Cargo and Freight Agents Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Cargo and Freight Agents — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$52,260
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$25.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$79,810
entry level starts ~$38,340
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 98,000 employed

How much do Cargo and Freight Agents make?

The median pay for Cargo and Freight Agents in the United States is $52,260 per year — about $25.13 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $38,340, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $79,810.

That is $9,130 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Cargo and Freight Agents salary range by percentile

Half of all Cargo and Freight Agents earn between $45,710 and $63,390 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,340$18.43
25th percentile (early career)$45,710$21.98
50th percentile (median)$52,260$25.13
75th percentile (experienced)$63,390$30.48
90th percentile (top earners)$79,810$38.37

Highest-paying states for Cargo and Freight Agents

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Cargo and Freight Agents pay at $76,250 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($67,660) and South Dakota ($64,340). At the other end, Hawaii posts the lowest median at $42,400 — a gap of $33,850 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$76,250$36.66+46%
2New Hampshire$67,660$32.53+29%
3South Dakota$64,340$30.93+23%
4Nebraska$62,500$30.05+20%
5Washington$60,760$29.21+16%

Workforce and education

About 98,000 people work as Cargo and Freight Agents in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $57,230 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Cargo and Freight Agents make in the United States?
The median Cargo and Freight Agents salary in the United States is $52,260 per year, or about $25.13 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,340, while the top 10% of earners make $79,810 or more.
How does Cargo and Freight Agents pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Cargo and Freight Agents median of $52,260 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Cargo and Freight Agents the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Cargo and Freight Agents, with a median salary of $76,250 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Cargo and Freight Agents need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Cargo and Freight Agents work in the United States?
About 98,000 people were employed as Cargo and Freight Agents in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.