Best cities for a cargo handler
The best cities for cargo handlers are Louisville, KY, Cincinnati, OH, and Anchorage, AK, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for cargo handlers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for cargo handlers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a cargo handler or considering a move, this list of the best cities for cargo handlers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for cargo handlers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a cargo handler. While the absolute best city for cargo handlers is Louisville, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for cargo handlers in 2024.
If you're looking for a cargo handler job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for cargo handlers in 2025
1. Louisville, KY
Total cargo handler jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $33,882 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 5.90 2. Cincinnati, OH
Total cargo handler jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $35,417 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 4.80 3. Anchorage, AK
Total cargo handler jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $39,393 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 10.25 4. Columbus, OH
Total cargo handler jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $35,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 2.91 5. Indianapolis, IN
Total cargo handler jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $37,801 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 0.66 6. Fort Wayne, IN
Total cargo handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $38,293 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Cleveland, OH
Total cargo handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $36,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Toledo, OH
Total cargo handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $36,267 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Portland, OR
Total cargo handler jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $35,972 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 3.81 10. Lexington, KY
Total cargo handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,966 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Choose from 10+ customizable cargo handler resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use cargo handler resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your cargo handler resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for cargo handlers
- Louisville, KY
- Cincinnati, OH
- Anchorage, AK
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Cleveland, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Portland, OR
- Lexington, KY
- (4 cargo handler jobs)
- (4 cargo handler jobs)
- (2 cargo handler jobs)
- (5 cargo handler jobs)
- (1 cargo handler jobs)
- (0 cargo handler jobs)
- (0 cargo handler jobs)
- (0 cargo handler jobs)
- (5 cargo handler jobs)
- (0 cargo handler jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a cargo handler
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville, KY | $33,882 | $26,000 | 597,337 | 4 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $35,417 | $28,000 | 298,800 | 4 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $39,393 | $34,000 | 298,192 | 2 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $35,800 | $28,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $37,801 | $29,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 6 | Fort Wayne, IN | $38,293 | $30,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $36,462 | $28,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 8 | Toledo, OH | $36,267 | $28,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $35,972 | $29,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 10 | Lexington, KY | $33,966 | $26,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $33,892 | $26,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,031 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $32,353 | $25,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 14 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,434 | $28,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $32,070 | $25,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 16 | Arlington, TX | $31,393 | $24,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,423 | $28,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $32,404 | $25,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 19 | Brookhaven, NY | $39,824 | $31,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $32,371 | $25,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 21 | Islip, NY | $39,732 | $31,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 22 | Milwaukee, WI | $34,055 | $27,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 23 | Oyster Bay, NY | $39,712 | $31,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 24 | Hempstead, NY | $39,622 | $31,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,493 | $26,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 26 | Buffalo, NY | $39,598 | $31,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 27 | New York, NY | $39,572 | $31,000 | 8,537,673 | 1 |
| 28 | Glendale, AZ | $33,506 | $26,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 29 | Scottsdale, AZ | $33,465 | $26,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 30 | Memphis, TN | $29,808 | $23,000 | 652,717 | 2 |
| 31 | Chandler, AZ | $33,437 | $26,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 32 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,485 | $25,000 | 632,912 | 1 |
| 33 | Mesa, AZ | $33,425 | $26,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 34 | Gilbert, AZ | $33,423 | $26,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 35 | Reno, NV | $32,157 | $25,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 36 | Denver, CO | $36,068 | $28,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $35,633 | $28,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 38 | Tucson, AZ | $33,213 | $26,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 39 | El Paso, TX | $32,269 | $25,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 40 | Aurora, CO | $36,060 | $28,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 41 | Lubbock, TX | $31,881 | $25,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | $30,553 | $24,000 | 242,203 | 2 |
| 43 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,042 | $28,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 44 | Kansas City, MO | $32,061 | $25,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 45 | Saint Louis, MO | $32,033 | $25,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 46 | Dallas, TX | $31,377 | $24,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 47 | North Las Vegas, NV | $31,454 | $25,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | $31,259 | $24,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 49 | Henderson, NV | $31,440 | $25,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 50 | Nashville, TN | $29,953 | $23,000 | 660,388 | - |
Highest paying cities for cargo handlers
| Rank | City | Avg. cargo handler salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $38,457 |
| 2 | Beavercreek, OH | $35,632 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $32,209 |
| 4 | Tampa, FL | $29,683 |