Cargo and Freight Agents salary in Illinois
Cargo and Freight Agents in Illinois earn a median of $59,750 a year ($28.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,580 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $52,260. Illinois ranks 9th of 48 states for cargo and freight agents pay. There are 1.0 cargo and freight agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $58,120, close to the median.
Pay range for cargo and freight agents in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,030 | $19.24 |
| 25th percentile | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| Median | $59,750 | $28.72 |
| 75th percentile | $62,480 | $30.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| Average (mean) | $58,120 | $27.94 |
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 | $4,979.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,489.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,298.08 |
| Weekly | $1,149.04 |
| Hourly | $28.72 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,580 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,850 | 5,630 |
| Peoria, IL | $58,540 | 30 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,780 | 700 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,880 | $27.83 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $57,240 | $27.52 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,560 | $23.83 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for cargo and freight agents in Illinois is $59,750 a year, or $28.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cargo and freight agents make in Illinois?
The top 10% of cargo and freight agents in Illinois earn at least $80,580 a year. The top 25% earn $62,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for cargo and freight agents in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,030 a year, and a quarter of cargo and freight agents earn $48,840 or less.
How many cargo and freight agents work in Illinois?
About 6,110 cargo and freight agents are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.