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What is a cargo supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a cargo supervisor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $31.93 an hour? That's $66,415 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 189,200 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreCargo SupervisorUS Average
Salary
5.2

Avg. Salary $66,415

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 5.41%

Black or African American 12.29%

Hispanic or Latino 23.63%

Unknown 4.52%

White 53.28%

Gender

female 23.13%

male 76.87%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Cargo supervisor career paths

Key steps to become a cargo supervisor

  1. Explore cargo supervisor education requirements

    Most common cargo supervisor degrees

    Bachelor's

    34.9 %

    Associate

    32.9 %

    High School Diploma

    17.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific cargo supervisor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Safety Procedures42.77%
    Air Cargo12.91%
    DOT9.45%
    Dangerous Goods6.57%
    IATA4.73%
  3. Complete relevant cargo supervisor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cargo supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cargo supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cargo supervisor resumes.
  4. Research cargo supervisor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage effective service delivery and performance according to SLA's sign with customers and other stakeholders.
    • Manage payroll for individuals, and administrative duties to include counseling and mentoring individuals to maximum potential.
    • Supervise audits, ensure compliance with regulations of local law enforcement, F.A.A., TSA, OSHA, and IATA.
    • Follow all FAA rules and regulations.
  5. Apply for cargo supervisor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a cargo supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first cargo supervisor job

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Average cargo supervisor salary

The average cargo supervisor salary in the United States is $66,415 per year or $32 per hour. Cargo supervisor salaries range between $33,000 and $130,000 per year.

Average cargo supervisor salary
$66,415 Yearly
$31.93 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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