Cargo and Freight Agents salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Cargo and Freight Agents in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $44,240 a year ($21.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,060 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $52,260. Pay here is 9% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $48,370. There are 0.87 cargo and freight agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cargo and freight agents in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,400 | $19.90 |
| 25th percentile | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| Median | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| 75th percentile | $54,900 | $26.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,060 | $31.76 |
| Average (mean) | $49,440 | $23.77 |
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 | $3,686.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,843.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,701.54 |
| Weekly | $850.77 |
| Hourly | $21.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,580 | 60 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $62,240 | 290 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $59,570 | 60 |
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 |
See Cargo and Freight Agents pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $64,380 | $30.95 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $50,490 | $24.27 |
| Customer Service Representative | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $71,690 | $34.47 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for cargo and freight agents in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $44,240 a year, or $21.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cargo and freight agents make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of cargo and freight agents in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $66,060 a year. The top 25% earn $54,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for cargo and freight agents in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,400 a year, and a quarter of cargo and freight agents earn $44,240 or less.
How many cargo and freight agents work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 350 cargo and freight agents are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.