Home / Federal careers / GS-1889
Import Specialist
Performs import specialist work including tariff classification, customs valuation, and trade compliance.
What GS-1889 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1889, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in business, international trade, or related field
OR
Experience: Experience in customs classification, trade compliance, or international trade.
Education and Experience Requirements (Group Standard):
This is a two-grade interval series. Positions follow the GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12 progression pattern.
| Grade | Education | Experience | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | Bachelor's degree in any field from accredited college/university | 3 years progressively responsible experience, 1 year equivalent to GS-4 | Equivalent combinations qualifying |
| GS-7 | 1 full year graduate education OR Superior Academic Achievement | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 | Combinations of graduate education and experience |
| GS-9 | 2 years graduate education or master's degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-7 requirement) and experience |
| GS-11 | 3 years graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 | Combinations of graduate education (excess of GS-9 requirement) and experience |
| GS-12+ | Not applicable | 1 year specialized experience equivalent to next lower grade | N/A |
Superior Academic Achievement (for GS-7):
- Upper third of graduating class in college/university or major subdivision
- GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0 as recorded on official transcript, OR 3.5 or higher in major field
- Election to membership in national scholastic honor society
Graduate Education: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours the school determines represents 1 year of full-time study. If unavailable, 18 semester hours satisfies the 1-year requirement.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-1889
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Traffic Management
Freight movement, customs and import documentation, and HAZMAT and shipment compliance line up with tariff classification and trade compliance.
Skills that carry over: Customs documentation, Freight movement, Compliance, Shipment classification, Records management.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Transportation Management Coordinator
Movement documentation, customs coordination, and shipment tracking transfer to import classification, valuation, and trade compliance.
Skills that carry over: Customs coordination, Movement documentation, Shipment tracking, Compliance, Recordkeeping.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Logistics/Embarkation Specialist
Embarkation handles customs, import, and export documentation for deploying units, which maps to import classification and trade compliance work.
Skills that carry over: Customs documentation, Import/export processing, Logistics coordination, Compliance, Recordkeeping.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Classify imported merchandise
- Determine customs value
- Enforce trade laws
- Review entry documents
- Assess duties and taxes
- Investigate trade violations
Key competencies
Tariff Classification
Skill in classifying imported merchandise.
Customs Regulations
Knowledge of customs laws and regulations.
Valuation
Ability to determine proper customs value.
Trade Analysis
Skill in analyzing import/export transactions.
Documentation Review
Ability to review trade documentation.
Enforcement
Skill in identifying trade violations.
Communication
Ability to work with importers and brokers.
Research
Skill in researching tariff and trade issues.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1889
What is an Import Specialist?
A GS-1889 Import Specialist determines proper tariff classification and customs value for imported merchandise entering the United States. These specialists review entry documents, assess duties and taxes, enforce trade laws, investigate trade violations, and work with importers and customs brokers to ensure compliance with complex tariff schedules and trade agreements.
How much does a federal Import Specialist make?
Federal Import Specialists earn between $34,454 (GS-5 Step 1) and $117,034 (GS-13 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-9 through GS-12. A GS-11 Import Specialist earns $63,163-$82,108. CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs) and ports of entry hire these specialists for trade enforcement.
What are the requirements for GS-1889 positions?
GS-1889 follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-5 requires a bachelor's degree in business, international trade, or related field, or equivalent experience. Higher grades require specialized experience in tariff classification, customs valuation, or trade compliance. Knowledge of Harmonized Tariff Schedule and customs regulations is essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1889?
Yes, relevant military experience qualifies. Veterans with supply chain, logistics, or customs experience have transferable skills. Military experience with international shipping, export controls, foreign military sales, or logistics documentation provides relevant background. Document any experience with tariff classification or customs procedures.
What is the career progression for Import Specialist?
Import Specialists follow the GS-5/7/9/11/12 progression with journey level at GS-11 or GS-12. Senior specialists reach GS-13. Career paths include specializing in specific commodity categories (textiles, electronics, agriculture), transitioning to trade enforcement, or advancing to National Import Specialist positions at CEEs.
How do I apply for GS-1889 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "Import Specialist" under series 1889. CBP is the primary employer at Centers of Excellence and Expertise and ports of entry. Highlight international trade knowledge, analytical skills, and any customs or logistics experience. Licensed Customs Broker credentials significantly strengthen applications.
Ready to apply for GS-1889?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.