Office and Administration · Career brief

Cargo and Freight Agents

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Cargo and Freight Agents at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$52,260

Below the middle on pay

2025 national median. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

6.2%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

9,000

Above the middle on opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Structured / detail

Accuracy, process, and organized information matter

Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is growth; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if structured, detail-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Before choosing, compare:Couriers and Messengers Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Cargo and Freight Agents with another field Explore rankings in Office and Administration Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$52,260

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

6.2%employment growth9,000openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

100,300

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Cargo and freight agents (43-5011).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.
Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Getting Information4.1
Documenting/Recording Information3.9
Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.9
Handling and Moving Objects3.6
Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.5

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Conventional6.3
Enterprising4.8
Realistic3.2
Social2.1
Investigative1.5
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Transportation Geography Public Safety and Security Law and Government

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Work through a realistic case with incomplete information: make a recommendation, show the numbers behind it, and defend the tradeoffs.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Cargo and freight agents nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options