SOC 43-5011.00Bright outlook

    Cargo and Freight Agents

    Expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks.

    Median pay
    $52,260
    Growth
    +6.2%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    9,000
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $38,340
    Median
    $52,260
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $79,810
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    97,670 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Cargo and freight agents organize and track the transport of goods via planes, trains, trucks, and ships. The career offers a median annual salary of $52,260, with opportunities available for those with a high school education.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What cargo and freight agents do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Cargo and freight agents manage the daily logistics of moving shipments through terminals and docks. They take incoming customer orders, arrange for cargo pickups, and prepare essential shipping documents like bills of lading to calculate tariffs and costs. This role requires gathering precise information, documenting details, and solving logistical problems to keep shipments on schedule.

    Success in this field relies on strong conventional interests, meaning a preference for structured, orderly work. Agents must use active listening, clear speaking, and reading comprehension to communicate effectively with clients and external partners. Key knowledge areas include transportation systems, geography, public safety, and customer service. Because they coordinate complex schedules, these professionals must demonstrate dependability, high attention to detail, and stress tolerance. They also need to be adaptable and cautious when monitoring cargo processes and handling physical objects.

    How to get there

    Most people enter this career with a high school diploma. It is classified as an occupation that requires some preparation, meaning new hires typically receive on-the-job training or have some prior work experience. Students interested in this field can prepare by studying business operations support and assistant services in college.

    While not always required, some states list specific licensing regulations for this profession. Additionally, individuals can earn professional credentials to boost their qualifications. For example, the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America offers the Certified Customs Specialist designation, which helps agents demonstrate their expertise in shipping regulations and compliance.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for cargo and freight agents was $52,260. Earnings can vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent of workers earning less than $38,340 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $79,810.

    There were 97,670 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 6.2 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal staff turnover, is expected to result in approximately 9,000 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    36 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    9 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    19 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    64 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    89 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CER. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    78
    Documenting/Recording Information
    72
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    72
    Handling and Moving Objects
    65
    Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
    61
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    61
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    61
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    61
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    60
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    60
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Speaking
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Negotiation
    • Time Management
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Coordination
    • Monitoring
    • Service Orientation

    Knowledge

    • Transportation
    • Geography
    • Public Safety and Security
    • English Language
    • Administration and Management
    • Education and Training
    • Law and Government
    • Telecommunications
    • Administrative
    • Customer and Personal Service

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Near Vision
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Selective Attention

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Adaptability
    • Cooperation
    • Cautiousness
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Social Orientation
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    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 · Drop Shipment Clerk · Export Compliance Specialist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to cargo and freight agents

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Cargo and Freight Agents$52,260 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Bellevue University-Nebraska

      Bellevue, NE · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $67,452
      4 yrs after
      $83,581
      Median debt
      $19,499
    2. 2Valdosta State University logo
      Valdosta State University

      Valdosta, GA · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $42,670
      4 yrs after
      $60,715
      Median debt
      $25,991

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What cargo and freight agents may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
    • Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    1 state lists a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about cargo and freight agents

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field are also called air export coordinators, cargo warehouse agents, container coordinators, drop shipment clerks, and export compliance specialists.

    What kind of college major is related to cargo and freight agent jobs?

    Students can prepare for this career path by majoring in business operations support and assistant services.

    Is a college degree required to become a cargo and freight agent?

    No, a college degree is not typically required. A high school diploma is the standard entry-level education, and workers usually learn through on-the-job training.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.