How much does a Customs officer make

  1. Salary statistics
  2. Customs officer
Image that illustrates Customs officer

Customs officer

41 000 kr

Customs and coast guard officers

38 500 - 46 100 kr / month

Women earn 94% of what men do.

Säkerhetsarbete

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Customs officer

Average salary 41 000 kr
Males 42 000 kr
Females 39 600 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 8 Vacant jobs ->

What does a Customs Officer do? – Tasks and Work Environment

Customs officers work to control and monitor the flow of goods across Sweden's borders. Tasks include inspecting trucks, ships, and air freight, reviewing documents, and analyzing suspicious shipments. The profession involves close collaboration with other authorities such as the police and Coast Guard, and can include both administrative and operational duties. The work environment varies depending on the placement—some are stationed at border crossings or ports, while others are more office-based focusing on intelligence work and analysis.

Salary Development Over Time

The salary for customs officers has shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 38,300 SEK per month. In 2023, it increased to 38 800 SEK, corresponding to an increase of about 1.3%. For 2024, the average salary has risen further to 41,000 SEK, representing a percentage increase of approximately 5.2% from the previous year. This salary development reflects increased demand for security expertise and changing working conditions within customs operations. It can also be linked to higher educational and specialization requirements, as well as a greater focus on attracting and retaining qualified personnel within the profession.

Customs Officer Salary – Complete Overview

  • Average salary: 41,000 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 38,500 SEK/month
  • Highest salary: 46,100 SEK/month
  • Hourly wage: 246 SEK
  • Men: 42 000 SEK/month
  • Women: 39 600 SEK/month (94% of men's salary)
  • Regional differences: Limited information, but variations may occur between larger border crossings and smaller stations.

Education and Qualifications

To work as a customs officer, a high school diploma is required, followed by internal training through the Swedish Customs Service, often in the form of a paid trainee program. The requirements include both theoretical and practical components, with knowledge of legislation, IT systems, and security routines being central. For some specialist roles, post-secondary education or specific certifications may be advantageous.

  • High school diploma: Basic requirement, preferably with a focus on social sciences or law
  • Swedish Customs Service basic training: Paid trainee program (approximately 12–15 months)
  • Internship: Included in the training, often at different border stations
  • Prerequisites: Approved security clearance, Swedish citizenship
  • Courses/certifications: Examples include risk analysis, advanced customs law, or IT security

The profession of a customs officer often involves a high degree of variation – a workday can include everything from field inspections at ports to advanced analysis of international trade flows. Flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to unexpected situations are required.

– statsskuld.se

Common Benefits and Compensation

Customs officers are often offered benefits such as occupational pensions, wellness allowances, and flexible working hours. Irregular hours may be compensated with overtime pay. Other common compensations include holiday pay, insurance, and access to internal training and skills development.

Competition and Challenges

Competition for positions within customs work is moderate but can vary depending on the geographical area and specialization. Challenges in the profession include high demands on integrity, resilience, and the ability to handle complex regulations. Customs officers often need to make quick decisions under pressure, and the work can be both physically and mentally demanding. Security considerations are always present, requiring continuous skill updates to meet new threats related to international trade and smuggling. Digitalization and changing working methods also impose new demands on adaptability.

Tips for Aspiring Customs Officers

To succeed as a customs officer, it is good to combine thoroughness with a strong service attitude and good communication skills. The ability to work systematically under time pressure, along with resilience and decisiveness, are valuable qualities. Demonstrating integrity and reliability is crucial for handling sensitive information and making legally sound decisions. An interest in regulations and societal issues facilitates learning relevant laws and routines. Flexibility and teamwork skills are necessary as workdays can vary and often involve team efforts. Being proactive and able to quickly adapt to changing conditions is also a significant asset in the profession.

Key Facts About Customs Officers

  • Educational level: High school diploma + internal basic training (12–15 months)
  • Work environment: Varies between fieldwork and office
  • Typical working hours: Shift or daytime, sometimes irregular hours
  • Demand: 191 available jobs in the profession at the last measurement
  • Security requirements: Swedish citizenship and approved security clearance

Career Paths and Future Outlook

After 3–5 years in the profession, there are opportunities to advance to specialist roles such as intelligence, risk analysis, or management positions. Some customs officers become trainers within the Swedish Customs Service or move into international collaborations and projects. Forecasts from the Employment Service do not provide a clear assessment due to limited data, but the number of available positions indicates a stable demand on the job market. Digitalization and international cooperation are expected to create new career paths and increase the need for specialized skills within customs and security areas.

Frequently Asked Questions about Customs Officers

  • What does a Customs Officer earn?
    - The average salary is 41,000 SEK per month, with variations between 38,500 SEK and 46,100 SEK depending on experience, gender, and sector.
  • How do you become a Customs Officer?
    - The path involves a high school diploma, application to the Swedish Customs Service, and completing an internal training program with practical placement.
  • What are the working hours for a Customs Officer?
    - Working hours can include shifts, daytime, or irregular hours depending on the placement and tasks.
  • Are there gender differences in salary?
    - Yes, women earn on average 94% of what men do within the profession.
  • What benefits are common?
    - Common benefits include occupational pension, wellness allowance, holiday pay, and opportunities for skills development.
  • What are the future prospects?
    - No specific forecast, but there are 191 available positions within the profession, indicating continued demand.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-13 13:50:36

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Customs officer 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 Customs officer 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
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
Register an account before you can comment

To write a comment you need to create an account.

Default Avatar

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

Search salary statistics for occupation
8000 kr
<-|->
90000 kr
Vacant jobs
Show more
Similar occupations
Latest posts
  • Public Opinion - Opinion Poll Status Novus: Unchanged Support – Social Democrats Largest

    Public Opinion

    Opinion Poll Status Novus: Unchanged Support – Social Democrats Largest

    Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 08:35
  • National Debt - The National Debt – Level, Development, and Significance for Sweden

    National Debt

    The National Debt – Level, Development, and Significance for Sweden

    Wed, 8 Oct 2025 - 08:00
Salary, Taxes, and Fees
Net salary 31 377
Net salary
31 377
Taxes
11 738
Fees
12 129

With our Swedish tax calculator, you can easily calculate your after-tax income (net salary).

Swedish Church Member

* Updated with 2025 taxes

Explore more topics