Freight broker vs air cargo agent

The differences between freight brokers and air cargo agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a freight broker has an average salary of $52,390, which is higher than the $36,182 average annual salary of an air cargo agent.

The top three skills for a freight broker include TMS, logistics and FTL. The most important skills for an air cargo agent are data entry, reservations, and DOT.

Freight broker vs air cargo agent overview

	Freight Broker	Air Cargo Agent
Yearly salary	$52,390	$36,182
Hourly rate	$25.19	$17.40
Growth rate	5%	-
Number of jobs	7,528	27,082
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

What does a freight broker do?

Freight brokers have licensed property brokers who provide assistance to shippers in hauling materials. Their job involves linking carriers and shippers in hauling materials. They take part in the shipping logistics of organizations or companies. Among the matters they negotiate include tracking of shipments, keeping delivery and pickup tracks, and shipping rates. Among the necessary skills for this job include customer service, negotiation, communication, and marketing.

What does an air cargo agent do?

An air cargo agent is responsible for the safety of all air cargo in a flight. They are responsible for inspecting each shipment, logging shipment information, monitoring shipments in transit, and ensuring that shipments reach their destinations. They also determine delivery routes, pick-up locations, and delivery costs. This position is essential for companies that provide constant deliveries, such as online stores. An air cargo agent must have strong research skills, good communication skills, and have a sincere devotion to bringing cargoes safely to their destinations.

Freight broker vs air cargo agent salary

Freight brokers and air cargo agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Freight Broker	Air Cargo Agent
Average salary	$52,390	$36,182
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $77,000	Between $26,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between freight broker and air cargo agent education

There are a few differences between a freight broker and an air cargo agent in terms of educational background:

	Freight Broker	Air Cargo Agent
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Freight broker vs air cargo agent demographics

Here are the differences between freight brokers' and air cargo agents' demographics:

	Freight Broker	Air Cargo Agent
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 64.6% Female, 35.4%	Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 12.9% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 6.8% Hispanic or Latino, 26.5% Asian, 16.1% White, 43.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between freight broker and air cargo agent duties and responsibilities

Freight broker example responsibilities.

Manage EDI transmit pricing on orders from customers.
Manage, inspect, photograph, and create reports biweekly for U.S. department of HUD and Fannie Mae assign properties.
Book dry and refrigerate freight for FTL and LTL loads.
Specialize in working with power only units and flat beds experience in working with FTL, and LTL shipments.
Create, develop and retain business relationships with shippers.
Provide RFP's for large company customers

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Air cargo agent example responsibilities.

Manage and carry out specific program and regulatory activities such as enforcing hazmat and weight restrictions.
Direct inbound and outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management.
Service aircraft as needed for aircraft lavatories, portable water, de-icing and commissary items.
Operate vehicles to convey ULD dollies and baggage carts to and from aircraft terminal.
Experience in using, tugs, dollies, transporters, lower deck loader, main deck loader, belt loader.

Freight broker vs air cargo agent skills

Common freight broker skills

TMS, 19%
Logistics, 18%
FTL, 17%
Shippers, 12%
LTL, 4%
Freight Carriers, 4%

Common air cargo agent skills

Data Entry, 12%
Reservations, 9%
DOT, 6%
FAA, 6%
Import Shipments, 6%
Patrol, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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