Cargo and Freight Agents Salary
Cargo and Freight Agents in Alabama make a median of $54,890 a year, or about $26.39 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $62,121 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,085/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Alabama?
About cargo and freight agents
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What this looks like in Alabama
Cargo and freight agents pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $55K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,085/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level cargo and freight agents (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by metro in Alabama
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan | $59K | +7% | 50 |
| Birmingham | $56K | +1% | 520 |
| Mobile | $54K | -1% | 130 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $43K | -21% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track cargo and freight agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cargo and freight agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cargo and freight agents in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cargo and freight agents typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,402/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cargo and freight agent a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $55K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for cargo and freight agents?
Alabama pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cargo and freight agents make in Alabama?
The median is $54,890 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,040, and experienced cargo and freight agents can clear $83,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,630/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cargo and freight agents salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cargo and freight agents salary is worth about $62,121 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cargo and freight agents get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.