Cargo and Freight Agents salary in California
Cargo and Freight Agents in California earn a median of $57,690 a year ($27.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,060 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $52,260. California ranks 13th of 48 states for cargo and freight agents pay. There are 0.94 cargo and freight agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $61,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cargo and freight agents in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| 25th percentile | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Median | $57,690 | $27.73 |
| 75th percentile | $73,730 | $35.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,060 | $39.93 |
| Average (mean) | $61,720 | $29.67 |
Half of cargo and freight agents earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,807.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,403.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,218.85 |
| Weekly | $1,109.42 |
| Hourly | $27.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $61,560 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,980 | 1,960 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,610 | 210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $59,310 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,010 | 10,490 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,690 | 270 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $54,820 | 280 |
| Salinas, CA | $54,490 | 30 |
| Visalia, CA | $54,430 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $51,860 | 890 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,150 | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $48,580 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,880 | 1,960 |
| El Centro, CA | $44,920 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for cargo and freight agents
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,250 |
| New Hampshire | $67,660 |
| South Dakota | $64,340 |
| Nebraska | $62,500 |
| Washington | $60,760 |
| Rhode Island | $60,310 |
| New Jersey | $60,210 |
| New York | $60,040 |
| Illinois | $59,750 |
| Montana | $59,240 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $63,000 | $30.29 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $52,350 | $25.17 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $80,120 | $38.52 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $79,040 | $38.00 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cargo and freight agents make in California?
The median salary for cargo and freight agents in California is $57,690 a year, or $27.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cargo and freight agents make in California?
The top 10% of cargo and freight agents in California earn at least $83,060 a year. The top 25% earn $73,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for cargo and freight agents in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,430 a year, and a quarter of cargo and freight agents earn $47,270 or less.
How many cargo and freight agents work in California?
About 17,060 cargo and freight agents are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.