Image that illustrates Border Customs Assistant

Border Customs Assistant

41 000 kr

Customs and coast guard officers

38 500 - 46 100 kr / month

Women earn 94% of what men do.

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What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Border Customs Assistant

Average salary 41 000 kr
Males 42 000 kr
Females 39 600 kr

What does a border customs officer do? – Tasks and work environment

A border customs officer works with controlling and monitoring the flow of goods and passenger traffic across Sweden's borders. The profession involves ensuring compliance with laws and regulations during the import and export of goods, as well as detecting and preventing smuggling, customs violations, and other irregularities. Border customs officers perform both administrative and practical inspections, review documentation, and cooperate with other authorities as needed. The work is often located at ports, airports, and border crossings and may involve shift work, sometimes during inconvenient hours. The work environment is characterized by a high focus on security, quick problem-solving, and varied tasks.

Salary development over time

The salary for a border customs officer has shown a steady increase over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 38,300 SEK per month, which increased to 38 800 in 2023. In 2024, the average salary reached 41,000 SEK, representing a total increase of about 7% over three years. This positive trend can be linked to increased demand for security and surveillance personnel, as well as a general pressure on the labor market to raise wages in critical societal functions. Salary growth differences exist between genders, with women's salaries increasing somewhat more slowly than men's. Overall, the profession has benefited from increased complexity in tasks and higher demands for education and specialized skills, which has contributed to the observed salary development.

Border customs officer salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 41,000 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 38,500 SEK/month
  • Highest salary: 46,100 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage (average): 246 SEK
  • Gender differences: Men 42 000 SEK, women 39 600 SEK (women earn 94% of men's salary)
  • Regional differences: Slight variation, higher wages in metropolitan areas

Education and qualifications

To work as a border customs officer, a high school diploma is usually required, preferably from a social sciences or economics program, along with approved internal training at the Customs Service. The recruitment process often includes tests, interviews, and sometimes security screening. Practical experience from similar work or further education in law, security, or logistics can be advantageous.

  • Formal education: High school diploma, often in social sciences or economics
  • Internal training: Customs Service basic training (about 6 months)
  • Internship/trainee: Practice during training is common
  • Prerequisites: Good knowledge of Swedish and English, B driving license
  • Tips for applicants: Experience in service, security, or administration is advantageous

Many border customs officers have the opportunity to work in international environments and sometimes participate in joint operations with other European customs authorities, which provides broader experience and a unique network within the security industry.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Border customs officers are often covered by collective agreements that include benefits such as occupational pension, wellness allowance, overtime pay for shift work, and opportunities for skills development through internal and external training. Other common benefits may include extra vacation days and compensation for inconvenient working hours.

Competition and challenges

The competition for positions as a border customs officer is considered moderate but varies between regions and depending on the availability of trained personnel. One of the biggest challenges is managing the increased pressure on border controls and the rapidly changing threat landscape. The work requires good stress resistance, high integrity, and the ability to make quick decisions in complex situations. Staying updated on legislation and international regulations is essential, while collaboration with other authorities demands strong communication and flexibility.

Tips for those who want to become a border customs officer

To succeed as a border customs officer, it is good to have a strong sense of responsibility and accuracy, as the work often involves detecting details that others might miss. Being communicative facilitates cooperation with colleagues and other authorities, especially during coordinated operations. Flexibility is crucial since tasks can change quickly depending on the situation and location. Good physical and mental endurance is important, as the job sometimes involves long shifts and working under pressure. Being adaptable and quickly absorbing new rules and routines is advantageous in daily work. Demonstrating integrity and professionalism in all contacts strengthens trust internally and externally. Finally, having a positive attitude towards development and further education helps meet the profession's evolving requirements.

Key facts about Border Customs Officer

  • Education level: High school diploma and internal basic training
  • Work environment: Shift work at border crossings, ports, and airports
  • Typical employment: Full-time, often in teams
  • Demand: Approximately 191 job openings within the profession (2024)
  • Special skills: Law, languages, security, and administration

Career paths and future prospects

After a few years of experience as a border customs officer, there are opportunities to advance to specialist roles within customs control, intelligence services, or training. Some choose to further their education and move into supervisory positions, such as team leader or trainer within the Customs Service. Others seek international assignments or collaboration projects within the EU border agencies. The prognosis from the Employment Service indicates that there is insufficient data for an exact future assessment, but the number of job openings in the profession is currently high, suggesting continued demand.

Frequently asked questions about Border Customs Officer

  • What does a border customs officer earn?
    - The average salary is 41,000 SEK per month, with an hourly wage of 246 SEK.
  • What education is required to become a border customs officer?
    - A high school diploma and approved internal training at the Customs Service are basic requirements.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn on average 94% of men's salaries in the profession.
  • What does the work environment look like?
    - The work is often performed in shifts at border stations, airports, and ports.
  • What development opportunities are there?
    - Opportunities for specialization, managerial roles, and international assignments are available after a few years.
  • How many job openings are there in the profession?
    - Currently, there are 191 available positions within customs and coast guard officers.
  • What personal qualities are important?
    - Accuracy, responsibility, stress resilience, and good communication skills are highly valued.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Border Customs Assistant is 46100 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Privately employed workers with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 41000 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Border Customs Assistant is 38500 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Public sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 40800 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
25-34 102% 34900 kr 37000 kr
35-44 97% 37600 kr 40500 kr
45-54 92% 40300 kr 43800 kr
55-64 88% 41400 kr 43700 kr
Snitt 94% 38300 kr 41000 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Border Customs Assistant has the SSYK code 3351, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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