43
Cargo and Freight Agents is a notable career in the 43 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Cargo and Freight Agents against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 43-5011 |
| title | Cargo and Freight Agents |
| onet code | 43-5011.00 |
| 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 43 |
| tot emp | 97,800 |
| a mean | 55,420 |
| a median | 49,900 |
| a pct10 | 37,240 |
| a pct25 | 43,490 |
| a pct75 | 62,230 |
| a pct90 | 76,350 |
| h mean | 26 |
| h median | 23 |
The day-to-day work of a cargo and freight agents typically centers on negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Speaking, Active Listening, and Critical Thinking. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.19 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working cargo and freight agents, the most common entry qualification is a Bachelor's Degree (30.8%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 31% of incumbents. Entry pathways are mixed; a meaningful minority enters without a four-year degree.
Median annual pay is highest in South Dakota at $68,400 and lowest in Hawaii at $39,720 — a 1.7× spread. The top five states (South Dakota, New Jersey, Montana, Massachusetts, Nebraska) average $61,956. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $68,400 | $68,990 | $51,570 | $82,910 | 240 |
| New Jersey | $62,860 | $64,770 | $46,520 | $87,450 | 3,140 |
| Montana | $60,660 | $61,160 | $40,140 | $83,670 | 330 |
| Massachusetts | $59,700 | $60,230 | $44,180 | $78,870 | 620 |
| Nebraska | $58,160 | $58,680 | $39,300 | $78,270 | 390 |
| Wisconsin | $57,490 | $57,000 | $37,940 | $75,810 | 1,410 |
| New York | $57,230 | $62,040 | $39,420 | $91,080 | 5,930 |
| California | $56,100 | $59,500 | $37,890 | $80,840 | 14,940 |
| Georgia | $55,710 | $55,580 | $38,980 | $77,500 | 2,910 |
| Utah | $55,220 | $59,400 | $37,250 | $89,980 | 660 |
| Washington | $55,140 | $59,250 | $46,080 | $74,910 | 2,460 |
| Idaho | $53,240 | $57,800 | $38,310 | $68,870 | 150 |
| Alabama | $53,100 | $57,030 | $38,960 | $81,290 | 950 |
| Indiana | $52,040 | $56,310 | $36,980 | $79,920 | 1,660 |
| Rhode Island | $51,990 | $55,890 | $33,280 | $81,240 | — |
| New Hampshire | $51,590 | $58,950 | $36,550 | $86,290 | 80 |
| Colorado | $51,430 | $55,110 | $46,850 | $70,700 | 1,050 |
| South Carolina | $51,420 | $54,620 | $40,860 | $68,840 | 2,130 |
| Minnesota | $51,370 | $63,690 | $42,040 | $76,930 | 2,020 |
| Virginia | $50,560 | $55,810 | $37,750 | $78,350 | 1,320 |
| Vermont | $50,530 | $60,520 | $49,550 | $72,320 | 30 |
| Mississippi | $49,950 | $52,120 | $32,870 | $74,720 | 330 |
| Arkansas | $49,210 | $55,810 | $42,980 | $84,290 | — |
| Alaska | $49,030 | $54,600 | $40,530 | $75,060 | 520 |
| Kansas | $49,020 | $50,200 | $36,280 | $66,650 | 540 |
| Florida | $48,850 | $57,140 | $35,360 | $75,540 | 6,470 |
| Louisiana | $48,800 | $48,650 | $26,390 | $68,850 | 760 |
| Maine | $48,780 | $55,960 | $44,200 | $76,590 | 230 |
| Nevada | $48,630 | $52,150 | $37,110 | $74,350 | 430 |
| Illinois | $48,420 | $54,820 | $38,910 | $73,700 | 6,820 |
| Oregon | $48,290 | $51,520 | $42,480 | $72,440 | 1,320 |
| North Dakota | $48,010 | $64,590 | $31,870 | $128,650 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $47,950 | $48,940 | $33,140 | $65,200 | 1,660 |
| Ohio | $47,900 | $53,220 | $38,060 | $74,730 | 3,740 |
| Michigan | $47,750 | $50,830 | $37,780 | $69,680 | 2,650 |
| Maryland | $47,460 | $48,700 | $33,590 | $68,280 | 840 |
| North Carolina | $46,880 | $48,190 | $35,930 | $62,660 | 3,710 |
| Texas | $46,580 | $48,940 | $33,500 | $69,060 | 9,460 |
| Iowa | $46,120 | $49,570 | $42,540 | $64,190 | 710 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,080 | $50,160 | $34,450 | $71,380 | 2,360 |
| Oklahoma | $45,620 | $51,760 | $32,180 | $85,370 | 220 |
| Kentucky | $45,100 | $49,540 | $39,990 | $67,690 | 2,050 |
| New Mexico | $44,770 | $46,800 | $33,530 | $75,030 | 140 |
| Arizona | $42,640 | $47,510 | $36,380 | $65,240 | 3,050 |
| Hawaii | $39,720 | $46,820 | $33,530 | $68,520 | 1,900 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for cargo and freight agents. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Air Export Coordinator or Air Export Specialist frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Cargo and Freight Agents compares to others in the 43 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Cargo and Freight Agents
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.