Cargo and Freight Agents salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cargo and Freight Agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $59,850 a year ($28.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,580 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $52,260. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $59,750. There are 1.2 cargo and freight agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $58,140, close to the median.
Pay range for cargo and freight agents in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,030 | $19.24 |
| 25th percentile | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| Median | $59,850 | $28.77 |
| 75th percentile | $62,480 | $30.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| Average (mean) | $58,140 | $27.95 |
Half of cargo and freight agents earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,987.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,493.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,301.92 |
| Weekly | $1,150.96 |
| Hourly | $28.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,850 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,580 | 60 |
| Peoria, IL | $58,540 | 30 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $52,210 | 30 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $51,570 | 40 |
| Evansville, IN | $50,850 | 40 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,480 | 1,310 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,990 | 580 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,780 | 700 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $46,190 | 1,530 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $42,880 | 140 |
Highest-paying states for cargo and freight agents
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,250 |
| New Hampshire | $67,660 |
| South Dakota | $64,340 |
| Nebraska | $62,500 |
| Washington | $60,760 |
| Rhode Island | $60,310 |
| New Jersey | $60,210 |
| New York | $60,040 |
| Illinois | $59,750 |
| Montana | $59,240 |
See Cargo and Freight Agents pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,900 | $28.80 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,670 | $30.61 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $52,480 | $25.23 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $41,130 | $19.77 |
| Meter Readers, Utilities | $80,180 | $38.55 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| Customer Service Representative | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,330 | $22.28 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,440 | $24.73 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cargo and freight agents make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for cargo and freight agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $59,850 a year, or $28.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cargo and freight agents make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of cargo and freight agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $80,580 a year. The top 25% earn $62,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for cargo and freight agents in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,030 a year, and a quarter of cargo and freight agents earn $48,880 or less.
How many cargo and freight agents work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 5,630 cargo and freight agents are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.