Cargo and Freight Agents Salary
Cargo and Freight Agents in Rhode Island make a median of $60,310 a year, or about $29 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $59,261 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 39.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Rhode Island?
About cargo and freight agents
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Rhode Island
Rhode Island sits well above the national pay line for cargo and freight agents, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,544/month, which is 38.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level cargo and freight agents (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $60K | -0% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track cargo and freight agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
Can a cargo and freight agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 38.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cargo and freight agents typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,372/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Rhode Island?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $60K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for cargo and freight agents?
Rhode Island pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cargo and freight agents make in Rhode Island?
The median is $60,310 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,530, and experienced cargo and freight agents can clear $91,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,051/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 38.1% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (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 $59,261 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.