Career comparison
Cargo Agent vs. Shipping and Receiving Clerk
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Cargo agents earn more at the median ($52,260 vs. $45,260), while shipping and receiving clerks usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Cargo agents arrange and track freight shipments by air, truck, rail and ship. Shipping and receiving clerks track what comes in and goes out of warehouses, stores and plants.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cargo Agent | Shipping and Receiving Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $52,260 ($25.13/hr) | $45,260 ($21.76/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $38,340 – $79,810 | $34,650 – $62,190 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.2% (faster than average) | -7.6% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 9,000 | 61,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks of training | 1–4 weeks |
| Key credential | IATA Dangerous Goods | Forklift operator training |
| Work setting | Agents work at airports, freight terminals, docks and offices.. | Clerks work in warehouses, distribution centers, plants and stores, at docks and desks. |
What each job does
Cargo Agent
- Book shipments
- Prepare shipping documents
- Weigh and measure cargo
- Check hazmat paperwork
- Track shipments
Shipping and Receiving Clerk
- Check incoming shipments against paperwork
- Record receipts in inventory systems
- Report damages, shortages and overages
- Prepare and label outgoing shipments
- Create bills of lading and shipping documents
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information and in-demand. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cargo agent if…
- I like logistics
- I’m detail-oriented
- I work well under deadlines
Choose shipping and receiving clerk if…
- I’m accurate with numbers and details
- I like organizing things
- I don’t mind physical work
Still torn? Take the Cargo Agent fit quiz and the Shipping and Receiving Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cargo agent or shipping and receiving clerk?
Cargo Agents earn more at the median: $52,260 versus $45,260 for shipping and receiving clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Shipping and Receiving Clerks typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than cargo agents (A few weeks of training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cargo agents to grow +6.2% from 2025–35, compared with -7.6% for shipping and receiving clerks.