcement Officer), Customs Inspector, Customs Officer, Import Specialist.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S | 35% | 70% to 82% | |
| Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations | 22% | 3% to 25% | |
| Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions | 13% | 63% to 81% | |
| Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise | 9% | 3% to 25% | |
| Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers | 7% | 36% to 57% | |
| Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation | 6% | 3% to 25% | |
| Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods | 3% | 45% to 72% | |
| Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws | 2% | 36% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills customs and border protection officers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Bailiffs37% of tasks by 2035 · US median $56,600
- Embalmers39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,780
- Transportation Security Screeners49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $66,770
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $40,710
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Customs and Border Protection Officers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of customs and border protection officers?
Machines can do 40% of the tasks of customs and border protection officers today and 58% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 33-3051.04 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Customs and Border Protection Officers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/customs-and-border-protection-officers/