Cargo and Freight Agents Salary
Cargo and Freight Agents in Hawaii make a median of $42,400 a year, or about $20.39 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $38,486 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 76.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Hawaii?
About cargo and freight agents
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Pay for cargo and freight agents in Hawaii runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $52K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 80.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for cargo and freight agentss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level cargo and freight agents (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku | $43K | +1% | 310 |
| Urban Honolulu | $42K | -1% | 980 |
Compare to other states
Track cargo and freight agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cargo and freight agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 80.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cargo and freight agents in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cargo and freight agents typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,072/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 108% 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 Hawaii?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $42K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for cargo and freight agents?
Hawaii pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do cargo and freight agents make in Hawaii?
The median is $42,400 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,540, and experienced cargo and freight agents can clear $68,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,792/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 80.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cargo and freight agents salary go in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cargo and freight agents salary is worth about $38,486 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.