Ocean freight agent vs import-export agent

The differences between ocean freight agents and import-export agents 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 $41,633 average annual salary of an ocean freight agent.

The top three skills for an ocean freight agent include customer service, pre-alert and FCL. The most important skills for an import-export agent are customer service, data entry, and booking.

Ocean freight agent vs import-export agent overview

	Ocean Freight Agent	Import-Export Agent
Yearly salary	$41,633	$47,326
Hourly rate	$20.02	$22.75
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	31,303	26,116
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

Ocean freight agent vs import-export agent salary

Ocean freight agents and import-export agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Ocean Freight Agent	Import-Export Agent
Average salary	$41,633	$47,326
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $63,000	Between $33,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	-	Uniondale, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	C.H. Robinson
Best paying industry	-	Transportation

Differences between ocean freight agent and import-export agent education

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

	Ocean Freight Agent	Import-Export Agent
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Ocean freight agent vs import-export agent demographics

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

	Ocean Freight Agent	Import-Export Agent
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 55.6% Female, 44.4%	Male, 43.9% Female, 56.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 13.9% White, 51.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

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

Ocean freight agent example responsibilities.

Ensure accuracy of direct mail processing and preparation operations in accordance with DHL requirements, customer requests, and establish procedures.
Provide guidance and clarification on proxy materials, voting methods and specific proposals.

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.

Ocean freight agent vs import-export agent skills

Common ocean freight agent skills

Customer Service, 22%
Pre-Alert, 22%
FCL, 13%
AES, 11%
Invoice, 11%
LCL, 10%

Common import-export agent skills

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

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Ocean Freight Agent vs Import-Export Agent

Updated January 8, 2025

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