Freight Forwarders
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.
Freight Forwarders 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $49,900 in the US and is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows high AI exposure (0.71 on a 0-1 scale) — significant portions of core tasks are already being automated. The most in-demand skills for the role include international tariffs, cartography, types of packaging used in industrial shipments, principles of cargo stowage, manage freight payment methods.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £56,689 a year for Brokers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3531). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Freight Forwarders, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Transportation
- Administrative
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
- Geography
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Freight Forwarders do?
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.
How much does Freight Forwarders earn?
The median annual salary for Freight Forwarders in the US is $49,900.
What is the job outlook for Freight Forwarders?
The role is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 100,600 workers.
How do I become freight forwarders?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Freight Forwarders need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include international tariffs, cartography, types of packaging used in industrial shipments, principles of cargo stowage, manage freight payment methods, weigh shipments. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Freight Forwarders?
Our AI-durability model gives Freight Forwarders a score of 0.71 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at high AI risk — many core tasks are already being automated by generative AI and workflow tools. Focus on AI-adjacent skills or plan a pivot to an AI-durable adjacent role.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Freight Forwarders has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.