Cargo and freight agents salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,340 | $18.43 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $52,260 | $25.13 |
| Mean (average) | $57,230 | $27.52 |
| 90th percentile | $79,810 | $38.37 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Cargo and freight agents pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,890 | $40,040 | $83,510 | 1,020 | 0.77 |
| Alaska | $52,070 | $43,740 | $80,170 | 580 | 2.84 |
| Arizona | $49,880 | $36,950 | $70,010 | 1,840 | 0.9 |
| Arkansas | $50,500 | $31,350 | $67,460 | ||
| California | $57,690 | $38,430 | $83,060 | 17,060 | 1.49 |
| Colorado | $51,390 | $43,940 | $72,760 | 850 | 0.47 |
| Connecticut | Data unavailable | 560 | 0.53 | ||
| District of Columbia | $76,250 | $53,490 | $84,700 | 60 | 0.13 |
| Florida | $48,520 | $37,990 | $75,610 | 8,110 | 1.3 |
| Georgia | $51,380 | $31,440 | $75,880 | 3,630 | 1.18 |
| Guam | $38,360 | $25,710 | $61,480 | 60 | 1.52 |
| Hawaii | $42,400 | $34,540 | $68,380 | 1,760 | 4.45 |
| Idaho | $45,710 | $39,830 | $71,170 | 300 | 0.57 |
| Illinois | $59,750 | $40,030 | $80,580 | 6,110 | 1.6 |
| Indiana | $50,020 | $37,710 | $85,130 | 1,200 | 0.6 |
| Iowa | $48,370 | $38,610 | $75,300 | 660 | 0.67 |
| Kansas | $42,500 | $26,050 | $60,480 | 890 | 0.99 |
| Kentucky | $46,230 | $39,280 | $75,320 | 2,570 | 2.04 |
| Louisiana | $48,940 | $27,230 | $73,360 | 840 | 0.69 |
| Maine | $50,340 | $45,520 | $67,100 | 190 | 0.48 |
| Maryland | $48,730 | $35,230 | $70,580 | 740 | 0.43 |
| Massachusetts | $58,680 | $49,240 | $75,860 | 820 | 0.36 |
| Michigan | $47,940 | $38,950 | $71,950 | 2,150 | 0.78 |
| Minnesota | $58,650 | $46,790 | $74,480 | 1,380 | 0.74 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 | $35,360 | $70,530 | 260 | 0.36 |
| Missouri | $50,840 | $33,660 | $81,770 | 1,410 | 0.76 |
| Montana | $59,240 | $39,380 | $80,270 | 370 | 1.16 |
| Nebraska | $62,500 | $40,630 | $82,200 | 390 | 0.6 |
| Nevada | $47,000 | $38,360 | $70,960 | 490 | 0.51 |
| New Hampshire | $67,660 | $41,190 | $85,140 | 80 | 0.2 |
| New Jersey | $60,210 | $47,630 | $77,750 | 4,280 | 1.59 |
| New Mexico | $48,910 | $38,190 | $81,180 | 110 | 0.2 |
| New York | $60,040 | $40,590 | $82,820 | 5,760 | 0.95 |
| North Carolina | $48,000 | $35,990 | $68,410 | 2,520 | 0.81 |
| North Dakota | $54,230 | $38,530 | $98,960 | 380 | 1.4 |
| Ohio | $49,530 | $39,200 | $80,680 | 2,840 | 0.82 |
| Oklahoma | $49,940 | $31,200 | $80,620 | 300 | 0.28 |
| Oregon | $49,420 | $43,730 | $74,560 | 1,290 | 1.04 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,590 | $36,900 | $81,970 | 2,810 | 0.74 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,600 | $21,840 | $38,580 | 300 | 0.51 |
| Rhode Island | $60,310 | $39,530 | $91,650 | 140 | 0.43 |
| South Carolina | $57,000 | $46,220 | $77,530 | 1,540 | 1.06 |
| South Dakota | $64,340 | $49,730 | $80,160 | 200 | 0.68 |
| Tennessee | $51,800 | $36,720 | $85,560 | 3,390 | 1.64 |
| Texas | $48,470 | $35,480 | $73,120 | 7,610 | 0.86 |
| Utah | $52,770 | $37,370 | $92,670 | 590 | 0.54 |
| Vermont | $47,560 | $42,160 | $61,320 | 80 | 0.43 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,400 | $29,390 | $42,950 | ||
| Virginia | $49,680 | $40,190 | $75,010 | 1,280 | 0.5 |
| Washington | $60,760 | $48,330 | $82,290 | 2,410 | 1.08 |
| West Virginia | $49,100 | $36,920 | $75,650 | 130 | 0.29 |
| Wisconsin | $57,290 | $40,010 | $74,160 | 1,280 | 0.69 |
| Wyoming | Data unavailable | 160 | 0.92 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for cargo and freight agents
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 9,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.8%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for cargo and freight agents
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services CIP 52.0408
- Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician CIP 52.0410
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
- Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.
- Track delivery progress of shipments.
- Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
- Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
- Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
- Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.
- Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Brokerage software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- Email software
- Microsoft OneNote
- Posting software
- Transportation management software
- Transportation management system TMS software
- Web browser software
- Web-based dispatch software
Transferable skills for career changers: Negotiation, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Air Export Specialist, Drop Shipment Clerk, Freight Broker, Intermodal Dispatcher, International Coordinator, Load Planner, Logistics Coordinator, Logistics Service Representative, Ship Broker, Traffic and Documentation Clerk.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cargo and freight agents make?
The national median annual wage for cargo and freight agents was $52,260 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,340 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $79,810. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do cargo and freight agents need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is cargo and freight agents a growing career?
BLS projects employment of cargo and freight agents to change +6.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 9,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay cargo and freight agents the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($76,250), New Hampshire ($67,660), South Dakota ($64,340). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.