Occupation salary profile

Cargo and Freight Agents

SOC 43-5011 BLS OEWS May 2025

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. Prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.

National median · BLS
$52,260
▲ +4.73% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$57,230
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
97,670
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Cargo and Freight Agents

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$38,340
25th$45,710
Median (50th)$52,260
75th$63,390
90th — top pay$79,810

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Cargo and Freight Agents

BLS projects employment of cargo and freight agents to grow 6.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 9,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
100,300 → 106,400
+6,200 jobs
Projected change
+6.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
9,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.8% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Cargo and Freight Agents

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Speaking3.6
  • Active Listening3.5
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Reading Comprehension3.3
  • Negotiation3.1
  • Time Management3.1
  • Complex Problem Solving3.0
  • Coordination3.0
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Service Orientation3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Transportation4.6
  • Geography4.5
  • Public Safety and Security4.0
  • English Language3.9
  • Administration and Management3.9
  • Education and Training3.5
  • Law and Government3.5
  • Telecommunications3.4
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordSAP softwareBrokerage softwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteDatabase softwareEmail softwareMicrosoft OneNotePosting softwareTransportation management softwareTransportation management system TMS softwareWeb browser softwareWeb-based dispatch software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What 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.
  • 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.
Also called
Air Export SpecialistDrop Shipment ClerkLogistics CoordinatorLogistics Service RepresentativeFreight BrokerIntermodal DispatcherInternational CoordinatorLoad PlannerShip BrokerTraffic and Documentation Clerk
Specialties within this occupation
  • Freight Forwarders
More job titles for this occupation (70)
Air Cargo AgentAir Export AgentAir Export ClerkAir Export CoordinatorAir Freight CoordinatorAir Freight ForwarderCargo AgentCargo Customer Service Agent (Cargo CS Agent)Cargo RouterCargo Warehouse AgentContainer CoordinatorDomestic Freight ForwarderExport ClerkExport Compliance SpecialistExport CoordinatorExport Freight ClerkExport Freight ForwarderExport Freight ManagerExport Freight PlannerExport Freight SpecialistExport SpecialistFreight AgentFreight AnalystFreight BookerFreight Broker AgentFreight ClerkFreight CoordinatorFreight Flow ManagerFreight ForwarderFreight Operations SupervisorFreight ReceiverFreight RepresentativeFreight RouterFreight Shipping AgentFreight SpecialistGSA Coordinator (General Services Administration Coordinator)Import AgentImport CoordinatorImport Customs Clearing AgentImport Export ClerkImport Freight ForwarderInternational Freight ForwarderLogistics AssistantLogistics ClerkLogistics TechnicianOcean Export ClerkOcean Export CoordinatorOcean Export SpecialistOcean Freight Customer Relations SpecialistOcean Freight ForwarderOcean Freight ManagerOcean Import AgentOcean Import CoordinatorOcean Import SpecialistOcean Transportation IntermediaryOperations ClerkReceiverRelocation CoordinatorRoute AgentRoute ClerkRoute SpecialistShipping AgentShipping CoordinatorShipping ProcessorShipping SpecialistTransportation AgentTransportation BrokerTransportation ClerkTransportation Technician (Transportation Tech)Truck Driver

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.