Cargo and Freight Agent Salary in Columbus, OH
Cargo and Freight Agents in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $50,210 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,925 take-home, or $3,494 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cargo and freight agent salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,845
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,113
- Medicare (1.45%)$728
- Ohio income tax$598
- Take-home pay$41,925
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Cargo and Freight Agent pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,750 | $20.07 | $35,360 | $2,947 |
| 25th percentile | $48,330 | $23.24 | $40,466 | $3,372 |
| Median (50th) | $50,210 | $24.14 | $41,925 | $3,494 |
| 75th percentile | $62,900 | $30.24 | $51,773 | $4,314 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,390 | $39.13 | $64,632 | $5,386 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,210 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cargo and freight agent's $41,925 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,915 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cargo and Freight Agent jobs are about as common in Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for cargo and freight agents, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #12 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $55,930 | $47,120 | $51,118 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $56,060 | $46,465 | $49,471 |
| 3 | Birmingham, AL | $55,700 | $44,415 | $48,465 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $58,750 | $46,959 | $46,932 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $61,860 | $51,885 | $46,687 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $59,850 | $47,452 | $45,805 |
| 7 | Charleston, SC | $57,560 | $46,133 | $45,693 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $59,560 | $47,510 | $45,324 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $50,210 | $41,925 | $43,915 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
Cargo and Freight Agent salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $56,060
- Cincinnati, OH — $46,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cargo and freight agent make in Columbus, OH?
The median cargo and freight agent salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $50,210 a year, or about $24.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,330 and $62,900.
What is a cargo and freight agent’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $50,210 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $41,925 a year ($3,494 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $598 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a cargo and freight agent?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $52,260. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,915 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #12 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cargo and freight agent afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median cargo and freight agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $75,880
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $66,970
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $62,490
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $62,070
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $60,420
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,530
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $59,420
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $59,010
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $58,470
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $51,640
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $51,170
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping — $50,700