Post job

How to hire a cargo agent

Cargo agent hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring cargo agents in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a cargo agent is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per cargo agent on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 13,897 cargo agents in the US, and there are currently 27,874 job openings in this field.
  • San Francisco, CA, has the highest demand for cargo agents, with 9 job openings.

How to hire a cargo agent, step by step

To hire a cargo agent, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a cargo agent:

Here's a step-by-step cargo agent hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a cargo agent job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cargo agent
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what a cargo agent does
jobs
Post a cargo agent job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your cargo agent job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a cargo agent for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a cargo agent to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a cargo agent that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of cargo agents.

    Type of Cargo AgentDescriptionHourly rate
    Cargo Agent$12-21
    Ocean Export CoordinatorThis is a person who helps clients with information and product flow across international waters. The responsibilities that come with this position include; making policy changes with changes made to import-export laws, auditing workflow operations, communicating shipment information with necessary parties, monitor shipment until satisfactory delivery, and addressing customer queries and complaints... Show more$14-28
    Air Export CoordinatorIt is the responsibility of an air export coordinator to oversee customer shipment operations such as vendor invoices, rate quotation, billing, etc. Air export coordinators serve as the liaison between sales groups... Show more$13-26
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Security Procedures
    • Data Entry
    • Customer Service
    • Freight Shipments
    • Computer System
    • Air Freight
    • FAA
    • TSA
    • Accompany Shipments
    • Freight Bills
    • Airway Bills
    • Government Agencies
    • Cargo Shipments
    • Quality Standards
    Check all skills
    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.
    More cargo agent duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your cargo agent job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A cargo agent salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a cargo agent in Missouri may be lower than in California, and an entry-level cargo agent usually earns less than a senior-level cargo agent. Additionally, a cargo agent with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average cargo agent salary

    $35,411yearly

    $17.02 hourly rate

    Entry-level cargo agent salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 5, 2025

    Average cargo agent salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$39,283$19
    2New York$37,271$18
    3North Carolina$37,230$18
    4New Hampshire$36,708$18
    5Colorado$36,375$17
    6Illinois$36,359$17
    7South Carolina$36,303$17
    8Michigan$35,882$17
    9Arizona$35,374$17
    10Florida$35,125$17
    11Pennsylvania$33,664$16
    12Massachusetts$33,425$16
    13Wisconsin$33,224$16
    14Indiana$32,788$16
    15Georgia$32,735$16
    16Minnesota$32,169$15
    17Texas$31,633$15
    18Utah$31,393$15
    19Virginia$31,116$15
    20Washington$30,580$15

    Average cargo agent salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1United Service Technologies$38,264$18.4010
    2Worldwide Flight Services Inc$36,238$17.42
    3Airport Terminal Services$36,105$17.36
    4Menzies Aviation$36,028$17.3227
    5Aerotek$35,497$17.07
    6Command Security$35,493$17.06
    7DHL$35,415$17.0311
    8ManpowerGroup$35,094$16.879
    9GAT Airline Ground Support$35,076$16.86
    10JetStream Ground Services$35,053$16.85
    11Unifi Manufacturing$35,006$16.83
    12Quantem Aviation Services$35,002$16.83
    13Staffmark$34,964$16.81
    14Inland Metal$34,933$16.79
    15Swissport Holdings Inc$34,792$16.73
    16NANA$34,653$16.666
    17Global Aviation$34,580$16.63
    18Staff Management$34,572$16.622
    19Dimerco Express Group$34,492$16.58
    20AppleOne Employment Services$34,416$16.55
  4. Writing a cargo agent job description

    A good cargo agent job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a cargo agent job description:

    Cargo agent job description example

    must be available to work 2nd shift

    Responsibilities include processing of direct/indirect international terminating paperwork including Sabre input in the I-Field the storage start date and charges, notification of domestic freight, assisting customers over the phone, resolve customs holds.

    Planning the flights, manifesting, planning refusal. Also, reporting freight for European flights and flights to Mexico. Breaking paperwork, creating trip file, etc.

    Processing of inbound customer’s paperwork/shipments. Responsible for collecting proper charges and direct follow-up with customers when failing to do so. Complete final disposition of AWBs by the end of shift and deposit the customers’ checks.

    Extremely important function. ACE Agent must report to US Customs all freight arriving to the United States from foreign countries. All freight must be reported within a specific time frame – after aircraft’s take off time and before aircraft lands at the US port of entry.

    Truck Agent must maintain the movement of freight that has to be trucked from the local station. Truck Agent will also inventory the truck area and dispatch the trucks.

    Agent delivers International paperwork to the departing flight as well as retrieves the paperwork from arriving international flights. Also, Agent must deliver and pick up the paperwork from the US Customs office.

    International Runner must meet and pick up documents from international flights and report them to Customs. Also, International Runner will deliver documents to outbound international flights.

    The function of the International Documents Runner is to meet every inbound and outbound international flight of American and any carriers handled by AA Cargo for the purpose of retrieving or delivering the International paperwork, when cargo is on board. The international Documents runner function must be handled without delay to flight departures, U.S. Customs, to U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Public Health as required.

    Inbound:

    1. The assigned runner must meet and retrieve international documents from any international flight with cargo on board. The runner will receive the documents from the Premium Flight Attendant at the door of the aircraft.

    2. The runner must deliver the retrieved documents to the Immigration Office, US Customs, to US Department of Agriculture, to US Department of Public Health as required and American Manifesting Agent at the Cargo Office.

    3. The Runner must sign the log at the Cargo office indicating which flight documents were delivered from and the time of delivery.

    4. When documents are not retrieved from flight for any reason, a report must be completed by the runner with detailed explanation and furnish to Cargo Operation Manager, where it will remain on file for period of five years.

    Outbound:

    1. The runner will obtain processed and pouched international documents from Export Office at Cargo facility for delivery to the appropriate flight.

    2. The runner will access SABRE to obtain current flight information to include departure time, gate and tail number. A hard copy of said information is to be printed and attached to Premium Flight Attendant Acknowledgment form.

    3. The runner will deliver documents to the appropriate flight, verifying tail number, in a time frame that departure delays are not incurred.

    4. The runner will deliver documents to the aircraft door, present to the Premium Flight Attendant and obtain Premium Flight Attendant signature of acknowledgement receipt form for that particular flight.

    5. The Premium Acknowledgement of receipt form for that particular flight information attached will be returned to the Export office at the Cargo Facility for filing with flight manifest.

    Agent will accept the freight form the drivers/customers and process the paperwork. Also, this function requires security paperwork processing. Agent will accept both cargo and PPS shipments.

    Trace Agent is responsible for looking for the missing freight and updating the system. Trace Agent conducts and reconciles freight inventory.

    The function of the Cargo Screening Employees is to provide Verification Screening of Cargo shipments by operating screening equipment at the Cargo Facility within requirements of TSA Regulations per AOSSP as currently amended from time to time.

    Service Detail:

    1. Screeners shall take responsible action in response to threats considered to be against aircrafts or flights

    2. Screen all shipments accordingly per TSA requirements and maintain Security files in order.

    3. Challenge any unauthorized personnel in Cargo Facility.

    4. Perform on daily basis daily and periodic equipment test as required by the TSA or American requirements and specifications.

    Company DescriptionProspect Airport Services has over five decades of experience in the airline industry. With over 8,000 motivated associates and cutting-edge proprietary technology geared up at full strength every day to meet the challenges of the air transportation industry. We provide superior customer service and top-quality experiences while maintaining the highest levels of safety in everything we do. Our employees continually strive for professional excellence with a strong work ethic and integrity.
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find cargo agents for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your cargo agent job on Zippia to find and recruit cargo agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting cargo agents requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cargo agent

    Once you've selected the best cargo agent candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new cargo agent. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a cargo agent?

There are different types of costs for hiring cargo agents. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new cargo agent employee.

You can expect to pay around $35,411 per year for a cargo agent, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for cargo agents in the US typically range between $12 and $21 an hour.

Find better cargo agents in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring cargo agents FAQs

Search for cargo agent jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse office and administrative jobs