How to hire an import-export agent

Import-export agent hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring import-export agents in the United States:

There are a total of 23,061 import-export agents in the US, and there are currently 26,116 job openings in this field.
The median cost to hire an import-export agent is $1,633.
Small businesses spend $1,105 per import-export agent on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
Wood Dale, IL, has the highest demand for import-export agents, with 6 job openings.

How to hire an import-export agent, step by step

To hire an import-export 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 an import-export agent:

Here's a step-by-step import-export agent hiring guide:

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

What does an import-export agent do?

Import or export agents are professionals who are required to act as the middle person for purchasing or selling products between both domestic and overseas companies. These agents must possess a variety of export documentation to facilitate domestic and international shipments of products to ensure timely delivery. They should provide shipment status notification to answer inquiries from exporters and consignees. Import or export agents must also prepare documents while informing import agents about the details of shipment arrivals.

Learn more about the specifics of what an import-export agent does

Post an import-export agent job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

Before you start hiring an import-export agent, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

Determine employee vs contractor status

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

An import-export agent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, import-export agents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

This list shows salaries for various types of import-export agents.

Type of Import-Export Agent	Description	Hourly rate
Import-Export Agent		$15-32
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
Air Cargo Agent	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... Show more	$12-24

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Customer Service
- Data Entry
- Booking
- Export
- Import Export
- DHL
- International Shipments
- Air Freight
- Hazmat
- Delivery Orders
- Hazardous Materials
- AES
- Import Shipments
- International Freight
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Prepare documentation as master BOL, shippers export declarations, cargo release, pickups, delivery orders and others.
- Maintain AS400 system to include accurate shipment order entry, AES filing and other pertinent information for LCL and FCL shipments.
- Facilitate training for CSR & shippers on export documentation and incoterms.
- Send arrival notices, tracking, arranging inland moves on containers and LCL cargo.
- Quoted ocean FCL & LCL rates to all the customers in order to satisfy their shipping needs.
- Review and analyze standard operating procedures to insure compliance, TSA, ISO, TAPA, IMDG.
More import-export agent duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your import-export agent job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An import-export agent salary can vary based on several factors:

Location. For example, import-export agents' average salary in montana is 44% less than in new york.
Seniority. Entry-level import-export agents earn 51% less than senior-level import-export agents.
Certifications. An import-export agent with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an import-export agent's salary.

Average import-export agent salary

$47,326yearly

$22.75 hourly rate

Entry-level import-export agent salary

$33,000 yearly salary

Updated December 17, 2025

Average import-export agent salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	New York	$60,592	$29
2	New Jersey	$56,626	$27
3	California	$54,663	$26
4	Washington	$53,835	$26
5	Massachusetts	$51,031	$25
6	Florida	$50,576	$24
7	Tennessee	$48,176	$23
8	North Carolina	$47,096	$23
9	Colorado	$46,727	$22
10	Ohio	$45,171	$22
11	Illinois	$44,969	$22
12	Virginia	$43,703	$21
13	Oregon	$43,437	$21
14	Alaska	$43,031	$21
15	Texas	$42,644	$21
16	Georgia	$42,362	$20
17	Utah	$42,310	$20
18	Indiana	$42,143	$20
19	Maryland	$41,419	$20
20	Louisiana	$36,934	$18

Average import-export agent salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	C.H. Robinson	$52,549	$25.26	1
2	PrincePerelson & Associates	$48,824	$23.47
3	The IMA Group	$46,964	$22.58
4	Belcan	$46,423	$22.32
5	Radius	$46,262	$22.24	21
6	Expeditors	$44,618	$21.45	124
7	Yusen Logistics	$44,609	$21.45	6
8	Amerijet International	$43,291	$20.81	2
9	Randstad North America, Inc.	$43,061	$20.70	2
10	Cavalier Logistics	$42,987	$20.67
11	Geodis Wilson USA Inc	$42,926	$20.64	1
12	FedEx	$42,183	$20.28	44
13	Del-Mar Inc	$42,098	$20.24	4
14	Toll Holdings	$42,033	$20.21
15	Robert Half	$41,814	$20.10	12
16	Adecco	$41,730	$20.06	7
17	ManpowerGroup	$41,236	$19.82	8
18	The Employment Solutions	$41,178	$19.80
19	AppleOne Employment Services	$40,276	$19.36
20	Mid-South Sales Inc	$39,199	$18.85

Writing an import-export agent job description
A job description for an import-export agent role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an import-export agent job description:
Import-export agent job description example
Cavalier Logistics was established in 1984 as a private, veteran-owned small business. We are a premier provider of global transportation, warehousing and logistics services with headquarters in Virginia, multiple offices throughout the United States and an international office in London.

Cavalier Logistics is seeking a full-time Import Agent to join our import team in Union City, near Atlanta, GA. The successful Import Agent is responsible for processing documentation required by US Customs and Border Protection for entry of goods into the US on behalf of importers and providing excellent customer service through clear communication from origin to destination.

Cavalier is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary and full benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), life insurance and an Employee Assistance Program.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Impeccable customer service
Perform audit review on all assigned brokerage files and payments to customs
Maintain and keep current all customs compliance documentation
Process documents through the Company's ABI system, obtaining Customs release and other government agency releases as appropriate. Arrange both delivery and the invoicing of the import account for services rendered
Review and monitor all Customs rejections, requests for information for clients and any other government agency, and other correspondence
Adhere to all domestic and international shipping regulations
Mandatory daily correspondence with overseas offices
Work closely with other departments to deliver high level of service to customers
Perform other duties as assigned
Must be able to pass a background check

Required Skills:
Ability to work with demanding deadlines
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Must be detail oriented, thorough, and accurate and have the ability to efficiently solve problems
Solid knowledge of domestic and international geography including countries, major cities, and ocean ports along with basic knowledge of U.S. Regulatory Laws
Ability to establish priorities and accomplish multiple tasks, must be organized
Strong PC skills
Proven analytical and problem-solving skills
Work effectively via phone, fax, e-mail. Good planning and organization skills; ability to multitask and be a self-starter
Basic knowledge of INCO terms, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, Customs regulations, and other government agency requirements

Education:
Minimum High School Diploma or GED

Previous Experience:
2-years of experience preferred but not required

Benefits & Compensation:
Competitive Compensation Depends on Experience
Health Insurance
Dental & Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
401(k)
Employee Assistance Program

If you enjoy a fast-paced environment, are a self-starter, have great organizational skills and are a team player - apply for this great position today! We are an equal employment opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
Post your job
There are a few common ways to find import-export 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 import-export agent job on Zippia to find and recruit import-export agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
During your first interview to recruit import-export agents, 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.
You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.
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 import-export agent
Once you've found the import-export agent candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.
It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new import-export agent. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.
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 import-export agent?

Recruiting import-export agents involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for import-export agents is $47,326 in the US. However, the cost of import-export agent hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an import-export agent for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $15 and $32 an hour.

How to hire an import-export agent