Freight brokers arrange transportation of cargo — connecting shippers with carriers, negotiating rates, and managing the logistics from pickup through delivery.
Freight Broker pay typically runs $46K–$80K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to grow 4% through 2034.
Workdays involve constant phone and email work — calling carriers, posting loads, negotiating rates, and tracking active shipments. Disruptions and exceptions fill any gaps — a truck breaks down, a shipper's loading dock is delayed, a carrier no-shows — and brokers spend a real share of time managing the moments when things don't go to plan.
Collaboration involves shippers, carriers, drivers, and sometimes receivers. What's harder than expected is the reactive intensity — when shipments go sideways, brokers are in the middle, and the calls come in quick succession when bad weather hits or a carrier has problems.
People who thrive tend to be fast-moving, calm under pressure, and good on the phone. If you find satisfaction in puzzle-solving with money on the line, the role often fits well. People who need predictable workdays, or who can't handle the constant phone work and disruption management, usually find freight brokerage more demanding than the title suggests.
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Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Admin & Office roles →Freight brokers arrange transportation of cargo — connecting shippers with carriers, negotiating rates, and managing the logistics from pickup through delivery.
Median pay for a Freight Broker is about $58K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $37K to $134K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Speaking, Active Listening, Persuasion, Negotiation, and Social Perceptiveness.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 4.4% through 2034, with roughly 1.4 million people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Licensed Customs Broker, Cargo Broker, and Customs Broker.
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