Import-export agent vs freight forwarder

The differences between import-export agents and freight forwarders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an import-export agent has an average salary of $47,326, which is higher than the $38,215 average annual salary of a freight forwarder.

The top three skills for an import-export agent include customer service, data entry and booking. The most important skills for a freight forwarder are supply chain, customer service, and booking.

Import-export agent vs freight forwarder overview

	Import-Export Agent	Freight Forwarder
Yearly salary	$47,326	$38,215
Hourly rate	$22.75	$18.37
Growth rate	-	-3%
Number of jobs	26,116	6,961
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

Import-export agent vs freight forwarder salary

Import-export agents and freight forwarders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Import-Export Agent	Freight Forwarder
Average salary	$47,326	$38,215
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $67,000	Between $27,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	Uniondale, NY	-
Highest paying state	New York	-
Best paying company	C.H. Robinson	-
Best paying industry	Transportation	-

Differences between import-export agent and freight forwarder education

There are a few differences between an import-export agent and a freight forwarder in terms of educational background:

	Import-Export Agent	Freight Forwarder
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Import-export agent vs freight forwarder demographics

Here are the differences between import-export agents' and freight forwarders' demographics:

	Import-Export Agent	Freight Forwarder
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 43.9% Female, 56.1%	Male, 55.1% Female, 44.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 26.8% Asian, 14.8% White, 45.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 7.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 18.0% White, 44.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between import-export agent and freight forwarder duties and responsibilities

Import-export agent example 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.

Freight forwarder example responsibilities.

Maintain relationships with customs brokers and freight forwarders and assist in reviewing such service providers.
Book material RO/RO, LCL, and FCL loads on ocean line carrier for international delivery.
Maintain TSA clearance in order to ship freight on passenger airlines.
Use LogiSuite to create airway bills & TSA documents for cargo exports.
Communicate with U.S. Customs and FDA officials when necessary to expedite the exam process.
Negotiate rates and contracts with air freight agents as well as LTL and FTL base carriers

Import-export agent vs freight forwarder skills

Common import-export agent skills

Customer Service, 34%
Data Entry, 11%
Booking, 8%
Export, 3%
Import Export, 3%
DHL, 3%

Common freight forwarder skills

Supply Chain, 23%
Customer Service, 18%
Booking, 14%
Import Export, 8%
Delivery Orders, 6%
AES, 6%