Import Export Clerk
Import export clerks prepare the customs and shipping documentation that moves goods into and out of Australia, and keep shipments from stalling at the border.
- Median salary*
- $75,400
4.4%vs last year, before tax
- People employed
- 5,100
2.0%vs last year
- Projected growth
- +10.7%
to 2035
- AI exposure*
- Moderate
- automation risk
- Average hours
- 42/wk
+2h vs all jobs
- Shortage status
- Not in shortage
national
Most work in freight forwarding offices, customs brokerages or the logistics teams of large importers, where the day is spent with shipping lines, overseas suppliers and border agencies rather than with the goods themselves. The job is wider than a shipping clerk's, taking in customs entries, freight bookings and landed costings as well as documentation, and it stops short of the licensed customs broker, who classifies goods and lodges entries for clients. A container of furniture and a pallet of machine parts both arrive with paperwork an import export clerk has prepared.
How much do import export clerks earn?
The median full-time salary for an import export clerk is $75,400 per annum, before tax, up $16,000 since 2018.
Pay rises with experience and with the systems you can run, so clerks fluent in CargoWise One or customs entry software tend to earn more than those doing general documentation. Working for a customs brokerage or a large freight forwarder usually pays better than in-house documentation for a single importer, and holding a customs broker licence moves you into a different band again. Overtime around vessel schedules can add to earnings in some operations.
What does an import export clerk do day to day?
The list below is what fills most weeks; the exact mix shifts with seniority and whatever stage the current work is at.
- Preparing customs declarations and shipping documents such as bills of lading, packing lists and certificates of origin
- Booking freight with forwarders and carriers, then confirming sailing dates and cargo cut-offs
- Tracking shipments and telling clients where their cargo is and what is holding it up
- Checking tariff classifications, duty rates and import permit requirements before lodgement
- Liaising with customs, biosecurity and other border agencies when a shipment is held for inspection
What skills do import export clerks need?
Employers look for regulatory compliance, operations management, data analysis, backed by CargoWise One fluency and strong attention to detail.
Specialist skills
- Regulatory compliance
- Operations management
- Data analysis
Software and tools
- CargoWise One
- Integrated Cargo System (ICS)
- Descartes
- Microsoft Excel
General skills
- Attention to detail
- Time and deadline management
- Written communication
- Customer service
Is the job growing?
About 5,100 people work as import export clerks in Australia, and employment is projected to grow 10.7% over the decade to 2035. That's healthy, above-average growth, and the role should stay in solid demand.
How do you become an import export clerk?
Here's the path most import export clerks take, step by step.
- 1Finish Year 12 or a qualification in freight and customs
Year 12 is a common entry point, and 29% of the people in this role finished school at that level or below. A certificate IV or diploma in international freight forwarding, customs broking or logistics gives you a stronger start, and TAFE and private providers offer them part time.
- 2Learn the booking and customs systems
Employers expect familiarity with the Integrated Cargo System for lodgements and with freight software such as CargoWise One. Short courses and on-the-job training cover it, and this is the skill that makes you employable quickly.
- 3Start in a documentation or operations role
Freight forwarders, customs brokerages and the logistics arms of large importers are the main employers, and entry roles are paid, office based and usually full time. Forwarders often recruit directly, so approaching them works better than waiting for an advertised cadetship.
- 4Work towards a customs broker licence if you want to go further
A licensed customs broker can classify goods and lodge entries on behalf of clients, which is a different job in a higher pay band. It usually takes an approved qualification, an exam and relevant experience, and some employers support staff through the process.
Ready to apply as an import export clerk?
Whether you're working toward becoming an import export clerk or already are one and want a hand with the next step (sharpening your resume for ATS screening, tightening your cover letter, or knowing what you'll actually be asked at interview), here are examples grounded in this specific role, not generic templates.
What jobs can an import export clerk move to?
Moving into Customs Officer typically comes with the biggest pay rise, worth $21,400 a year more on average.
| Move to | Typical pay change | Overlap | Retraining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs Officer Import export clerks bring customs documentation and compliance knowledge to customs officer roles, requiring reskilling in government enforcement procedures.Known move | +$21,400 | 44% | reskill |
| Importer and Exporter Import export clerks bring trade compliance and logistics coordination to importer and exporter roles, with reskilling in business ownership and risk.Known move | +$14,600 | 25% | reskill |
| Shipping Clerk Import export clerks bring freight documentation and shipment coordination skills to shipping clerk roles, with reskilling in shipping operations.Known move | +$13,400 | 27% | reskill |
| Purchasing Officer Import export clerks bring supplier liaison and order documentation to purchasing officer roles, requiring reskilling in procurement and contract management.Known move | +$5,400 | 44% | reskill |
| Customs Broker Import export clerks bring tariff classification and customs entry experience to customs broker roles, requiring reskilling and licensing to advise clients. | +$3,600 | 44% | reskill |
Moves are chosen from Jobs and Skills Australia's Data on Occupation Mobility, which follows income tax records between 2011-12 and 2020-21, together with entry requirements and skill overlap. A known move is one people were seen making in that data. Pay change compares median full-time pay for the two roles.
Who works as an import export clerk?
The typical import export clerk is 43 years old; 52% are men, 86% work full-time, and full-timers average 42 hours a week.
- 43
- Median age
- 48%
- Female share
- 86%
- Full-time
- +2h
- vs all-jobs avg
What's it like being an import export clerk?
The work follows vessel and flight schedules, so some weeks are steady documentation and others are a rush to clear a container before storage charges start. Much of the day is spent in CargoWise One or the Integrated Cargo System, on the phone to carriers and on email to suppliers in other time zones. It suits someone who likes detail, stays calm when a deadline slips and enjoys seeing a problem through to a cleared shipment.
What people like
- You see the goods move. A container leaves the wharf because the paperwork was right, and the result arrives the same day.
- Every shipment is different. Cargo ranges from machinery to food to furniture, and each consignment brings its own permits, duty rates and quirks.
- Knowledge that transfers. Systems and process experience is used by forwarders, importers and brokerages alike, so you can change employers without starting over.
- Clear finish to the day. The hours are regular and indoors, and each job has an endpoint when the cargo clears.
What people find hard
- Deadlines set by ships, not by you. A late lodgement can mean storage charges or a missed sailing, and the schedule does not move because your day was busy.
- Chasing other people. Carriers, overseas agents and border agencies all have their own queues, so a lot of the job is following up rather than deciding.
- Repetitive data entry. Much of the day is keying the same details into systems and checking them against invoices and packing lists.
- Being the one who explains a delay. Clients want a firm answer on when their cargo will clear, and often the honest answer depends on someone else.
Based on our synthesis of professional-body surveys and public accounts of the role, not first-person verified reviews.
Which industries employ import export clerks?
Transport, Postal and Warehousing employs the largest share of import export clerks, followed by Wholesale Trade.
Top employing industries
- 1Transport, Postal and Warehousing
- 2Wholesale Trade
- 3Manufacturing
Ranked by employment share; the source doesn't publish an exact percentage per industry.
| Year 12 or below | 29.1% | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor degree | 20% | |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 18.7% | |
| Certificate III/IV | 13.1% | |
| Postgraduate | 9.9% |
Will AI replace import export clerks?
Import export clerking sits in the middle: customs and freight platforms now pre-fill declarations, match documents and suggest tariff codes, which removes a good deal of routine keying. What remains is the coordinating and advising side, where a held container needs someone to ring the carrier, read the notice and tell the client what happens next.
Share of typical working time by exposure level
- Entering and checking customs and shipping dataSystems auto-fill much of a declaration, but someone still checks every line against the invoice and packing list before lodgement.30%high
- Tracking shipments and chasing holdsGetting a held container released still means a phone call to a carrier or a biosecurity officer and a read of the inspection notice.30%low
- Classifying goods and applying tariffsSoftware suggests a tariff code, yet the choice carries duty and penalty risk, so a person confirms it with the goods description and the tariff.20%moderate
- Advising clients on what their shipment needsWhat permits, labels or certificates a consignment needs depends on the goods and the client's history, which is a conversation rather than a lookup.20%low
Common questions about becoming an import export clerk
Straight answers to the questions people ask most.
How much do import export clerks earn?
Import export clerks earn $75,400 per year before tax at the median for full-time work. What you earn depends on your experience, the systems you can run and whether you work for a customs brokerage, a large forwarder or a single importer's in-house team. It is a median, so half of full-time clerks earn more than that figure and half earn less.
How do you become an import export clerk?
Most people come in after Year 12 or with a certificate or diploma in freight forwarding, customs or logistics, then learn the systems on the job. Employers look for accuracy with documents, comfort with CargoWise One or the Integrated Cargo System, and the ability to keep several shipments moving at once.
Are import export clerks in demand?
Import export clerks are currently not in shortage, and employment is projected to grow 10.7% over the decade to 2035. Hiring follows the volume of trade through your local port or airport more closely than the national figure, so it is worth checking the forwarders and brokerages near you before you apply.
Will AI replace import export clerks?
AI and customs software already handle parts of this job, particularly data entry, document matching and suggested tariff codes, so the routine keying side of the role is exposed. The parts that stay human are resolving a held shipment with a border agency, advising a client on what their goods need and chasing carriers when a schedule slips. Clerks who move towards classification, client advice and compliance work are less affected than those doing pure data entry.
What can import export clerks move into?
Experienced clerks often move into customs officer roles ($21,400 more), where the same customs documentation and compliance knowledge applies to government enforcement work, or into purchasing officer roles ($5,400 more) built on supplier liaison and order paperwork. Some eventually import and export on their own account ($14,600 more), and running your own customs brokerage is often where earnings grow, though it brings risk and capital with it.
What are the hours like?
Full-time import export clerks work about 42 hours a week, and 86% of the people in the role work full time. Office hours are regular, but cut-off times for vessel and flight bookings mean some early mornings and late finishes around deadlines.
Related roles
- Customs Officer
- Shipping Clerk
- Customs Broker
- Importer and Exporter
- Purchasing Officer
- Administration Officer
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