Freight Forwarders
Research rates, routings, or modes of transport for shipment of products. Maintain awareness of regulations affecting the international movement of cargo. Make arrangements for additional services, such as storage or inland transportation.
Also called: Air Cargo Agent, Air Export Agent, Air Export Clerk, Air Export Coordinator, Air Freight Forwarder, Cargo Agent
Median pay
$52,260
Pay for the broader BLS group “Cargo and Freight Agents”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$38,340 – $79,810
People employed
97,670
Whole BLS group
Holland code
CER
Conventional · Enterprising · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 4.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 5.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 6.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 7.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 8.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Freight Forwarders pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (47 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Cargo and Freight Agents”.
What freight forwarders do
- 01Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
- 02Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
- 03Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
- 04Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments.
- 05Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
- 06Complete customs paperwork.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
Knowledge
- Transportation
- Administrative
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from freight forwarders
- Customs Brokers85% · group pay
- Procurement Clerks82% · —
- Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks78% · —
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors78% · —
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers78% · —
Change into freight forwarders
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Customs Brokers87% · $80,730
- Procurement Clerks78% · $50,580
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers77% · $58,650
- Correspondence Clerks75% · $46,800
- Logistics Analysts75% · $82,320
Majors that lead here
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
- Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.