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Customs And Border Protection Jobs in Connecticut

CT · On-site

$65K - $124K/yr

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is hiring immediately for these full-time, career Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) opportunities. Salary and Benefits: Salary for newly appointed law enforcement ...

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Customs And Border Protection information

See Connecticut salary details

$37.6K

$113.6K

$150.8K

How much do customs and border protection jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for customs and border protection in Connecticut is $113,638.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,700.00 and $130,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Customs and Border Protection officer do?

A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer is responsible for protecting the United States’ borders by preventing illegal immigration, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other threats. They inspect people and goods entering and leaving the country at ports of entry, such as airports, seaports, and land border crossings. CBP officers enforce customs, immigration, and agricultural laws, ensuring the safety and security of the nation while facilitating lawful international travel and trade.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Customs and Border Protection officer?

To thrive as a Customs and Border Protection Officer, you need a solid understanding of law enforcement principles, strong decision-making abilities, and typically must pass background checks and complete federal training programs. Familiarity with inspection technologies, surveillance equipment, and CBP databases is required to effectively monitor and process travelers and cargo. Outstanding interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and stress management set individuals apart in this demanding environment. These competencies are vital for ensuring border security, facilitating lawful trade and travel, and upholding national safety.

What are some typical challenges Customs and Border Protection officers face during their shifts?

Customs and Border Protection officers often encounter challenges such as working long or irregular hours, adapting to rapidly changing situations at ports of entry, and maintaining vigilance in high-stress environments. Officers must be prepared to interact with diverse travelers, sometimes in tense or uncertain circumstances, while upholding laws and regulations. Strong teamwork, effective communication, and situational awareness are essential to overcome these daily challenges and ensure border security.

What is the difference between Customs And Border Protection vs Customs Officer?

AspectCustoms And Border ProtectionCustoms Officer
Primary RoleEnforces laws at borders, manages immigration and trade complianceInspects goods and travelers, enforces customs regulations
Work EnvironmentBorder crossings, airports, ports, and inland facilitiesBorder checkpoints, ports, airports, and cargo areas
Required CredentialsU.S. citizenship, background check, sometimes specialized trainingU.S. citizenship, background check, training programs
EmployerU.S. Customs and Border Protection agencyU.S. Customs and Border Protection agency

Customs And Border Protection is a federal agency overseeing border security and immigration enforcement, while Customs Officers are frontline personnel working within this agency to inspect travelers and goods. Both roles require similar credentials and work in related environments, but CBP has broader responsibilities including policy enforcement and border security management.

Do Customs And Border Protection officers get paid well?

Customs and Border Protection officers typically receive competitive salaries that vary based on experience, location, and grade level. Entry-level officers often start with a federal pay scale, and additional benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans are included. Overall, the compensation is considered fair within the federal government employment standards.

How to get into Customs and Border Protection?

To join Customs and Border Protection, applicants must meet age, background, and physical fitness requirements, and typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. The hiring process includes submitting an application, passing written exams, interviews, medical and background checks, and completing training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

Is it hard to get a job with Customs And Border Protection?

Getting a job with Customs and Border Protection can be competitive, as it requires meeting specific eligibility criteria, passing background checks, and completing training. Candidates often need relevant experience, security clearances, and sometimes specialized skills such as language proficiency or law enforcement training.

What are popular job titles related to Customs And Border Protection jobs in Connecticut?

For Customs And Border Protection jobs in Connecticut, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Customs And Border Protection jobs in Connecticut look for?

The top searched job categories for Customs And Border Protection jobs in Connecticut are:

What cities in Connecticut are hiring for Customs And Border Protection jobs?

Cities in Connecticut with the most Customs And Border Protection job openings:

Infographic showing various Customs And Border Protection job openings in Connecticut as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 71% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 28% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,638 per year, or $54.6 per hour.

CBP Officer (Border Security) Temporary Promotion NTE 1 Year

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

New Haven, CT • On-site

$128K/yr

Temporary

Retirement

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Key responsibilities

  • Conduct prearrival targeting and intelligence vetting of persons, conveyances, and merchandise using law enforcement databases, intelligence systems, and open-source information.

  • Identify threats such as terrorists, criminals, and smuggling tactics, and assess risks related to the entry of persons and goods into the U.S.

  • Brief and disseminate intelligence and trend information to management and front-line personnel to support admissibility and enforcement decisions.


U.S. Customs and Border Protection rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 28 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

177th of 856 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Boston Field Office, Border Security Division, located in New Haven, Connecticut.
Qualifications:NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.
Experience: You qualify for the GS13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
  • Conducting prearrival targeting and intelligence vetting of persons, conveyances, and merchandise enroute to the United States using law enforcement databases, intelligence systems, and open-source information.
  • Identifying known or potential terrorists and instruments of terror, criminals, smuggling tactics, techniques, and procedures used by transnational criminal organizations, and other threats to U.S. borders and national security.
  • Briefing and regularly disseminating relevant information and intelligence concerning trends/patterns and particular persons, merchandise, and conveyances traveling through U.S. ports of entry to all levels of management and front-line personnel to enable admissibility and enforcement decisions.
  • Continually collecting, evaluating, and validating information, facts, and evidence necessary to properly assess risk and make decisions related to the full scope of issues applicable to the entry of persons and goods to the U.S.
  • Interpreting the laws and regulations of a broad range of Federal, state, and local agencies, relating to the admissibility of people, cargo, and conveyances.
  • Reviewing and analyzing targeting data, intelligence information, and other information gathered from various national and international sources to identify and assess threats.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Secondary CBPO Special Retirement Coverage: This is a secondary position subject to mandatory retirement under the special retirement provisions for Customs and Border Protection Officers (5 CFR 842.1003; 5 USC 8425(b), 5 USC 8335(b); and 5 USC 8412(d). Employees in secondary positions must meet the following conditions in order to be eligible for special retirement provisions: moved directly from a primary position to a secondary position without a break in service; complete 3 years of service in a primary position; and, if applicable, have been continuously employed in a secondary position or positions since moving from a rigorous position without a break in service exceeding 3 days. For more information on required years of service and retirement age, click on this link If you have questions regarding your retirement coverage provisions, please contact the CBP Retirement Operations Center at (202) 863-6180.
The customs and border protection officer mandatory separation provisions of 5 USC 8425 do not apply to an individual first appointed as a customs and border protection officer before July 6, 2008.
Administrative Secondary CBP Officer (CBPO) Special Retirement Coverage (SRC) Requirement: This position meets the definition of secondary administrative CBPO SRC under the laws and regulations defined in 5 U.S.C. 8331 (31), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and General Provisions for CBPO defined in 5 U.S.C. 8401(36), Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). The criterion is that knowledge, skill and ability in a position deemed to meet primary CBPO SRC is a mandatory prerequisite to satisfactorily perform the major duties and responsibilities of this job. The conditions for coverage of a secondary position are contained in 5 C.F.R. 831.1604 for CSRS and 5 C.F.R. 842.1003 for FERS. As defined in 5 C.F.R. 831.1602 CSRS and 5 CFR 842.1002 FERS, to be eligible for this secondary administrative CBP) SRC position you must have permanently served in a primary CBPO SRC position, e.g. Customs Inspector, GS-1890; Immigration Inspector, GS-1816; Canine Enforcement Officer, GS-1801; or CBP Officer, GS-1895.

You must:
  • Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process;
  • Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 08/31/2026
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances.
For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers
Polygraph Examination: The CBP Officer (Border Security) Temporary Promotion NTE 1 Year position is a polygraph-required position. If you are not a current CBP employee in a law enforcement position, you may be required to take a polygraph exam and have favorable results in order to continue in the pre-employment process. Please see Polygraph Examination.
Polygraph Reciprocity: CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. You will receive information to request reciprocity in your Background Investigation Package.
Polygraph Waiver: Certain veterans may be eligible to obtain a polygraph waiver. You will receive information to request a waiver in your Background Investigation Package.
Probationary Period: Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
If you are not a current GS-1895, and you are selected, you will have to meet the following medical/physical standards:
Physical/Medical Requirements: Following a tentative job offer, candidates must undergo and successfully complete a medical screening process. Individuals must be medically and physically capable of performing the essential job functions and duties of the position safely and efficiently without endangering the health and safety of the individual, others, or national security. For more information regarding the medical screening process and requirements, check out our video and visit our website.
Physical Fitness Test: You will be required to successfully pass the Pre-employment Fitness Test. Please view both Hiring Process Deep Dive Video: The Fitness Test and Pre-Employment Fitness Test Physical Readiness Program, a 6-week program designed to assist you in achieving a level of physical fitness that will help you successfully pass the CBP fitness test.
Education:Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Employment Type: OTHER

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About U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

U.S. Customs and Border Protection serves and protects America with a workforce of more than 60,000 law enforcement and support professionals. We're united by our mission to guard our borders from threats and illicit activities while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

Year founded

2003