The job of a customs officer in Russia is one of the most prestigious. Getting to customs at the airport, to the border at transition points, including at the borders of the Customs Union, is not easy. To do this, you need to have knowledge in the relevant field, graduate from a special faculty at a university, understand customs legislation, and know the features of documentation and document management.
The work and responsibilities of a customs officer
A person working in the customs service must be prepared for constant negative emotions from residents, irregular daily routines and emergency situations. They have no right to make a mistake, otherwise it could end extremely badly.
The customs service operates directly from the government apparatus and is subordinate to it. The responsibilities of employees of this profession include:
- controlling the specifics of foreign trade;
- monitoring the import of large amounts of money and their transfer to bank accounts;
- investigation into customs violations;
- maintaining and filling out documents;
- control at the checkpoint;
- thorough inspection of things transported at airports, train stations, etc.
- keeping records of goods obtained through confiscation;
- work to detect prohibited goods;
- work to detect contraband;
- work to eliminate violations in the field of customs law.
Job and responsibilities
The duties of customs officers include:
- maintaining and filling out documentation;
- control over compliance with the specifics of foreign trade and the rules provided for by customs legislation;
- detection of contraband and sanctioned goods;
- monitoring the movement of large funds (including in bank accounts);
- elimination of offenses;
- cargo inspection.
Working as a customs officer requires a lot of knowledge in different areas of activity. For example, in such fields as: jurisprudence, economics, psychology, another prerequisite is knowledge of the English language.
Customs service is contraindicated in the presence of psychological and neurological diseases, alcohol and drug addiction. Also, having a criminal record, a person cannot serve.
The work of a customs officer has important qualities, such as resistance to stress, diplomacy, diligence, a high sense of responsibility, developed intuition, and ability to work.
What affects salary
Employee salaries depend on several factors. The base amount for calculating wages to employees is the salary based on the tariffication. Plus, allowances and payments are added to the salary, and adjustments by position and rank also occur.
The bonus, as a rule, plays a significant role in the salary issue. The amount of the bonus depends on the region of work. Representatives of the customs service can receive additional payment for their services or achievements:
- special conditions for civil service;
- working with classified materials;
- quality of work;
- class rank;
- academic titles;
- special achievements;
- work in remote and hard-to-reach places in Russia.
Factors influencing the amount of remuneration
In any country, customs officers are the first to greet passengers and cargo at the airport, for which they received the unspoken nickname “the face of the state.” Top-class specialists have no right to make mistakes, therefore, when hiring for a job in the airport customs service, all candidates undergo a rigorous selection process.
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The average salary of an airport customs officer in Moscow (salary without allowances) is:
- head of customs at Moscow airport - 150,000 rubles,
- chief state customs inspector - 45,000 rubles,
- customs inspector for work with passengers - 27,000 rubles,
- customs inspector for cargo handling - 22,000 rubles.
How much do you get at customs after reaching retirement age?
Upon retirement, customs officers are provided with the following social guarantees:
- when calculating length of service, 1 month of work is equivalent to 1.5 months;
- 14 years of service entitles you to a service pension regardless of age.
It is difficult to generalize the size of the pension based on the fact that an employee acquires the right to pension provision after 14 years of work. If we take the average, we can set limits from 18,000 rubles to 25,000 rubles. The main criterion for calculating a pension is length of service. The percentage increase varies depending on the length of service from 10% to 40%.
Average salary of a customs officer in the Russian Federation
Below are the salary amounts that reflect the salary situation in law enforcement and civil customs services in the Russian Federation in 2021. The highest salaries are for customs officers who work in Moscow and the region. For the law enforcement division of customs, the following salary levels have been established for 2021:
- Head of department - almost 50 thousand rubles/month.
- Head of customs posts, deputy heads - from 60 thousand to 70 thousand rubles/month.
- Heads of customs - almost 100 thousand rubles/month.
Customs officers at different levels differ from the salaries of their chiefs by 20%. The amounts indicated are net wages minus taxes, but without allowances. Additional salary formation items increase the salary by one and a half times.
Salaries of employees of the state division of the customs service are indicated below:
- Inspectors - 15 thousand rubles/month.
- Senior inspectors - about 18 thousand rubles/month.
- Chief inspectors - about 25 thousand rubles/month.
- Deputy heads of customs departments - about 25 thousand rubles/month.
By region
The salary of customs officers by region is as follows:
- Russian Customs Academy, where two employees from the customs management team work. Their salary is 184 thousand rubles/month.
- Far Eastern Customs Department - about 102 thousand rubles/month.
- Central Forensic Department - 98 thousand rubles.
- Sevastopol and Crimean customs - about 61 thousand rubles per month.
Employees of the state division of the Federal Customs Service earn an order of magnitude less:
- Far Eastern Customs Department - 50.8 thousand rubles/month.
- Siberian Customs Administration - almost 45 thousand rubles.
- Other regions of the country - 30–32 thousand rubles/month.
Salaries of customs officers in Russia
The salary of a customs officer directly depends on the region in which he serves, what position he holds, what exactly his duties are, as well as on:
- compliance of the employee’s professionalism with his official position;
- rank held;
- presence or absence of qualification titles;
- achievements in service;
- working with classified information equated to state secrets;
- territorial location of the duty station, working conditions (work in remote, hard-to-reach areas is rated more highly).
It can be:
- airports;
- border checkpoints at railway stations;
- road checkpoints;
- river and sea ports;
- various organizations involved in customs affairs;
- customs administration office;
- brokerage companies.
Employees who work in the FCS system are classified into 2 categories: civil servants and civilians. This nuance also affects how much customs officers receive.
The first group has the following monthly income amounts:
- head of customs - 100 thousand rubles;
- head of the post and his deputy - 70 thousand and 60 thousand rubles. - respectively;
- head of a structural unit - 50 thousand rubles.
For subordinates of a lower rank, a salary of 30-40 thousand rubles is provided. An employee starting a career in the customs structure can count on a monthly income of 18-20 thousand rubles.
If the work involves information constituting a state secret, then an increase of 75% of the salary is provided, and for processing information classified as “Top Secret” the employee will receive an additional 50% of the salary.
In the second group, the amount of remuneration for work depends on the class:
- inspector 1st rank - 26 thousand rubles;
- inspector 2nd rank - 19 thousand rubles;
- inspector 3rd rank - 15 thousand rubles.
By region
The salary of customs officers by {amp}amp;nbsp;regions is as follows:
- Russian Customs Academy, where two employees from the customs management team work. Their salary is 184 thousand rubles/month.
- Far Eastern Customs Department - about 102 thousand rubles/month.
- Central Forensic Department - 98 thousand rubles.
- Sevastopol and Crimean customs - about 61 thousand rubles per month.
Employees of the state division of the Federal Customs Service earn an order of magnitude less:
- Far Eastern Customs Department - 50.8 thousand rubles/month.
- Siberian Customs Administration - almost 45 thousand rubles.
- Other regions of the country - 30–32 thousand rubles/month.
The profession of a customs officer in most countries is considered quite prestigious. Civil servants receive decent salaries, which are usually above average. Japanese customs officers can boast of the highest income, receiving 506 thousand rubles. per month. Despite the high price level in the country, this amount is still considered very large.
| A country | Average salary, thousand rubles |
| Japan | 506 |
| Germany | 411 |
| Australia | 379 |
| USA | 338 |
| UAE | 290 |
| Canada | 189 |
| Great Britain | 172 |
As a rule, customs officers earn little money at the initial stage. For example, in the USA, an inspector will have to start with 189 thousand rubles. ($33 thousand) - not so much by local standards. As in Russia, wages will increase as the length of service increases. After 5 years, the employee will already receive an income comparable to the average salary in the country.
The job of a customs officer in Russia and Belarus is one of the most prestigious. Getting to customs at the airport, to the border at transition points, including at the borders of the Customs Union, is not easy.
To do this, you need to have knowledge in the relevant field, graduate from a special faculty at a university, understand customs legislation, and know the features of documentation and document management.
Customs officers are people who work in the executive structure that regulates the state, monitoring the import and export of goods abroad or to Russia.
Customs officers have many powers and functions that are designed to protect the country's economy from low-quality products and drug infiltration. By the way, we previously wrote an article about how to get through customs quickly and without problems.
You can get a diploma in the desired field in special educational institutions of II–III level of accreditation, or in faculties at universities, institutes or academies. Future applicants must have knowledge in the humanitarian sphere, economics, languages, and law. After completing their studies, graduates can find work at customs.
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What is required from an applicant for the position of customs officer
The main requirements for applicants include:
- You have to pass a military medical commission.
- Visit a psychologist.
- Possess knowledge of customs, economics, criminology, and merchandising.
- Know the articles of customs legislation and the rules of sanitary and veterinary control.
- Diploma of completion of the Faculty of Finance, Economics or Law. If you do not have a diploma, you must undergo training at the Customs Training Center.
Customs officers' points in Russia are located at a border checkpoint on the state border, at an airport, at a sea or river port, or at a railway station.
profession Customs officer in the Russian Federation
The salary of a customs specialist depends on the following factors:
- Titles
- Long service allowances.
- Additional payments.
- Positions.
- Service region.
- A coefficient that is established for law enforcement and civil services.
- Bonuses - quarterly, annual, monthly.
Additional payments that affect the salary of customs officers in 2021 are paid to customs employees for special conditions of public service, work with special information, for the quality of service, academic title, class rank, and achievements. For customs officers who work in remote regions and hard-to-reach places of the country.
Average salary of a customs officer in the Russian Federation 2018-2019
And also food rations or compensation for it in the form of money are added to the wages. Many customs officers have to work overtime, and for this they are awarded additional vacation days. Financial assistance to customs officers is equal to two months' salary.
The average salary of customs officers also depends on the level of the minimum salary, which is established for the current year in the Russian Federation.
Below are the salary amounts that reflect the salary situation in law enforcement and civil customs services in the Russian Federation in 2021. The highest salaries are for customs officers who work in Moscow and the region.
For the law enforcement division of customs, the following salary levels are established for 2019:
- Head of department - almost 50 thousand rubles/month.
- Head of customs posts, deputy heads - from 60 thousand to 70 thousand rubles/month.
- Heads of customs - almost 100 thousand rubles/month.
- Customs officers at different levels differ from the salaries of their chiefs by 20%.
The amounts indicated are net wages minus taxes, but without allowances. Additional salary formation items increase the salary by one and a half times.
Salaries of employees of the state division of the customs service are indicated below:
- Inspectors - 15 thousand rubles/month.
- Senior inspectors - about 18 thousand rubles/month.
- Chief inspectors - about 25 thousand rubles/month.
- Deputy heads of customs departments - about 25 thousand rubles/month.
The work of specialists in the Federal Customs Service in Moscow is considered one of the most prestigious in the country. Here employees earn about 45 thousand per month per month.
In the regions, the salary is 35 thousand rubles per month. Young specialists in Moscow can receive from 25 thousand rubles, in large departments the salary is higher, and varies from 75 thousand to 160 thousand rubles per month.
What is the average salary of a customs officer in 2021? This question interests both young people who intend to choose a decent and paid profession, and residents of Russia employed in other professions. When trying to find an answer to this, you should not limit yourself solely to numbers.
Any work, together with data on the amount of wages, must also be assessed from the perspective of the performance of official duties.
It is necessary to familiarize yourself with all the complexities and difficulties, find out how to get a job in customs, what prospects a worker can expect in such an industry and about possible restrictions due to which you will have to turn your attention to a completely different profession.
Customs Service
The Federal Customs Service (FCS) is one of the country's largest employers. The number of employees serving in this department exceeds 60 thousand people. There is a local customs office in every federal district, so FCS employees work throughout the country. The Federal Customs Service regulates government activities at the country’s borders, etc.
A customs officer is not a profession, but only a designation of belonging to a specific organization. People who belong to this profession control the import and export of cargo from the country, fight smuggled goods and make the economic system less vulnerable.
In addition, customs officers very often carry out inspections, the purpose of which is to ensure the safety of people. True, there is one extremely important problem here - corruption, and one can hope that a number of changes regarding the increase in salaries for customs officers will help get rid of this shortcoming.
The Government of the Russian Federation emphasizes that it is impossible to carry out a reform of the entire sphere of customs activity in a short time, and therefore one should count on gradual changes. However, it is necessary to be aware that it will not be possible to do without the professional and coordinated work of specialists in this field.
Depending on their rank and specialty, FCS employees perform different functions:
- from administrative work to checking cargo at the airport.
Customs Service
- ordinary employees - for example, inspectors;
- full-time customs officers - superiors, operatives and other people in uniform.
Salaries in other countries
The profession of a customs officer in most countries is considered quite prestigious. Civil servants receive decent salaries, which are usually above average. Japanese customs officers can boast of the highest income, receiving 506 thousand rubles. per month. Despite the high price level in the country, this amount is still considered very large.
Table 4. Average salary in different countries.
| A country | Average salary, thousand rubles. |
| Japan | 506 |
| Germany | 411 |
| Australia | 379 |
| USA | 338 |
| UAE | 290 |
| Canada | 189 |
| Great Britain | 172 |
As a rule, customs officers earn little money at the initial stage. For example, in the USA, an inspector will have to start with 189 thousand rubles. ($33 thousand) - not so much by local standards.
Additional specialties for a customs officer
When considering employment opportunities, you should not forget about a profession that is related to customs, but at the same time allows you to count on a higher level of remuneration - a customs broker.
Salaries can reach values of 150 thousand rubles and the main job responsibilities can be:
- Consultations regarding contracts drawn up, which are necessary when passing customs control;
- Provision of intermediary services;
- Accompanying goods passing through customs, checking documentation and its execution;
- Assisting in applying for and obtaining certifications and licenses.
Premiums and bonuses
Conscientious work is rewarded not only with verbal praise, but also with all kinds of incentives. For honest work and a job well done you can get:
- bonus;
- a gift of value (example: personalized weapon);
- exemption from disciplinary punishment;
- awarding an honorary title, or conferring a title earlier than expected.
The bonus is:
- additional leave that can be received after working for ten years. The longer the length of service, the more days of additional leave (from 5 to 15);
- insurance (at the expense of the organization);
- provision of compensation (in certain cases);
- provision of equipment, housing;
- clothing and financial assistance to students studying full-time at the Federal Customs Service;
- payment for business trips and all related expenses;
- payment for sick leave and other leaves (example: due to death, birth, fire).
Retirement
There are age restrictions for customs officers. Men in the junior and middle group are required to work until they are 50 years old. The senior staff is under 55 years old. The senior staff is under 60 years old.
Women are allowed to remain in service until they reach 45 years of age. After which the employee retires.
With an inexhaustible desire to work further, employees can stay in their positions for another 5 years. Permission to extend the contract is approved by the head of the Federal Customs Service. In this case, the employee will receive a pension and basic salary.
You can calculate your pension using the so-called “calculator”. There is a Federal Law “On Pensions” for citizens who served in the military, customs and other public service. This law states that after working for 20 years, a citizen has the right to a pension equal to 50% of the salary (regular and by rank).
Payments after leaving service
There are age restrictions for customs officers. Men in the junior and middle group are required to work until they are 50 years old . The senior staff is under 55 years old . The senior staff is under 60 years old . Women are allowed to remain in service until they reach 45 years of age. After which the employee retires.
If a Federal Customs Service employee leaves his place of service on the basis of the end of the corresponding term of service or due to reaching retirement age, then the latter is guaranteed on behalf of the state the accrual of monetary remuneration, the amount of which is directly dependent on the length of service of the former employee.
| Size | Work experience in customs authorities |
| Five salaries | Ten years |
| Ten salaries | From ten to fifteen years |
| Fifteen salaries | From fifteen to twenty years |
| Twenty salaries | From twenty years old |
Professional training
To become a customs officer, you need to obtain a higher education in the specialty “Customs.” You can study through a bachelor's, master's or specialist's degree system. In addition, for advanced training or work in the customs system (brokers, declarants, etc.), there are various courses.
When entering a specialty, you need to pass the mandatory Unified State Exam in specialized subjects, as a rule, social studies, English, Russian, as well as an intra-university exam in physical education.
In different universities, training can be carried out in several specialties of customs affairs:
- Customs payments and currency regulation.
- Expertise and commodity science in customs affairs.
- Organization of customs control.
- Information customs technologies.
- Customs management, logistics, etc.
Pros and cons of the specialty
Advantages and disadvantages will directly depend on the position held. It is obvious that a senior official or policy maker in the customs industry feels quite comfortable. But since we are not presenting a presentation of the opportunities and prospects of the industry, but an analysis of the real state of affairs, we will note the pros and cons of ordinary professions - inspectors, checkpoint employees, airports and train stations.
Key benefits
- Respectable, respected profession.
- A special mission is to ensure the country's security at the borders.
- Benefits – customs officers are often treated like military personnel.
- Possible supplements to pensions and social benefits.
- Civil service with all provided privileges.
Main disadvantages
- Low level of comfort.
- Average and sometimes downright low salaries.
- Bureaucracy and paperwork.
- Rampant corruption.
- The highest level of responsibility.
- Constant pressure from people who disregard the law.
What to expect for customs officers in 2020
In 2021, not only will the customs officer’s fixed rate be increased, but employees in this field of activity will also be provided with a food ration or cash for it. Employees will be given additional days off to cover work on holidays. In addition, the customs officer has the right to count on financial assistance. It is intended for absolutely all customs service employees 2 times a year. Benefits will also be paid; no changes are envisaged. This assistance includes: free travel, medical care and sanitary treatment at a discount.
How much does a customs officer earn?
The sphere of customs service is one of the dominant ones in the development of a modern state. Through it, a thorough inspection and strict control is carried out over what enters the territory of the country and, accordingly, leaves it.
This executive system is engaged in the fight against smugglers and other groups who plan to illegally export goods abroad, and also monitors “undesirable” imports that can undermine the economic situation of the country. The fight against drugs is also fundamental to this field of activity.
Customs officers are people who perform the work entrusted to them at customs with duty and honor. Usually people perceive representatives of this profession as quite hostile and treat them unfavorably due to the thoroughness and pickiness of the specificity of their work. So how much do they earn at customs? To answer this question, it is necessary to consider this area in more detail.
The salary of a customs officer consists of a salary and bonus parts. The salary portion is always fixed and is calculated on two points - salary by position and salary by rank.
But the bonus is calculated using allowances and payments that depend on the nature of the work.
For example, state secrets of “special importance” give a salary increase of 75%, “top secret” information – 50%, “secret” information with permission to fill out documents – 15%, and “secret” information without access – 10% of the salary .
Also, bonuses can be accrued based on the place of service - hard-to-reach areas of the country, the Far North, etc., which provide increasing coefficients when calculating earnings.
Each customs officer can apply for financial assistance once a year, the amount of which varies depending on the situation, but cannot be more than two months' salary.
Customs officers can retire early based on their years of service. There are vacation allowances for specialists in this field, which is 28 calendar days. With 10 years of service, the vacation bonus is 5 calendar days, for 15 years - 10 calendar days, and from 20 years - 15 calendar days.
On average in the Russian Federation, the salary of a customs officer is 33 thousand rubles per month worked. But in different regions of the country, the amount of earnings fluctuates from more to less, and vice versa.
- In Moscow, a novice customs officer can count on 30 thousand rubles. More experienced representatives of this profession receive 45 thousand rubles and more per month.
- In St. Petersburg, a customs officer receives almost the same as in the capital - 40 thousand rubles. A beginner specialist earns from 20 thousand rubles per month.
- In smaller cities, the income of a customs service representative is about 25 thousand rubles. From the end of 2021, the civil service plans to increase the salaries of customs employees by 20%.
Abroad, customs officials are doing better with their income than in Russia.
In the United States, representatives of this field of activity at the initial stage (GS-5 qualification) receive a salary of about 40 thousand dollars per year. Employees who are at the advanced GS-12 level earn $110,000 per year.
This salary also includes overtime (up to 45 thousand dollars per year), bonuses and other payments that may be paid for difficult working conditions. Every year, an employee has the right to improve his qualifications by passing a certain test.
In Germany
In Germany, a customs officer earns a little more than 1,100 euros per month during the first three years of service. Then the income increases to 2,500 euros, if qualified - A9, the earnings of a customs officer are 3,300 euros per month worked, and with A13, the customs inspector can count on 5 thousand euros.
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In Ukraine
In Ukraine, representatives of this profession earn slightly less than in Russia. The average salary in the country is 12-14 thousand hryvnia, which translated into Russian rubles is 26-30 thousand rubles. It is worth noting that the level of corruption in the country is overestimated, so in fact the level of wages may exceed average values.
Customs is a promising environment for any state, therefore budget funds are constantly allocated to this area. The government apparatus is interested in ensuring that the quality of customs business is at the highest level and constantly tries to motivate employees to work conscientiously.
Reviews about the profession
“The profession of a customs officer is quite complex and multifaceted. The main task of customs officers is to ensure economic state security and create conditions for the successful development of the state’s economy. They serve as a reliable barrier for offenders, including smugglers transporting drugs, weapons, currency and various cultural values. The fight against cunning and resourceful violators requires enormous skills and experience from customs officers.”
– Russian customs officer.
