Cargo and Freight Agents: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Cargo and Freight Agents Perform?
Typical responsibilities of cargo and freight agents include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective cargo and freight agents draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Cargo and Freight Agents Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Air Export Coordinator
- Air Export Specialist
- Air Freight Coordinator
- Cargo Agent
- Cargo Customer Service Agent (Cargo CS Agent)
- Cargo Router
- Cargo Warehouse Agent
- Container Coordinator
Employment and Demand
There are about 1,998,430 cargo and freight agents working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +8.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Cargo and Freight Agents
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $54,941 |
| Hourly median | $26.41 |
| 10th percentile | $35,667 |
| 25th percentile | $45,304 |
| 75th percentile | $64,578 |
| 90th percentile | $74,215 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Cargo and Freight Agents Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| South Dakota | $68,400 |
| New Jersey | $62,860 |
| Montana | $60,660 |
| Massachusetts | $59,700 |
| Nebraska | $58,160 |
| Wisconsin | $57,490 |
| New York | $57,230 |
| California | $56,100 |
| Georgia | $55,710 |
| Utah | $55,220 |
| Washington | $55,140 |
| Idaho | $53,240 |
| Alabama | $53,100 |
| Indiana | $52,040 |
| Rhode Island | $51,990 |
| New Hampshire | $51,590 |
| Colorado | $51,430 |
| South Carolina | $51,420 |
| Minnesota | $51,370 |
| Virginia | $50,560 |
| Vermont | $50,530 |
| Mississippi | $49,950 |
| Arkansas | $49,210 |
| Alaska | $49,030 |
| Kansas | $49,020 |
| Florida | $48,850 |
| Louisiana | $48,800 |
| Maine | $48,780 |
| Nevada | $48,630 |
| Illinois | $48,420 |
| Oregon | $48,290 |
| North Dakota | $48,010 |
| Tennessee | $47,950 |
| Ohio | $47,900 |
| Michigan | $47,750 |
| Maryland | $47,460 |
| North Carolina | $46,880 |
| Texas | $46,580 |
| Iowa | $46,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,080 |
| Oklahoma | $45,620 |
| Kentucky | $45,100 |
| New Mexico | $44,770 |
| Arizona | $42,640 |
| Hawaii | $39,720 |
| Guam | $35,350 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,130 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,670 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for cargo and freight agents differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $55,857 | 12.9% | 0.92 |
| Far Western US | $53,750 | 22.6% | 1.58 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,180 | 2.4% | 0.62 |
| Southeast | $49,548 | 23.4% | 1.06 |
| Great Lakes | $49,346 | 17.1% | 1.29 |
| Southwest | $45,610 | 13.5% | 1.16 |
| New England | $38,483 | 1.5% | 0.36 |
| Plains States | $36,041 | 6.2% | 0.91 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | SD | $67,820 | 150 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $66,350 | 50 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $63,430 | 40 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $63,350 | 550 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $62,650 | 500 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $62,590 | 7,020 |
| Rapid City, SD | SD | $62,590 | 30 |
| Missoula, MT | MT | $62,150 | 70 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of cargo and freight agents are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 89,080 | $49,870 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3,870 | $50,770 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2,300 | $50,870 |
| Wholesale Trade | 900 | $51,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 720 | $46,640 |
| Manufacturing | 190 | $56,800 |
| Retail Trade | 80 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where cargo and freight agents work:
Software Cargo and Freight Agents Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of cargo and freight agents tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Spend Time Sitting
How to Become Cargo and Freight Agents
Entry-level cargo and freight agents positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (Supplemental)
- Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products (Supplemental)
- Customs Brokers (Primary-Short)
- Logisticians (Supplemental)
- Logistics Analysts (Supplemental)
- Order Clerks (Primary-Long)
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks (Supplemental)
- Freight Forwarders (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring cargo and freight agents commonly pursue programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-5011.00 (Cargo and Freight Agents).
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