Home / Federal careers / GS-1895
Customs and Border Protection Technician
Performs technical customs work including document processing, data entry, and administrative support.
What GS-1895 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-4 | $30,795 | $31,822 | $32,849 | $33,876 | $34,903 | $35,930 | $36,957 | $37,984 | $39,011 | $40,038 |
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-6 | $38,407 | $39,687 | $40,967 | $42,247 | $43,527 | $44,807 | $46,087 | $47,367 | $48,647 | $49,927 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-8 | $47,265 | $48,841 | $50,417 | $51,993 | $53,569 | $55,145 | $56,721 | $58,297 | $59,873 | $61,449 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
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-1895, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
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-1895
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
Yeoman
Coast Guard Yeomen perform administrative tasks and data entry, which align well with customs document processing and record maintenance.
Skills that carry over: Data Entry, Document Processing, Administrative Support, Record Maintenance.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Administration
This role involves administrative tasks and data management, similar to the duties of a CBP Technician.
Skills that carry over: Data Entry, Document Processing, Administrative Support, Customer Service.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
Yeoman
Yeomen are responsible for clerical and administrative duties, which are closely related to the tasks of processing and maintaining customs records.
Skills that carry over: Document Review, Data Entry, Record Keeping, Customer Service.
Usually opens at: GS-7, GS-9.
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
- Process customs documents
- Enter trade data
- Verify entry information
- Maintain records
- Support CBP officers
- Respond to inquiries
Key competencies
Processing
Skill in processing travelers and cargo documentation.
Data Entry
Ability to enter data into customs systems accurately.
Document Review
Skill in reviewing customs documentation.
Customer Service
Ability to assist travelers and trade community.
Systems Knowledge
Proficiency in customs information systems.
Attention to Detail
Skill in identifying discrepancies.
Communication
Ability to communicate with travelers and officers.
Regulations
Basic knowledge of customs procedures.
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-1895
What is a CBP Technician?
A GS-1895 Customs and Border Protection Technician provides technical and administrative support for CBP operations. These specialists process travelers and cargo documentation, enter trade data into customs systems, verify entry information, maintain records, support CBP Officers, and respond to inquiries from the trade community and traveling public at ports of entry.
How much does a federal CBP Technician make?
Federal CBP Technicians earn between $30,795 (GS-4 Step 1) and $67,865 (GS-9 Step 10) on the 2025 GS scale. Most positions are at GS-5 through GS-7. A GS-6 CBP Technician earns $38,407-$49,927, while GS-7 positions pay $42,679-$55,486. CBP ports of entry nationwide employ these technicians.
What are the requirements for GS-1895 positions?
GS-1895 has no specific educational requirements—it follows the administrative qualification standard. Entry at GS-4 requires general clerical experience or high school diploma with additional education. Higher grades require specialized experience in customs processing, data entry, or administrative support. Accuracy, attention to detail, and customer service skills are essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1895?
Absolutely. Veterans with administrative, clerical, or logistics support experience have directly transferable skills. Military experience in personnel processing, documentation handling, data entry, or customer service provides qualifying background. This is an excellent entry-level series for veterans transitioning from any military occupation with administrative duties.
What is the career progression for CBP Technician?
CBP Technicians follow the GS-4/5/6/7/8/9 progression with journey level at GS-7. Senior technicians reach GS-8/9. Many technicians transition to GS-1881 CBP Officer positions for law enforcement careers and higher earning potential. This technician series provides excellent preparation for CBP Officer hiring processes.
How do I apply for GS-1895 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS.gov for "CBP Technician" or "Customs Technician" under series 1895. CBP ports of entry hire technicians nationwide. Highlight administrative experience, data entry accuracy, customer service skills, and any customs or logistics knowledge. This is often a pathway to CBP Officer positions for those building federal careers.
Ready to apply for GS-1895?
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.