Cargo and Freight Agents Salary
Cargo and Freight Agents in Montana make a median of $59,240 a year, or about $28.48 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $61,072 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Montana?
About cargo and freight agents
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for cargo and freight agents, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) 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, Montana
Entry-level cargo and freight agents (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by metro in Montana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $63K | +6% | 60 |
| Great Falls | $61K | +3% | 50 |
| Bozeman | $58K | -2% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track cargo and freight agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cargo and freight agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 28.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cargo and freight agents in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cargo and freight agents typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,363/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Montana?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $59K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for cargo and freight agents?
Montana pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cargo and freight agents make in Montana?
The median is $59,240 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,380, and experienced cargo and freight agents can clear $80,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,938/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 28.7% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $61,072 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.