Cargo and Freight Agents Salary
Cargo and Freight Agents in Maryland make a median of $48,730 a year, or about $23.43 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $49,342 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 53.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Maryland?
About cargo and freight agents
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What this looks like in Maryland
Cargo and freight agents pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,795/month, which is 55.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level cargo and freight agents (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by metro in Maryland
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $49K | +1% | 540 |
Compare to other states
Track cargo and freight agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cargo and freight agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 55.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cargo and freight agents typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,114/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 85% 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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for cargo and freight agents?
Maryland pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do cargo and freight agents make in Maryland?
The median is $48,730 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,230, and experienced cargo and freight agents can clear $70,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,254/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 55.2% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $49,342 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.