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Canada Border Services Agency Officer, Customs Inspector, Inspector, Investigator, Law Enforcement Officer
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
Border services officers protect Canadian society, the environment, and industry. They enforce about 90 laws and regulations in support of trade and commerce.
As the first official contact for newcomers, they serve as goodwill ambassadors. They determine who and what can enter Canada. To do so, they examine documents and interview travellers and importers.
Border services officers inspect goods imported for personal or commercial use by:
They also guard against human, animal, and plant diseases that could threaten Canada’s well-being. They ensure the free flow of admissible goods across the border. At the same time, they prevent illegal and dangerous items from entering or leaving the country. These include:
Border services officers detain people who may pose a threat to Canada. They deny entry to people involved in:
They also:
Border services officers work at:
They may work shifts because ports of entry are open all day, every day. They may need to travel, work overtime, or work in remote areas. They should be prepared to work anywhere in Canada.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in speaking with manufacturers and shippers regarding customs laws and procedures; and in ensuring that cargo complies with customs and commerce laws
Interest in analyzing information to determine admissibility of goods; and in boarding carriers arriving from foreign countries to determine nature of cargo; may arrest and detain individuals suspected of having committed a criminal offence under the Customs Act or certain other designated Criminal Code offences until police intervention is possible
Interest in handling items such as baggage for purposes of inspection
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Border services officers need:
They should enjoy:
The minimum education requirement for a border services officer is a high school diploma.
A bachelor’s degree or a 2-year college diploma is an asset. These programs complement the training and development program:
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recognizes foreign education credentials that are comparable to Canadian standards. Visit the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) for more information.
Applicants must also:
To learn more about the recruitment process, see the Canada Border Services Agency website.
To learn more about Alberta post-secondary programs related to law enforcement, see the Police Officer occupational profile.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Border services officers work for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
With experience, they may compete for positions in:
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 1228: Employment insurance, immigration, border services and revenue officers occupational group, 96.6% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 1228: Employment insurance, immigration, border services and revenue officers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.3% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 39 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Trainees attending the CBSA College receive paid accommodation, meals, and an allowance to cover basic living expenses.
The annual salary for trainees is $69,426 to $77,302 (Source: Canada Border Services Agency, 2021 estimates). Rates of pay are subject to change upon the signing of a new collective agreement.
The annual salary for a border services officer is $75,100 to $89,068 (Source: Canada Border Services Agency, 2021 estimates).
There may be a bonus for bilingual officers working in bilingual positions.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $28.14 | $33.65 | $30.19 | $28.54 |
| Overall | $29.31 | $40.04 | $32.45 | $31.04 |
| Top | $31.48 | $41.29 | $33.70 | $31.93 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $62,483 |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | $62,823 |
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
