Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, New Jersey
$63,500 / year
≈ $5,300 per month · $30.53 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for New Jersey · median $62,500
25th percentile
$51,000Average
$63,50075th percentile
$72,500
$51,000Average
$63,50075th percentile
$72,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Freight Forwarder salary by state
Alabama$59,000
Alaska$60,000
Arizona$52,000
Arkansas$54,000
California$64,000
Colorado$57,000
District of Columbia$76,500
Florida$56,500
Georgia$55,500
Hawaii$51,500
Idaho$52,000
Illinois$60,000
Indiana$58,000
Iowa$55,500
Kansas$44,000
Kentucky$52,500
Louisiana$54,000
Maine$58,000
Maryland$51,500
Massachusetts$63,500
Michigan$54,000
Minnesota$67,500
Mississippi$54,000
Missouri$61,000
Montana$61,500
Nebraska$66,000
Nevada$53,500
New Hampshire$66,000
New Jersey$63,500
New Mexico$57,000
New York$67,000
North Carolina$54,000
North Dakota$67,000
Ohio$58,000
Oklahoma$54,000
Oregon$55,000
Pennsylvania$58,500
Rhode Island$64,000
South Carolina$61,000
South Dakota$67,500
Tennessee$60,500
Texas$53,500
Utah$60,500
Vermont$54,000
Virginia$57,500
Washington$65,500
West Virginia$55,500
Wisconsin$59,000
About this role
Freight Forwarder is a professional role within the function in the Office and Administrative Support job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Freight Forwarders do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
- 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.
Top skills: Reading Comprehension Coordination Monitoring Critical Thinking Active Listening Writing
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Freight Forwarder pay by experience level
Entry level$39,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$47,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$54,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$65,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$82,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+8.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
8,800
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Freight Forwarder salary by industry
Support Activities for Transportation
62,270 workers
$58,000Freight Transportation Arrangement
53,390 workers
$59,500Couriers and Messengers
9,770 workers
$60,500Couriers and Express Delivery Services
9,770 workers
$60,500Air Transportation
8,880 workers
$58,500Scheduled Air Transportation
8,440 workers
$58,000Support Activities for Air Transportation
6,030 workers
$42,000Truck Transportation
4,990 workers
$63,500Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
3,320 workers
$57,000Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
3,290 workers
$56,500National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Freight Forwarder pays 9% above the average across 55 roles in the Office and Administrative Support job family (family average $54,000).
Similar-paying roles in Office and Administrative Support
Careers related to Freight Forwarder
Coroner$91,500
Postal Service Clerk$64,000
Postal Service Mail Carrier$64,500
Light Truck Driver$50,500
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Freight Forwarder make?
The average base salary for a Freight Forwarder in the United States is $59,000 per year, or about $28.37 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $47,500 and $65,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Office and Administrative Support roles?
The Office and Administrative Support job family averages $54,000 across 55 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Put this data to work
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