Export-Import Specialists

Earnings vary widely depending on specific job responsibilities and the size of the export-import firm. Export-import managers earned median annual salaries of $104,180 in November 2019, according to Salary.com. Salaries ranged from less than $96,813 to $112,752 or more. 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), median annual earnings of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing for technical and scientific products, were $79,680, including commission, in May 2018. Salaries ranged from less than $39,960 for the lowest paid 10 percent to more than $156,630 per year for the highest paid 10 percent. Median annual earnings of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing for nontechnical products was $58,510, with the lowest paid 10 percent earning less than $29,140, and the highest paid 10 percent earning more than $122,770 a year.

Some companies adjust salaries to reflect total volume of sales. Other companies pay straight commission (usually about 10 percent of total sales), while others pay a combination of salary, commission, and benefits. While wholesalers can make huge amounts of money, a slow period could adversely affect their earning potential.

Buyers, the professionals who seek the best deal on raw materials and finished products for their employers, earned a median income of $62,750 in May 2018, according to the DOL. Salaries ranged from less than $37,080 for the lowest paid 10 percent to more than $104,190 a year for the highest paid 10 percent.

The DOL reports that the median wage for cargo and freight agents was $43,210 in May 2018. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $25,970 a year, and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $66,920 per year.

The average annual salary for customs brokers was $55,220 in September 2017, according to PayScale.com. Salaries ranged from $36,339 to $81,187 or higher.

Export-import specialists who work for a company usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Those who are self-employed must provide their own benefits.