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What is an ocean freight forwarder and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScoreOcean Freight ForwarderUS Average
Salary
3.9

Avg. Salary $50,101

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
7.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 13.92%

Black or African American 9.16%

Hispanic or Latino 17.95%

Unknown 6.59%

White 51.65%

Gender

female 69.57%

male 30.43%

Age - 41.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41.5
Stress level
6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.0

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an ocean freight forwarder

  1. Explore ocean freight forwarder education requirements

    Most common ocean freight forwarder degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.7 %

    High School Diploma

    20.0 %

    Associate

    13.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific ocean freight forwarder skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Logistics90.29%
    Customer Service6.00%
    Delivery Orders3.71%
  3. Complete relevant ocean freight forwarder training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ocean freight forwarders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an ocean freight forwarder based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ocean freight forwarder resumes.
  4. Research ocean freight forwarder duties and responsibilities

    • Direct inbound and outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management.
    • Collaborate with third-party freight forwarders to implement a more efficient service.
  5. Prepare your ocean freight forwarder resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ocean freight forwarder resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an ocean freight forwarder resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable ocean freight forwarder resume templates

    Build a professional ocean freight forwarder resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your ocean freight forwarder resume.
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
    Ocean Freight Forwarder Resume
  6. Apply for ocean freight forwarder jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an ocean freight forwarder job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first ocean freight forwarder job

Zippi

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Average ocean freight forwarder salary

The average ocean freight forwarder salary in the United States is $50,101 per year or $24 per hour. Ocean freight forwarder salaries range between $31,000 and $78,000 per year.

Average ocean freight forwarder salary
$50,101 Yearly
$24.09 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do ocean freight forwarders rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Ocean freight forwarder reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

It's logical - it makes sense. You go through a whole process for each booking and when it releases/sails you know your job is done.

Cons

Mostly sitting, repetitive


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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