Customs Broker
A Customs Broker manages the legal and administrative process of moving goods across Australian borders. They work between importers, exporters, and the Australian Border Force to make sure shipments meet all regulatory requirements. It is a specialist role that sits at the intersection of trade law, logistics, and compliance.
What this job is
Customs Brokers handle the paperwork and regulatory steps that allow goods to enter or leave Australia. They classify goods under the correct tariff codes, calculate duties and taxes, prepare import and export declarations, and lodge documents with the Australian Border Force. They also advise clients on trade compliance, quarantine requirements, and any restrictions that apply to specific goods. The role requires a solid understanding of Australian customs law and international trade rules. Errors in classification or documentation can result in fines, delays, or seized cargo, so accuracy is central to the work.
Are employers advertising this role?
Rising, up 8.3% over 5 years
Counted across a group of similar roles. These are three-month rolling averages of online job advertisements, not filled positions.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
A typical day might involve reviewing a new shipment manifest and checking that all supporting documents are in order. The broker then classifies each product under the correct tariff heading and calculates the applicable duty rate. They lodge the entry with the Australian Border Force through the Integrated Cargo System and respond to any queries or intervention requests from border officers. Client communication takes up a significant part of the day, including advising on permit requirements, explaining duty costs, or chasing missing invoices. Brokers also monitor changes to tariff schedules and trade agreements that could affect their clients.
Who does this now
About 1,600 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
Is it steady
Tariff classification and documentation are partly automated. Regulatory compliance, Border Force liaison and complex goods tend to stay human-led.
What this role asks for
Diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree (ABS skill level 2)
Registration or licensing is required.
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation were generally able to find suitable applicants in 2025. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation-ready qualification as:
Completing this qualification will provide the skills and knowledge to undertake this occupation. Further training and experience may be required to meet specific industry requirements including licensing and registration.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Training Occupation Pathways dataset, March 2026, version 1.0
Requirements
The standard pathway into this role is completing a Diploma in Customs Broking, followed by obtaining a Licensed Customs Broker status (JSA Occupation Profile). The licence is issued by the Australian Border Force and requires applicants to demonstrate competency in customs law and practice. For people changing careers, a background in freight forwarding, logistics, or trade finance could provide useful context. Course options may be available through registered training organisations listed at yourcareer.gov.au. Some fee-free TAFE options may apply depending on your state or territory. Check dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for current eligibility.
The honest hard part
The licensing requirement is a real barrier for career changers. Completing the Diploma in Customs Broking takes time and commitment, and the licensing exam set by the Australian Border Force is known to be demanding. Beyond the qualification, the work involves staying current with frequent changes to tariff schedules, trade agreements, and biosecurity rules. A mistake in a tariff classification or a missed permit requirement can have serious financial and legal consequences for a client, which means the pressure to get details right is constant. People who find rule-based, document-heavy work draining may find the day-to-day grind difficult to sustain.
Where the jobs are
In practice, roles tend to cluster around major port cities and international airports, given the nature of the work.
Pay
Published for ANZSCO unit group 5912, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.
This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
Skills
- Administer multi-modal logistics
- Apply export strategies
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
- ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
- ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.
Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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