Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Management and business operations / 13-1041.08

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

US jobs
417,070 (SOC 13-1041 group, "Compliance Officers")
Median wage
$80,730 a year
Job family
Management and business operations

Can agents do the work of customs brokers?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Management and business operations: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)

Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.

Evidence: SOP-Bench, 72.4% of tasks completed.

14% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 13-1041 group).

  • 7%Investigate criminal or legal mattersNot measured
  • 7%Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or complianceMeasured
  • 7%Provide information to guests, clients, or customersNot measured
  • 6%Prepare legal or regulatory documentsNot measured
  • 5%Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standardsMeasured
  • 4%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
  • 4%Advise others on legal or regulatory mattersNot measured
  • 4%Inspect facilities or equipmentNot measured

Benchmarks for this occupation

These benchmarks name this occupation in their job mapping.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • SOP-Benchby AmazonTask level · Task success rate
    72.4%Claude 4 Opus (ReAct agent) · 23 Feb 2026
    Strong

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in management and business operations, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

  • AutomationBenchby ZapierTask level · Pass rate (task_completed_correctly)
    42.5%Claude Opus 5.5 (default fallbacks, Max) · Sep 2026
    Emerging
  • Vending-Bench 2by Andon LabsProject level · Final bank balance
    $15,515GPT-6 Astra · 7 Sep 2026
    Unrated

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Context only

These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments.
  • Classify goods according to tariff coding system.
  • Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients.
  • Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.
  • Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues.
  • Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments.
  • Confer with officials in various agencies to facilitate clearance of goods through customs and quarantine.
  • Obtain line releases for frequent shippers of low-risk commodities, high-volume entries, or multiple-container loads.
  • Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents.
  • Advise customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, or other customs-related matters.
  • Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney.
  • Post bonds for the products being imported or assist clients in obtaining bonds.
Other job titles for this occupation (41)

Broker · CCS (Certified Customs Specialist) · Corporate Licensed Broker · LCB (Licensed Custom Broker) · LCB (Licensed Customs Broker) · Air Export Agent · Air Export Operations Agent · Air Import Agent · Cargo Agent · Cargo Broker · Cargo Office Agent · CBP Agent (Customs and Border Patrol Agent) · Customs Agent · Customs Analyst · Customs Brokerage Agent · Customs Brokerage Coordinator · Customs Brokerage Entry Writer · Customs Brokerage Representative · Customs Brokerage Specialist · Customs Compliance Analyst · Customs Compliance Specialist · Customs Consultant · Customs Entry Specialist · Customs Entry Writer · Customs House Broker · Customs Specialist · Export Administrator · Export Agent · Export Coordinator · Export Specialist · Exporter · Import Administrator · Import Agent · Import Coordinator · Import Specialist · Importer · International Trade Specialist · Ocean Export Agent · Ocean Import Agent · Ocean Import Representative · Ocean Import Specialist