Cargo and Freight Agents Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations · 98K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$52,260
Median hourly
$25
Average annual
$57,230
Typical range
$38,340–$79,810
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Cargo and Freight Agents is $52,260 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $25 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks. Take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform.
Most earn between $38,340 and $79,810 a year. There are roughly 98K people employed as cargo and freight agents in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Cargo and Freight Agents.
- Hourly
- $25.13
- Daily
- $201
- Weekly
- $1,005
- Bi-weekly
- $2,010
- Monthly
- $4,355
- Annual
- $52,260
$52,260 a year is around the 50th percentile for Cargo and Freight Agentss. The median is $52,260.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$76,250
- 2New Hampshire$67,660
- 3South Dakota$64,340
- 4Nebraska$62,500
- 5Washington$60,760
- 6Rhode Island$60,310
- 7New Jersey$60,210
- 8New York$60,040
- 9Illinois$59,750
- 10Montana$59,240
- 11Massachusetts$58,680
- 12Minnesota$58,650
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Lake Charles, LA$68,080
- 2Tulsa, OK$67,140
- 3Rapid City, SD$65,440
- 4Trenton-Princeton, NJ$65,320
- 5Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$64,580
- 6New Haven, CT$63,380
- 7Albuquerque, NM$63,010
- 8Missoula, MT$63,010
- 9Sioux Falls, SD-MN$62,950
- 10Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$62,830
- 11Omaha, NE-IA$62,240
- 12Syracuse, NY$62,100
Related job titles
Employers advertise Cargo and Freight Agents roles under these titles.
- Air Cargo Agent
- Air Export Clerk
- Air Export Coordinator
- Air Export Specialist
- Air Freight Forwarder
- Cargo Agent
- Cargo Router
- Domestic Freight Forwarder
- Drop Shipment Clerk
- Export Coordinator
- Export Freight Clerk
- Export Freight Forwarder
- Export Freight Manager
- Export Freight Planner
- Export Freight Specialist
- Export Specialist
Related occupations
- Cargo and Freight Agents$52,260
- Compliance Officers$80,730
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,260
- Postal Service Clerks$62,130
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,170
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$44,390
- Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
- Light Truck Drivers$44,860
What a Cargo and Freight Agents does
- 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.
- Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
- Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
- Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
- Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
- Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cargo and Freight Agents make?
- The median annual wage for Cargo and Freight Agents is $52,260 ($25 per hour). Pay ranges from about $38,340 at the 10th percentile to $79,810 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Cargo and Freight Agents?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $57,230, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Cargo and Freight Agentss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $76,250.
- Is Cargo and Freight Agents a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 98K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Cargo and Freight Agents do?
- 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..