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International trade specialist salary
Average international trade specialist salary
$63,227
Understanding the International Trade Specialist Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for an International Trade Specialist stands at $63,227 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific industry. In states like California and New York, professionals in this field often earn higher salaries due to the concentration of international businesses and trade activities.
Moreover, the years of experience play a crucial role in salary progression. Entry-level positions may start lower, while specialists with extensive experience and expertise can command much higher salaries. For instance, senior specialists may earn upwards of $90,000 annually in high-demand markets.
The industries that typically offer the highest compensation include logistics, finance, and consulting, where the intricacies of international trade can lead to substantial financial impacts. As global trade continues to evolve, the need for skilled professionals remains strong, presenting ample career opportunities for those pursuing this path.
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Where can an International Trade Specialist earn more?
International trade specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average international trade specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for international trade specialists are New York, Ohio, and Virginia. The lowest average international trade specialist salary states are Wyoming, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for international trade specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $85,956 | $41.33 |
| 2 | Virginia | $79,594 | $38.27 |
| 3 | New York | $81,285 | $39.08 |
| 4 | Alaska | $74,626 | $35.88 |
| 5 | Illinois | $78,862 | $37.91 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $79,173 | $38.06 |
| 7 | Delaware | $71,785 | $34.51 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $69,457 | $33.39 |
| 9 | Arizona | $69,263 | $33.30 |
| 10 | Washington | $74,588 | $35.86 |
| 11 | Ohio | $80,536 | $38.72 |
| 12 | Nevada | $72,928 | $35.06 |
| 13 | Michigan | $76,063 | $36.57 |
| 14 | Maryland | $74,374 | $35.76 |
| 15 | Maine | $69,879 | $33.60 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $75,517 | $36.31 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $62,815 | $30.20 |
| 18 | Louisiana | $67,874 | $32.63 |
| 19 | Vermont | $67,106 | $32.26 |
| 20 | California | $70,508 | $33.90 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $65,314 | $31.40 |
| 22 | Indiana | $67,497 | $32.45 |
| 23 | Texas | $65,139 | $31.32 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $69,078 | $33.21 |
| 25 | Kansas | $66,317 | $31.88 |
| 26 | Colorado | $65,846 | $31.66 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $64,730 | $31.12 |
| 28 | Iowa | $60,365 | $29.02 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $66,417 | $31.93 |
| 30 | Georgia | $62,701 | $30.14 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $50,891 | $24.47 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $60,000 | $28.85 |
| 33 | Oregon | $64,414 | $30.97 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $58,526 | $28.14 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $63,138 | $30.35 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $59,210 | $28.47 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $62,425 | $30.01 |
| 38 | Utah | $57,031 | $27.42 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $54,964 | $26.43 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $57,983 | $27.88 |
| 41 | Florida | $55,163 | $26.52 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $59,864 | $28.78 |
| 43 | Idaho | $57,093 | $27.45 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $55,428 | $26.65 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $55,799 | $26.83 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $56,507 | $27.17 |
| 47 | Missouri | $57,142 | $27.47 |
| 48 | Montana | $54,184 | $26.05 |
| 49 | Alabama | $53,166 | $25.56 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $54,922 | $26.40 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $54,493 | $26.20 |
Highest paying cities for international trade specialists
The highest-paying cities for international trade specialists are Washington, DC, Reston, VA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $86,028 | $41.36 |
| 2 | Reston, VA | $81,673 | $39.27 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $81,433 | $39.15 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $79,486 | $38.21 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $79,094 | $38.03 |
| 6 | Midland, MI | $76,049 | $36.56 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $75,675 | $36.38 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $75,092 | $36.10 |
| 9 | Hercules, CA | $74,646 | $35.89 |
| 10 | West Lafayette, IN | $67,337 | $32.37 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $65,924 | $31.69 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,516 | $31.50 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $65,129 | $31.31 |
| 14 | Beaverton, OR | $63,855 | $30.70 |
| 15 | Doral, FL | $55,020 | $26.45 |
| 16 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $50,909 | $24.48 |
International trade specialist salary details
An international trade specialist's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $103,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an international trade specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| Average | $63,227 | $5,269 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying international trade specialist jobs
The highest paying types of international trade specialists are business developer, senior specialist, and staff specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance Officer | $64,058 | $5,338 | $30.80 | 69,161 |
| Business Developer | $101,635 | $8,470 | $48.86 | 193,469 |
| Compliance Auditor | $64,606 | $5,384 | $31.06 | 33,704 |
| Compliance Analyst | $59,108 | $4,926 | $28.42 | 26,138 |
| Compliance Coordinator | $49,472 | $4,123 | $23.78 | 33,823 |
| Operations Coordinator | $41,934 | $3,495 | $20.16 | 102,598 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for international trade specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Kim Chatani
Assistant Professor, Concordia University Irvine
Top companies hiring international trade specialists now:
Which companies pay international trade specialists the most?
International trade specialist salaries at Morgan Stanley and Bristol-Myers Squibb are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average international trade specialist salary at companies like Juniper Networks and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgan Stanley | $114,772 | $55.18 |
| 2 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $111,747 | $53.72 |
| 3 | Juniper Networks | $103,277 | $49.65 |
| 4 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | $82,014 | $39.43 |
| 5 | U.S. International Development Finance Corp | $79,759 | $38.35 |
| 6 | Northrop Grumman | $78,457 | $37.72 |
| 7 | Hughes Hubbard & Reed | $77,887 | $37.45 |
| 8 | Aerojet Rocketdyne | $76,245 | $36.66 |
| 9 | Mytech Partners | $75,630 | $36.36 |
| 10 | The PNC Financial Services Group | $75,305 | $36.20 |
| 11 | Lowe Hauptman & Ham, Llp | $74,963 | $36.04 |
| 12 | Small Business Administration | $73,499 | $35.34 |
| 13 | NI | $73,250 | $35.22 |
| 14 | US Meat Animal Research Center | $73,026 | $35.11 |
| 15 | Modern Technology Solutions | $73,022 | $35.11 |
| 16 | North American Lighting | $72,967 | $35.08 |
| 17 | Cooley | $72,289 | $34.75 |
| 18 | Teleflex | $71,366 | $34.31 |
| 19 | GitHub | $69,919 | $33.61 |
| 20 | Fortis Business Media LLC | $68,581 | $32.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
International Trade Specialist salary by industry
The average international trade specialist salary varies across industries:
- The average international trade specialist salary in the government industry is $73,234, the highest of any industry.
- The average international trade specialist salary in the finance industry is $72,313.
- International trade specialists in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $58,309, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for international trade specialists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government | $73,234 | $35.21 |
| 2 | Professional | $72,313 | $34.77 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $66,742 | $32.09 |
| 4 | Finance | $65,834 | $31.65 |
| 5 | Transportation | $58,309 | $28.03 |
High paying international trade specialist jobs
International trade specialist salary trends
The average international trade specialist salary has risen by $9,306 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average international trade specialist earned $53,921 annually, but today, they earn $63,227 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for international trade specialists over the last decade.
Compare international trade specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average international trade specialist salary over time
Compare international trade specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
International trade specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,200 | $30.40 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $60,800 | $29.24 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $59,400 | $28.56 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $59,000 | $28.34 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $58,100 | $27.95 | +1.3% |
Recently added international trade specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanmi Bank | International Trade Operations Specialist | Los Angeles, CA | 06/17/2025 | $45,000 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Phoenix, AZ | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Lincoln, NE | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Boston, MA | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Denver, CO | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Saint Paul, MN | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Helena, MT | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Hartford, CT | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Springfield, IL | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
| Solomonedwards | International Trade Compliance Specialist | Providence, RI | 05/23/2025 | $146,090 |
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