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 $77,439 in December 2024, according to ZipRecruiter.com. Salaries ranged from less than $39,000 to $121,500 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 $99,710, including commission, in May 2023. Salaries ranged from less than $48,140 for the lowest paid 10 percent to more than $193,410 per year for the highest paid 10 percent. Median annual earnings of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing for nontechnical products was $65,630, with the lowest paid 10 percent earning less than $37,240, and the highest paid 10 percent earning more than $133,010 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 $71,950 in May 2023, according to the DOL. Salaries ranged from less than $43,680 for the lowest paid 10 percent to more than $121,680 a year for the highest paid 10 percent.

The DOL reports that the median wage for cargo and freight agents was $48,330 in May 2023. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,520 a year, and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $72,820 per year.

The average annual salary for customs brokers was $71,007 in December 2024, according to ZipRecruiter.com. Salaries ranged from $28,500 to $118,500 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.