How to hire an import export manager

Import export manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring import export managers in the United States:

The median cost to hire an import export manager is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
Small businesses spend $1,105 per import export manager on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
There are a total of 4,404 import export managers in the US, and there are currently 6,421 job openings in this field.
Springfield, NY, has the highest demand for import export managers, with 3 job openings.

How to hire an import export manager, step by step

To hire an import export manager, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a import export manager:

Here's a step-by-step import export manager 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 manager job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new import export manager
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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

Identify your hiring needs

First, determine the employments status of the import export manager you need to hire. Certain import export manager 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 import export manager 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 import export managers and their corresponding salaries.

Type of Import Export Manager	Description	Hourly rate
Import Export Manager		$24-46
Manager/Partner	A manager/partner or managing partner is a professional who manages the daily activities of a company as well as guides its overall strategic business direction. Managing partners must cooperate with other executives, board members, and employees to implement organizational goals, procedures, and policies... Show more	$30-67
Line Manager	As line managers, they oversee other employees and the business operations while reporting to a higher manager. They play a significant role in the operation of the business from supervising and managing workers daily and acting as a link to upper management and employees... Show more	$12-55

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Import Export
- Customer Service
- Logistics
- Export Compliance
- Forwarders
- Customs Brokers
- International Trade
- Freight Forwarders
- HTS
- Customs Regulations
- Government Agencies
- CBP
- Purchase Orders
- ITAR
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Manage importation of LCL and FCL shipments via air, ocean and express services.
- Manage OEM exports throughout Europe for a veterinary equipment manufacturer.
- Correspond and establish operational procedures with freight forwarders, U.S.
- Review and approve import documentation for adherence to payment terms and CBP rules and regulations.
- Work with forwarders to ensure proper documentation is presented per international requirements.
- Implement advanced shipment notification process with EDI technology providing improve visibility of purchase order status.
More import export manager duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in the import export manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. An import export manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

For example, the average salary for an import export manager in Mississippi may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level import export manager. Additionally, an import export manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

Average import export manager salary

$70,807yearly

$34.04 hourly rate

Entry-level import export manager salary

$51,000 yearly salary

Updated December 15, 2025

Average import export manager salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	New York	$85,206	$41
2	New Jersey	$81,145	$39
3	Pennsylvania	$79,956	$38
4	Massachusetts	$77,574	$37
5	North Carolina	$76,717	$37
6	Missouri	$73,303	$35
7	Utah	$73,011	$35
8	Arizona	$72,852	$35
9	California	$71,369	$34
10	Alabama	$69,372	$33
11	Illinois	$69,020	$33
12	Texas	$67,656	$33
13	Minnesota	$63,568	$31
14	Florida	$56,767	$27

Average import export manager salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	AbbVie	$105,364	$50.66
2	Microchip Technology	$82,201	$39.52	1
3	DeWitt LLP Law Firm	$81,312	$39.09	2
4	INDO	$76,806	$36.93
5	MiTek	$72,893	$35.04	3
6	BAE Systems	$72,793	$35.00	5
7	Lockheed Martin	$71,150	$34.21	3
8	Brink's	$69,404	$33.37
9	Myers Group LLC	$69,073	$33.21
10	All in All	$68,605	$32.98
11	Arrow Electronics	$67,361	$32.39	1
12	Geodis Wilson USA Inc	$67,333	$32.37	2
13	Interport Logistics	$66,110	$31.78
14	The Parker Company	$65,124	$31.31
15	Taylor Guitars	$61,946	$29.78
16	Mettler-Toledo International	$61,782	$29.70
17	Northwest Hardwoods	$60,333	$29.01
18	Grain Millers	$59,444	$28.58
19	Mohawk Industries	$57,295	$27.55
20	Randstad North America, Inc.	$57,044	$27.43

Writing an import export manager job description
A job description for an import export manager 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 manager job description:
Import export manager job description example

SmartHire is seeking to hire an Import/Export Documentation Manager for a client who is a leading Manufacturer and Supplier in their field in North America. This is an Onsite role located in Frisco, TX. This is a Direct Hire position and requires someone who has a minimum of 8+ years of over the water international import/export management experience and 5+ years of management experience.

This is a Direct Hire position with a salary between $100k - $115k

Benefits includes comprehensive medical and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability benefits, life insurance, paid vacation, paid holidays, 401(K) Retirement Plan with matching company contribution, and profit-sharing program.

Shift: Monday – Friday – Days

Dynamic Manager needed to support a diverse team of 8-12 employees. This manager must have extensive experience in overseas Export/Import with a background in vessel/containerized product. This role will manage a team that compiles the documentation for products shipped across the world along with the team that manages the receiving of the product into the US.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

·Manage a team of 8-12 individuals that oversee the import and export documentation for material that is moved via ocean for up to 1,000 containers a month.

·Act as a key leader within the supply chain organization to deliver world class service to our customers while driving strategic change and implementing robust international shipment objectives.

·Assume a leadership role in managing the implementation of international trade documentation standards that comply with applicable local and US regulations, along with corresponding agencies and regulations outside of the United States. Assist in streamlining processes and systems to support the delivery of products, services, and information internationally, externally, and internally.

·Ensure that required Import and Export documentation is accurately and completed in a timely manner, resulting in orders that are shipped and delivered accurately, timely, and compliant. Required documentation includes but is not limited to: Bill of Lading, packing lists, Phytosanitary, shipping instructions, etc.

·Act as an escalation point to quickly resolve complex issues regarding sales and purchase order management, product delivery and steamship interactions.

·Motivate and direct staff as they work, identifying and developing key talent. Manage employee cycle: Hire, onboard, train and guide CSRs toward exceptional sales support.Resolve personnel issues and lead employees’ performance management.

·Interprets and monitors the team’s adherence to corporate policies and procedures, international documentation compliance.

·Prepare and analyze data and reports to present recommendations for continuous improvement in team and documentation processes, import and export delivery, and customer satisfaction.

Basic Qualifications:

·8+ years of established over the water international Import/Export compliance / supply chain management experience

·5+ years’ management and supervisory experience.

·Experience with MS Office Suite, Supply Chain, and Transportation Management systems.

·Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred

Competencies and Knowledge:

·Solid understand of both import and export documentation process and trade compliance requirements associated with these transactions.

·Experience working with containerized / vessel shipments, with direct interaction with international carriers preferred

·Familiarity with commonly used import and export documents including but not limited to: Bill of Ladings, Pro Forma & commercial invoices, ISF filings and delivery instructions.

·Knowledge in business and management principles involved in strategic planning, compliance, resource allocation, leadership, coordination of people and resources, supply chain management, sales, international shipping, and trade regulations

·Possess excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills to the various stakeholders of the company, including to senior leadership.

SmartTalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer

#STHMG
Post your job
There are various strategies that you can use to find the right import export manager 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 import export manager job on Zippia to find and recruit import export manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
To successfully recruit import export managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.
Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 manager
Once you've found the import export manager 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.
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.
After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new import export manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.
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.)
Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire an import export manager?

Hiring an import export manager comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting import export managers 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 import export manager recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $70,807 per year for an import export manager, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for import export managers in the US typically range between $24 and $46 an hour.

How to hire an import export manager