How to Become a Freight Broker in Virginia (2026)

Virginia employs about 10,540 freight brokers earning a median $98,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most freight brokers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Virginia.

Key Facts

  • Median wage (Virginia): $98,920/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Employed in Virginia: 10,540 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Location quotient: 1.59x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Projected growth: 16.7% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

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Compare Freight Broker Schools in Virginia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
157.2Contact school for pricing$47,633Not reportedYes*68 mi
255.3Contact school for pricing$49,034Not reportedYes*112 mi
352.9Contact school for pricing$48,62531%Yes*121 mi
452.0Contact school for pricing$48,13946%Yes*100 mi
547.6Contact school for pricingNot reportedNot reportedYes*75 mi
646.9Contact school for pricing$46,82045%Yes*115 mi
735.2$2,320 - $20,529$44,92431%Yes*111 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Virginia employs approximately 10,540 freight brokers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $98,920 1. The state’s concentration of freight broker jobs is 1.59x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 26,400 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a freight broker in Virginia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Freight Broker Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

Logisticians Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), logisticians wages in Virginia vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria8,020$104,330$112,700$69,910$166,670
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk2,600$91,460$93,740$63,000$127,900
Richmond1,340$92,500$94,700$62,040$132,080
Roanoke190$78,870$82,380$55,070$122,340
Kingsport-Bristol170$74,380$74,130$45,430$99,230
Winchester130$72,240$76,130$40,410$117,500
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford110$86,120$89,070$63,480$112,990
Charlottesville100$79,450$87,790$56,480$125,130
Lynchburg80$78,520$83,490$51,870$127,570
Staunton-Stuarts Draft40$83,720$90,960$57,610$127,990
Harrisonburg30$68,700$76,740$59,130$97,620

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (Virginia): $98,920 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Freight Broker in Virginia

How to become a freight broker in Virginia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for freight brokers in Virginia.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do freight brokers earn in Virginia? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Virginia is $98,920 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $64,000 and experienced professionals can earn $156,750 or more 1.

How to Become a Freight Broker in Virginia

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Virginia training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Virginia that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to freight brokers in Virginia before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for freight brokers in Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 10,540 freight brokers 1. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Virginia.

How much do freight brokers earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Virginia is $98,920, which is $18,040 above the national median of $80,880 according to BLS data 1.

In Virginia

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)