Cargo and Freight Agents Salary
Cargo and Freight Agents in South Dakota make a median of $64,340 a year, or about $30.94 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $71,576 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 22.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in South Dakota?
About cargo and freight agents
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for cargo and freight agents, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, South Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for cargo and freight agentss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level cargo and freight agents (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $65K | +2% | 30 |
| Sioux Falls | $63K | -2% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track cargo and freight agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cargo and freight agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for cargo and freight agents in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cargo and freight agents typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,984/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $64K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for cargo and freight agents?
South Dakota pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cargo and freight agents make in South Dakota?
The median is $64,340 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,730, and experienced cargo and freight agents can clear $80,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,471/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 22.7% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $71,576 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.