# 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. 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cargo-and-freight-agents
- SOC code: 43-5011.00
- Career family: Office and administrative support
- Median annual pay: $52,260 (10th percentile $38,340, 90th percentile $79,810)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.2%
- Openings a year: 9,000
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CER)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 36 |
| Investigative (I) | 9 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 64 |
| Conventional (C) | 89 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 78/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 72/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 72/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 65/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 61/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 61/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 61/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 61/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 60/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 60/100)

## 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

## 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

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Operations Support and Assistant Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5204) (CIP 5204, 758 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Bellevue University-Nebraska](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bellevue-university-nebraska-206) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $67,452 | $83,581 | $19,499 |
| [Valdosta State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/valdosta-state-university-3105) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $42,670 | $60,715 | $25,991 |

## Related careers

- [Freight Forwarders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/freight-forwarders): $52,260 median pay
- [Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/shipping-receiving-and-inventory-clerks): $45,260 median pay
- [Customs Brokers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/customs-brokers): $80,730 median pay
- [Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/aircraft-cargo-handling-supervisors): $58,170 median pay
- [Postal Service Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postal-service-clerks): $62,130 median pay
- [Postal Service Mail Carriers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postal-service-mail-carriers): $60,550 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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.