Port Agent & Freight Coordinator Salary Calculator

Calculate competitive salary benchmarks for port agents and freight coordinators. Experience, specialisation, and location — find the right compensation to attract and retain trade compliance and port operations talent.

Quick answer: Port agent salaries: entry $38K–$52K, mid-level $52K–$72K, senior $72K–$95K. Import/export specialists: $45K–$80K. Customs compliance managers: $75K–$110K. Ports and coastal cities command 15–25% premium.

⚓ Port Agent & Freight Coordinator Salary Calculator

Salary Range
Midpoint
Total Compensation

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Select role and experience level — use the closest match to your position.
  2. Set location market — major port cities (LA/LB, NY/NJ, Houston) command significant premiums over inland markets.
  3. Add specialisation premium — customs compliance, pharma cold chain, and project cargo specialists command $5K–$10K above general logistics roles.

Worked Example

Freight Coordinator, 3–6 years, high-cost port city, customs specialisation.

  1. Base: $50,000 × 1.0 × 1.22 + $6,000 = $67,000
  2. Range: $60,300–$75,040
  3. Total comp: ~$87,100

Port city premiums are real — customs coordinators in LA/Long Beach earn 20–25% more than identical roles in Memphis or Dallas. Factor in cost of living when comparing offers across locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Licensed Customs Broker (LCB) exam: adds $8K–$15K to base salary. NCBFAA Certified Customs Specialist (CCS): +$3K–$6K. IATA Dangerous Goods certification: +$3K–$5K. CSCMP SCMA certification: +$2K–$5K. Trade Compliance Manager Certificate (ITAR, EAR): significant premium in defense export roles.

Internal coordinator: better for high-volume, consistent import/export activity ($1M+ annual freight, 200+ annual shipments). Freight forwarder: better for lower volume, variable shipments, or where specialized expertise (e.g., certain country expertise) is needed. Many companies use both — internal coordinator manages the forwarder and handles exceptions.