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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Trade Specialist is $36,693 annually. This figure represents a broad spectrum of roles within the trade industry, including import/export specialists, logistics coordinators, and compliance officers. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, industry demand, and level of experience.
Trade Specialists in states with high demand for these roles, such as California, Texas, and New York, often earn significantly more, with some specialists reporting salaries upwards of $50,000. The demand for skilled professionals in logistics and trade compliance continues to grow, driven by a global market that requires adept management of supply chains.
To enhance earning potential, Trade Specialists should seek additional certifications and training in areas such as international trade regulations or supply chain management. Engaging in networking opportunities and professional organizations can also provide valuable insights into the evolving job landscape.
For those pursuing a career as a Trade Specialist, understanding salary benchmarks and factors that influence pay can lead to informed career decisions. The trade industry offers diverse opportunities with the potential for competitive compensation.
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The highest-paying states for trade specialists are Kansas, Minnesota, and New York. The lowest average trade specialist salary states are Nevada, South Carolina, and Louisiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $44,365 | $21.33 |
| 2 | Kansas | $50,229 | $24.15 |
| 3 | Illinois | $37,255 | $17.91 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $33,388 | $16.05 |
| 5 | Arkansas | $33,503 | $16.11 |
| 6 | Alaska | $34,996 | $16.82 |
| 7 | Vermont | $34,869 | $16.76 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $48,662 | $23.40 |
| 9 | Florida | $33,587 | $16.15 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $37,240 | $17.90 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $40,351 | $19.40 |
| 12 | Indiana | $33,374 | $16.05 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $32,286 | $15.52 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $37,241 | $17.90 |
| 15 | Texas | $32,983 | $15.86 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $36,473 | $17.54 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $33,362 | $16.04 |
| 18 | Maine | $34,601 | $16.64 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $30,814 | $14.81 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $31,994 | $15.38 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $33,954 | $16.32 |
| 22 | Ohio | $32,066 | $15.42 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $30,518 | $14.67 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $31,360 | $15.08 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $31,464 | $15.13 |
| 26 | Iowa | $29,129 | $14.00 |
| 27 | Delaware | $30,085 | $14.46 |
| 28 | Colorado | $31,369 | $15.08 |
| 29 | Virginia | $31,546 | $15.17 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $30,198 | $14.52 |
| 31 | Washington | $32,227 | $15.49 |
| 32 | California | $33,171 | $15.95 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $29,407 | $14.14 |
| 34 | Michigan | $30,273 | $14.55 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $27,909 | $13.42 |
| 36 | Maryland | $29,905 | $14.38 |
| 37 | Missouri | $30,199 | $14.52 |
| 38 | Oregon | $29,827 | $14.34 |
| 39 | Alabama | $28,283 | $13.60 |
| 40 | Montana | $28,746 | $13.82 |
| 41 | Utah | $28,260 | $13.59 |
| 42 | Arizona | $26,938 | $12.95 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $26,042 | $12.52 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $28,406 | $13.66 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $28,894 | $13.89 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $27,616 | $13.28 |
| 47 | Nevada | $26,929 | $12.95 |
| 48 | Georgia | $23,741 | $11.41 |
| 49 | Idaho | $23,239 | $11.17 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $26,166 | $12.58 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $23,821 | $11.45 |
The highest-paying cities for trade specialists are Minneapolis, MN, Albany, NY, and Johnston, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,672 | $23.40 |
| 2 | Albany, NY | $44,770 | $21.52 |
| 3 | Johnston, RI | $40,373 | $19.41 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $37,424 | $17.99 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $37,347 | $17.96 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $37,288 | $17.93 |
| 7 | Greenwich, CT | $36,274 | $17.44 |
| 8 | Morgantown, WV | $33,718 | $16.21 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $33,275 | $16.00 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $33,104 | $15.92 |
| 11 | Evansville, IN | $32,996 | $15.86 |
| 12 | Spokane, WA | $31,957 | $15.36 |
| 13 | Springfield, VA | $31,947 | $15.36 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $31,477 | $15.13 |
| 15 | Wilmington, NC | $30,594 | $14.71 |
| 16 | Springfield, MO | $30,224 | $14.53 |
| 17 | Dearborn, MI | $30,222 | $14.53 |
| 18 | Newark, DE | $30,103 | $14.47 |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | $30,048 | $14.45 |
| 20 | Portland, OR | $29,689 | $14.27 |
A trade specialist's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $36,693 | $3,058 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of trade specialists are sales trader, market maker, and senior specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Representative | $65,361 | $5,447 | $31.42 | 35,914 |
| Registered Representative | $54,074 | $4,506 | $26.00 | 17,622 |
| Sales Trader | $108,427 | $9,036 | $52.13 | 19,736 |
| Sales Agent | $45,217 | $3,768 | $21.74 | 391,987 |
| Licensed Sales Agent | $36,453 | $3,038 | $17.53 | 63,324 |
| Airport Sales Agent | $29,987 | $2,499 | $14.42 | 41,045 |
Top companies hiring trade specialists now:
Trade specialist salaries at Ford Motor and Google are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average trade specialist salary at companies like Morgan Stanley and BP America Inc are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Motor | $79,768 | $38.35 |
| 2 | $76,646 | $36.85 | |
| 3 | Morgan Stanley | $75,832 | $36.46 |
| 4 | BP America Inc | $64,322 | $30.92 |
| 5 | ABB | $62,219 | $29.91 |
| 6 | Point72 | $60,026 | $28.86 |
| 7 | Citi | $55,394 | $26.63 |
| 8 | Neuberger Berman | $54,636 | $26.27 |
| 9 | SUNY New Paltz | $52,048 | $25.02 |
| 10 | BMO Capital Markets | $51,694 | $24.85 |
| 11 | BNY Mellon | $51,042 | $24.54 |
| 12 | Edelman Financial Engines | $50,878 | $24.46 |
| 13 | UBS | $50,017 | $24.05 |
| 14 | Tri-State G&T | $49,935 | $24.01 |
| 15 | Wells Enterprises | $45,844 | $22.04 |
| 16 | Square | $45,682 | $21.96 |
| 17 | J.P. Morgan | $45,187 | $21.72 |
| 18 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $44,358 | $21.33 |
| 19 | New York State Restaurant Association | $43,170 | $20.75 |
| 20 | The Trade Desk | $42,730 | $20.54 |
The average trade specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $46,311 | $22.26 |
| 2 | Government | $43,980 | $21.14 |
| 3 | Education | $38,538 | $18.53 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $37,348 | $17.96 |
| 5 | Transportation | $35,956 | $17.29 |
The average trade specialist salary has fallen by $-4,130 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average trade specialist earned $40,823 annually, but today, they earn $36,693 a year. That works out to a -4% change in pay for trade specialists over the last decade.
Compare trade specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare trade specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $36,700 | $17.64 | +3.9% |
| 2025 | $35,300 | $16.96 | -3.0% |
| 2024 | $36,300 | $17.46 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $36,100 | $17.37 | -5.5% |
| 2022 | $38,100 | $18.33 | -6.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk | Programmatic Trading Specialist | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $61,500 |
| Lessen | Trade Specialist (General Trades Knowledge-Plumbing, Electrical, Hvac, Landscaping or Similar) | Chicago, IL | 06/27/2025 | $55,000 |
| Fedex | Customs Trade Specialist-2Nd Shift | Jonesboro, AR | 06/26/2025 | $30,303 |
| Fedex | Customs Trade Specialist | Phoenix, AZ | 06/25/2025 | $37,566 |
| Fedex | Customs Trade Specialist | Memphis, TN | 06/21/2025 | $32,015 |
| Teksystems | Trade Servicing Specialist/Trade Document Examiner | Minneapolis, MN | 06/21/2025 | $52,175 |
| Advisor Employee Services | Trading Specialist-Financial Firm-Pittsburg, PA (Remote) | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/21/2025 | $60,000 |
| Suny College of Technology at Delhi | Trades Specialist Electrician | Delhi, NY | 06/21/2025 | $50,425 |
| State of New York | C250063-Trades Specialist Painter-Campus Operations | Buffalo, NY | 06/20/2025 | $50,425 |
| University of Missouri System | Building Trades Specialist (BTS), Umkc Campus Facilities Management, 85226 | Kansas City, MO | 06/20/2025 | $48,001 |
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