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Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa

Thinking about a career as a Cargo and Freight Agents in Iowa? Here’s what the data says. 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.

What do Cargo and Freight Agents Make in Iowa?

For cargo and freight agents working in Iowa, the median annual wage is $46,120 per year (or about $22.17/hour).Pay can range from $42,540 at the 10th percentile to $64,190 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$42,540	$20.45
25th percentile	$42,980	$20.67
Median (50th)	$46,120	$22.17
75th percentile	$53,350	$25.65
90th percentile	$64,190	$30.86

The job concentration index in Iowa nationwide is 0.71, meaning fewer cargo and freight agents per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, cargo and freight agents earn a median of $54,941 per year ($26.41/hour), lower than the Iowa median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 1,998,430 cargo and freight agents nationwide. In Iowa alone, around 710 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 950 cargo and freight agents.

Top Iowa Metros for Cargo and Freight Agents

These are the Iowa metros with the most cargo and freight agents in Iowa.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	440	$42,980
Cedar Rapids, IA	60	$50,510
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	30	$56,360

Top States for Cargo and Freight Agents Employment

These states have the highest employment of cargo and freight agents work.

State	Number Employed
California	14,940
Texas	9,460
Illinois	6,820
Florida	6,470
New York	5,930
Ohio	3,740
North Carolina	3,710
New Jersey	3,140
Arizona	3,050
Georgia	2,910
Michigan	2,650
Washington	2,460
Pennsylvania	2,360
South Carolina	2,130
Kentucky	2,050
Minnesota	2,020
Hawaii	1,900
Missouri	1,790
Indiana	1,660
Tennessee	1,660

Highest-Paying States for Cargo and Freight Agents

Where cargo and freight agents earn the most: cargo and freight agents.

State	Annual Median Salary
South Dakota	$68,400
New Jersey	$62,860
Montana	$60,660
Massachusetts	$59,700
Nebraska	$58,160
Wisconsin	$57,490
New York	$57,230
California	$56,100
Georgia	$55,710
Utah	$55,220

Skills

The most important cargo and freight agents skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for cargo and freight agents, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Track delivery progress of shipments.
• Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
• Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
• Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
• Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.
• Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
• Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods.
• Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations.
• Arrange insurance coverage for goods.
• Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

• Business Support & Assistance

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Related Careers

Careers similar to cargo and freight agents include:

• Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
• Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
• Customs Brokers
• Logisticians
• Logistics Analysts
• Order Clerks

Also Known As

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, Export Coordinator, Export Specialist, Freight Agent, Freight Booker, Freight Broker.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-5011.00