Ocean Freight Forwarder Salary in the United States

How much does an Ocean Freight Forwarder make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ocean Freight Forwarder in the United States is $44,546 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.

However, an Ocean Freight Forwarder's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,502
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,982 to $49,757
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,917
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View as table View as graph 25% $38,982 10% $33,917 90% $54,502 75% $49,757 $44,546 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Ocean Freight Forwarder Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $49,757 $4,146 $957 $24
Average $44,546 $3,712 $857 $21
25th Percentile $38,982 $3,249 $750 $19
Check out Ocean Freight Forwarder Job Openings in the United States
Occupational Therapy Assistant

Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc. - Columbus, OH

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Travel OR RN

Titan Medical Group, LLC - Columbus, OH

Travel PCU Registered Nursein

Aya Healthcare - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Ocean Freight Forwarder Salaries

An Ocean Freight Forwarder's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Ocean Freight Forwarder Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Ocean Freight Forwarders. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $49,321.
  • California: $49,134.
  • Massachusetts: $48,479.

Top Paying Cities for Ocean Freight Forwarders

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $56,186
  • San Francisco: $55,570
  • Oakland: $54,399

What Skills Can Increase an Ocean Freight Forwarder's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 13.04% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • Credit Card (Mentioned in 39.13% Job Postings): A credit card is a type of credit facility, provided by banks that allow customers to borrow funds within a pre-approved credit limit.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 21.74% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 13.04%
Credit Card 39.13%
Data Entry 21.74%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Ocean Freight Forwarder's salary.
  • Card Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Attention to Detail: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Card Operations
$49,891
12%
Initiative
$49,446
11%
Attention to Detail
$44,991
1%
Credit Card
$44,546
0%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts an Ocean Freight Forwarder's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Ocean Freight Forwarders enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Ocean Freight Forwarder with a Bachelor's Degree is between $44,880 and $48,101).

Ocean Freight Forwarder Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ocean Freight Forwarder
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 100.0%
High School 0.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 100.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Ocean Freight Forwarder Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Ocean Freight Forwarder's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Ocean Freight Forwarder

Salaries for an Ocean Freight Forwarder can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,217 in 2023 to around $45,021 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Ocean Freight Forwarder salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Ocean Freight Forwarder Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,217
2024
$45,689
2025
$45,021
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,217
2024 $45,689
2025 $45,021
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Ocean Freight Forwarder

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Ocean Freight Forwarder

Here are companies hiring for Ocean Freight Forwarder and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Ocean Freight Forwarder Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Ocean Freight Forwarder job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    16 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    23 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    23 Days Ago

  • USPS

    Columbus, OH

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    29 Days Ago

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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