How to hire an export coordinator

Export coordinator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring export coordinators in the United States:

There are currently 26,987 export coordinators in the US, as well as 16,847 job openings.
Export coordinators are in the highest demand in Indianapolis, IN, with 5 current job openings.
The median cost to hire an export coordinator is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new export coordinator to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an export coordinator, step by step

To hire an export coordinator, 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 an export coordinator:

Here's a step-by-step export coordinator hiring guide:

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

What does an export coordinator do?

Export coordinators are logistics experts who prepare cargo and shipments to ship abroad while filling out paperwork and all other required documents to successfully ship and clear international orders. By coordinating with the logistics department, these coordinators are required to provide top of the line logistics service with their customers so that they can forge long-lasting business partnerships. They must evaluate issues and disputes related to customs, logistics, and damaged items as well as inform customers about the cause of shipment delay. Export coordinators must also communicate with freight forwarders to facilitate the movement of freight overseas.

Learn more about the specifics of what an export coordinator does

Post an export coordinator job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

First, determine the employments status of the export coordinator you need to hire. Certain export coordinator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

Hiring the perfect export coordinator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

The following list breaks down different types of export coordinators and their corresponding salaries.

Type of Export Coordinator	Description	Hourly rate
Export Coordinator		$15-28
Cargo Agent	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... Show more	$12-21
Freight Broker	Freight brokers have licensed property brokers who provide assistance to shippers in hauling materials. Their job involves linking carriers and shippers in hauling materials... Show more	$16-37

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Customer Service
- Logistics
- Booking
- Forwarders
- Export
- Import Export
- Freight Forwarders
- AES
- Export Compliance
- Purchase Orders
- International Shipments
- Hazmat
- Customs Brokers
- Steamship Lines
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Initiate and implement quality control procedures, and attain ISO & FAMI-QS certifications.
- Manage OEM exports throughout Europe for a veterinary equipment manufacturer.
- Issue and submit documentation to ensure proper exportation of client FCL and/or LCL shipments.
- Coordinate and communicate with freight forwarders to facilitate movement of freight for overseas transportation to ensure timely shipment and clearance.
- Coordinate and determine cost-effective, efficient, competitive method of transportation, and consolidation with freight forwarders to execute the business.
- Sign drivers in and out BOL.
More export coordinator duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your export coordinator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An export coordinator 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 an export coordinator in Louisiana may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level export coordinator usually earns less than a senior-level export coordinator. Additionally, an export coordinator 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 export coordinator salary

$43,911yearly

$21.11 hourly rate

Entry-level export coordinator salary

$32,000 yearly salary

Updated December 5, 2025

Average export coordinator salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	New York	$57,963	$28
2	California	$53,246	$26
3	New Jersey	$50,825	$24
4	Michigan	$49,017	$24
5	Illinois	$48,511	$23
6	North Carolina	$47,233	$23
7	Pennsylvania	$46,995	$23
8	Arizona	$46,023	$22
9	Arkansas	$45,870	$22
10	Massachusetts	$45,317	$22
11	Wisconsin	$44,784	$22
12	Texas	$44,280	$21
13	Minnesota	$43,913	$21
14	Oklahoma	$43,609	$21
15	Indiana	$42,854	$21
16	Virginia	$41,725	$20
17	Florida	$41,377	$20
18	Georgia	$40,625	$20
19	District of Columbia	$38,974	$19
20	Missouri	$34,798	$17

Average export coordinator salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	RH	$57,241	$27.52
2	GrafTech International	$50,935	$24.49
3	Steris	$49,262	$23.68
4	System One	$43,385	$20.86	2
5	n/a	$41,938	$20.16	1
6	Clayton	$41,934	$20.16
7	Odyssey Logistics	$41,849	$20.12
8	Pernod Ricard USA	$41,563	$19.98
9	Cosco Shipping (north America) Inc.	$41,473	$19.94
10	INX International Ink Co.	$41,333	$19.87
11	Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc.	$41,300	$19.86
12	Coastal Pacific Food Distributors	$41,218	$19.82
13	University of Maryland, Baltimore	$41,015	$19.72	7
14	Safran	$40,947	$19.69	5
15	Imerys	$40,815	$19.62
16	Randstad North America, Inc.	$40,783	$19.61
17	Meador Staffing	$40,676	$19.56
18	Robert Half	$40,418	$19.43	15
19	Oil-Dri Corporation of America	$40,371	$19.41
20	Kelly Services	$40,313	$19.38	6

Writing an export coordinator job description
An export coordinator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an export coordinator job description:
Export coordinator job description example
Job Code: #550925
Title: Export Booking Coordinator
Job Type: Contract To Hire
Job Location: Houston TX

Job Description:

Export Booking Coordinator
Contract to Hire
8:30-5:30pm In Office
$19/hour Description :
Seeking a customer support specialist that can manage a high volume of customer inquires in relation to export bookings, routing and service contract details.
Qualifications :
-Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Word and Outlook
-Excellent Customer Service Skills
-Ability to multitask
-Ability to respond quickly to customer requests

Addison Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Addison Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Addison Group complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.

#zr5
Company DescriptionThe Addison Group is a leading staffing firm based in Chicago, IL that specializes in connecting opportunities and candidates in Administration & HR, Engineering, Finance & Accounting, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Information Technology. Founded in 1999, Addison Group has now established a coast to coast presence, with 22 offices nationwide: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago (HQ), Cupertino, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Reston, Rockville, San Antonio, San Francisco, Schaumburg, Seattle, Tulsa, and Washington, DC.

Named a “Top 50” Fastest Growing Company, Addison Group continues to achieve success and growth while fostering a competitive yet team-oriented environment. Addison Group is an Inavero’s Best of Staffing winner for the past six years. Addison Group is focused on organic growth—each year we promote people from within to open new branches and lines of business. Addison Group is a team-oriented work environment with a work hard/play hard atmosphere—Addison has been recognized by many publications as one of the top best places to work for the past five years. Visit our website to learn more: addisongroup.com
Post your job
There are various strategies that you can use to find the right export coordinator for your business:
- Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
- Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
- Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your export coordinator job on Zippia to find and recruit export coordinator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
During your first interview to recruit export coordinators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.
It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new export coordinator
Once you have selected a candidate for the export coordinator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.
You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.
To prepare for the new export coordinator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.
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.)
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How much does it cost to hire an export coordinator?

Hiring an export coordinator comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting export coordinators involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of export coordinator recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Export coordinators earn a median yearly salary is $43,911 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find export coordinators for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $15 and $28.

How to hire an export coordinator