Cargo and Freight Agents Career, Salary and Skills
Cargo and Freight Agents have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $52,260 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 97,670. Wage data is published for 208 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
43-5011.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$52,260
Hourly median
$25.13
Employment
97,670
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.62 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Time Management | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Negotiation | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Writing | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
Technology
- Brokerage software
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Database software
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Posting software
- SAP software
- Transportation management software
- Transportation management system TMS software
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in CAMedian $57,690 · Employment 17,060
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $59,010 · Employment 10,490
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in FLMedian $48,520 · Employment 8,110
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in New York, NYMedian $60,590 · Employment 7,820
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in TXMedian $48,470 · Employment 7,610
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in ILMedian $59,750 · Employment 6,110
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in NYMedian $60,040 · Employment 5,760
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $59,850 · Employment 5,630
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in Miami, FLMedian $48,150 · Employment 4,620
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in NJMedian $60,210 · Employment 4,280
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in GAMedian $51,380 · Employment 3,630
- Cargo and Freight Agents Salary in TNMedian $51,800 · Employment 3,390
Related careers
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversNational median $58,640
- Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm ProductsNational median not published
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksNational median $44,390
- First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle OperatorsNational median not published
- Railroad Conductors and YardmastersNational median $78,000
- Couriers and MessengersNational median $39,200
- LogisticiansNational median $82,320
- Transportation InspectorsNational median $92,100
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.