Office & Administrative Support
Freight Forwarders
Also called: Air Export Agent, Air Export Coordinator, Export Coordinator, Freight Forwarder
US median pay
$52,260
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.2%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
9,000
100,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Research rates, routings, or modes of transport for shipment of products. Maintain awareness of regulations affecting the international movement of cargo. Make arrangements for additional services, such as storage or inland transportation.
What they do day to day
- Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
- Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
- Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
- Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments.
- Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
- Complete customs paperwork.
- Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.
- Select shipment routes, based on nature of goods shipped, transit times, or security needs.
- Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
- Arrange delivery or storage of goods at destinations.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.2/5
- Service Orientation3.2/5
- Negotiation3.2/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Systems Evaluation3.0/5
Knowledge
- Transportation4.8/5
- Administrative4.6/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.5/5
- Administration and Management4.3/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Computers and Electronics4.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree44%
- High school diploma25%
- Associate's degree16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.