Cargo agent vs import specialist

The differences between cargo agents and import specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an import specialist has an average salary of $51,757, which is higher than the $35,411 average annual salary of a cargo agent.

The top three skills for a cargo agent include security procedures, data entry and customer service. The most important skills for an import specialist are data entry, logistics, and us customs.

Cargo agent vs import specialist overview

	Cargo Agent	Import Specialist
Yearly salary	$35,411	$51,757
Hourly rate	$17.02	$24.88
Growth rate	1%	6%
Number of jobs	27,874	1,736
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

What does a cargo agent do?

A cargo agent is primarily in charge of facilitating cargo shipments, ensuring the cargo gets to their destination timely and accurately. They are responsible for preparing and processing the necessary documents and fees, routing shipments and arranging the shipping methods, weighing the parcels, and coordinating the logistics and transportation details. They also negotiate postal and shipping rates, prepare invoices, and maintain records of all transactions and necessary information. Moreover, a cargo agent communicates with clients to answer inquiries, notify them of any delays, and provide updates regularly.

What does an import specialist do?

An import Specialist in the United States handles freight shipments coming to the country. They detect and assist in preventing violation of the country's customs laws. Their primary responsibility is to enforce the import/export regulations of the United States to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and products into the country. They are tasked with ensuring that weapons or weapon parts do not make it through the border. Additionally, they carry out physical checks and go through cargo manifests on the database while also explaining import/export policies to foreign shippers.

Cargo agent vs import specialist salary

Cargo agents and import specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cargo Agent	Import Specialist
Average salary	$35,411	$51,757
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $45,000	Between $36,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	San Diego, CA	Uniondale, NY
Highest paying state	California	New York
Best paying company	United Service Technologies	The Judge Group
Best paying industry	Transportation	Transportation

Differences between cargo agent and import specialist education

There are a few differences between a cargo agent and an import specialist in terms of educational background:

	Cargo Agent	Import Specialist
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Cargo agent vs import specialist demographics

Here are the differences between cargo agents' and import specialists' demographics:

	Cargo Agent	Import Specialist
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4%	Male, 33.1% Female, 66.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 27.5% Asian, 14.1% White, 44.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 48.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between cargo agent and import specialist duties and responsibilities

Cargo agent example responsibilities.

Manage and carry out specific program and regulatory activities such as enforcing hazmat and weight restrictions.
Maintain compliance issues relate to TSA, FAA, and cargo operations for several major airlines.
Handle various amounts of freight including both FTL, LTL, dry, refrigerate, flatb, and intermodal.
Practice safe conscious behaviors in all operational processes and procedures by adhering to strict TSA, IATA, and DCOM regulations.
Set up containers for USPS mail.
Handle accounts that require FDA clearance.

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Import specialist example responsibilities.

Work closely with government agencies, such as FDA and USDA.
Collaborate with foreign suppliers and freight forwarders on corrective action/preventive actions.
Communicate with external customers utilizing exceptional customer service to obtain missing or incomplete invoice statements require for U.S. Customs clearance.
Classify products with HS classification for NAFTA purposes.
Process special commodities such as FDA regulate articles, ADD/CVD entries.
Document the declaration sheet of Hazmat material for the current flight.

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Cargo agent vs import specialist skills

Common cargo agent skills

Security Procedures, 18%
Data Entry, 17%
Customer Service, 8%
Freight Shipments, 7%
Computer System, 7%
Air Freight, 4%

Common import specialist skills

Data Entry, 12%
Logistics, 10%
US Customs, 9%
Invoice, 5%
Delivery Orders, 4%
Forwarders, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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