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Job outlook for import specialists in the United States
Import specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected import specialist job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 189,200 new jobs for import specialists are projected over the next decade.
Import specialist salaries have increased 4% for import specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 26,322 import specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 1,736 active import specialist job openings in the US.
The average import specialist salary is $51,757.
Are import specialist jobs in demand?
Import specialist job and salary trends over time
Import specialist jobs over time
Import specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,322 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 31,346 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 31,119 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 28,203 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 27,401 | 0.01% |
Average import specialist salary over time
Import specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,757 | $24.88 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | $51,721 | $24.87 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $51,095 | $24.56 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $49,451 | $23.77 | --0.2% |
| 2021 | $49,569 | $23.83 | +0.1% |
Import specialist jobs by state
Most common states for import specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 61 | 9% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 218 | 7% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 40 | 7% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 120 | 6% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 62 | 6% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 46 | 6% |
| 7 | Alaska | 739,795 | 41 | 6% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 39 | 6% |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 338 | 5% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 67 | 5% |
| 11 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 66 | 5% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 48 | 5% |
| 13 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 47 | 5% |
| 14 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 773 | 4% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 473 | 4% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 455 | 4% |
| 17 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 258 | 4% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 203 | 4% |
| 19 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 107 | 4% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 65 | 4% |
Most common cities for import specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elk Grove Village | 5 | 15% | $47,939 |
| 2 | Rockville Centre | 1 | 4% | $63,243 |
| 3 | Schaumburg | 2 | 3% | $47,906 |
| 4 | Chester | 1 | 3% | $55,384 |
| 5 | Port Huron | 1 | 3% | $57,291 |
| 6 | Coppell | 1 | 2% | $39,854 |
| 7 | Des Plaines | 1 | 2% | $48,016 |
| 8 | Linden | 1 | 2% | $58,678 |
| 9 | Lombard | 1 | 2% | $47,829 |
| 10 | Miramar | 1 | 1% | $55,201 |
| 11 | Savannah | 1 | 1% | $47,094 |
| 12 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $47,987 |
| 13 | Houston | 3 | 0% | $40,835 |
| 14 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $47,600 |
| 15 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $39,898 |
| 16 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $55,221 |
| 17 | Milwaukee | 1 | 0% | $50,250 |
Import Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of import specialist experts
Rowan University
North Carolina Central University
Forsyth County, Georgia
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorRowan University
Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural education
How would you rate the starting salaries for Import Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Educators are not paid nearly enough. However, working in a state with strong teachers' unions helps to ensure a starting salary that recent graduates can live off of and growth opportunities, albeit modest, over their careers.
Elisha Blankson
Program Director NCCU, Assistant ProfessorNorth Carolina Central University
Communication Disorders Department
What type of skills will young Import Specialists need?
Elisha Blankson: Graduates will need a skill set about the field in which they received training and additional skills useful to the job market. For example, with the changing demographics in the United States, extra skills in information technology and foreign languages will be a plus when entering the job market.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Import Specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola: This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Import Specialists?
Donna Kukarola: The procurement field is an opportunity; each day will have its own set of challenges and opportunities. Obtaining the right item/service at the right time, at the right price, is not all that procurement does. They are strategic members, sourcing, timing, keeping up with trends, laws, best practices, and advising that the resource desired is already available!
This year, entering the workforce will be different for many interviews to be held electronically - even, perhaps, teleworking when they get the job. Training is a bit more of a challenge then, and it can be hard to get a real feel of the "attitude." Keeping an open mind and being flexible is a must; during this pandemic, we have all had to learn how to do our jobs differently and navigate our careers.