On the Border

CUSTOMS

Inspects ITEMS (Merchandise, equipment subject to customs duties, quotas and other limitations)

Workforce
8,386 full-time permanent inspectors, up 10.2 percent from 2001.

Job classification
Investigation/law enforcement (GS-1890)

Salary
Enter at Grade 5 ($25,000-plus) or Grade 7($31,000-plus). Journeymen customs inspectors are at Grade 11 ($46,000-plus), upgraded from Grade 9 ($38,000-plus) last year.

Firearms: Yes

Training
Eleven weeks at Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.

Male-to-female ratio: 78-to-22

Turnover rate: 7.2 percent

IMMIGRATION

Inspects PEOPLE (Determines whether travelers can legally enter the United States)

Workforce
5,366 full-time permanent inspectors, up 8.8 percent from 2001.

Job classification
Investigation/law enforcement (GS-1816)

Salary
Most enter at Grade 5 ($25,000-plus). A few enter at Grade 7($31,000-plus). Journeymen immigration inspectors are at Grade 11 ($46,000-plus), upgraded from Grade 9 ($38,000-plus) last year.

Firearms: Yes

Training
Seventeen weeks at the Immigration Officer Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga.

Male-to-female ratio: 77-to-23

Turnover rate: 8.7 percent

AGRICULTURE

Inspects PLANTS (Determines whether travelers can bring plants and food into the country)

Workforce
2,202 full-time permanent inspectors, up 15.7 percent from 2001.

Job classification
Biological sciences (GS-0436)

Salary
Enter at Grade 5 ($25,000-plus) or Grade 7($31,000-plus). Must have 20 semester hours of biological sciences. Journeymen agriculture inspectors are at Grade 9 ($38,000-plus).

Firearms: No

Training
Ten weeks at the Plant Protection and Quarantine Professional Development Center in Frederick, Md.

Male-to-female ratio: 70-to-30

Turnover rate: 4.8 percent

SOURCES: Customs, INS, Agriculture, OPM