Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Cargo and Freight Agentss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Cargo and Freight Agentss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Sioux Falls ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $74,832/year, better purchasing power than Sioux Falls's higher nominal pay of $67,820. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Sioux Falls$67,820
#2 Boston-Cambridge-Newton$63,350
#3 Salt Lake City-Murray$62,650

Best purchasing power

#1 Sioux Falls$74,832
#2 Greenville-Anderson-Greer$64,379
#3 Salt Lake City-Murray$62,110

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed cargo and freight agentss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Sioux Falls
20% rent burden
$67,820
$74,832
#2
$60,040
$64,379
#3
Salt Lake City-Murray
24% rent burden
$62,650
$62,110
#4
Milwaukee-Waukesha
27% rent burden
$59,900
$61,791
#5
Fargo
24% rent burden
$55,750
$61,351
#6
Harrisburg-Carlisle
30% rent burden
$59,890
$60,710
#7
Omaha
29% rent burden
$55,730
$60,635
#8
Syracuse
29% rent burden
$57,150
$59,693
#9
$60,940
$59,309
#10
$59,320
$59,284
#11
$63,350
$58,511
#12
Birmingham
29% rent burden
$53,100
$57,944
#13
St. Cloud
29% rent burden
$50,320
$57,423
#14
Canton-Massillon
26% rent burden
$50,890
$56,918
#15
Mobile
26% rent burden
$49,940
$56,686
#16
Green Bay
27% rent burden
$52,300
$56,182
#17
$62,590
$55,606
#18
Fort Smith
24% rent burden
$47,400
$55,187
#19
Memphis
30% rent burden
$50,420
$54,697
#20
$52,260
$54,608
#21
Boise City
37% rent burden
$53,020
$53,888
#22
$48,100
$53,827
#23
Spartanburg
29% rent burden
$48,990
$53,806
#24
New Orleans-Metairie
32% rent burden
$49,760
$53,737
#25
St. Louis
29% rent burden
$50,770
$53,392

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Cargo and Freight Agentss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $67,820 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $56,517 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A cargo and freight agents in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Cargo and Freight Agentss?

Sioux Falls has one of the lowest rent burdens for Cargo and Freight Agentss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,156/month, with a median salary of $67,820.

Where do Cargo and Freight Agentss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Sioux Falls pays the highest nominal median salary at $67,820/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Cargo and Freight AgentssView →How to become a cargo and freight agentsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →