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Summary

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42uJcWOD1ts.
Quick Facts: Logisticians
2023 Median Pay $79,400 per year
$38.17 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2023 237,100
Job Outlook, 2023-33 19% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2023-33 45,800

What Logisticians Do

Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain.

Work Environment

Logisticians work in many industries. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become a Logistician

Logisticians typically need a bachelor’s degree, although less education may be sufficient for some jobs. Employers may prefer work experience, especially when hiring candidates who do not have a degree.

Pay

The median annual wage for logisticians was $79,400 in May 2023.

Job Outlook

Employment of logisticians is projected to grow 19 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 26,100 openings for logisticians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for logisticians.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of logisticians with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about logisticians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Logisticians Do About this section

Logisticians
Logisticians manage the life cycle of a product, which includes how a product is distributed and delivered.

Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain, the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer. They manage a product’s entire life cycle, from design to disposal.

Duties

Logisticians typically do the following:

  • Oversee product acquisition
  • Direct the allocation of materials, supplies, and products
  • Forecast and direct the alignment of a product’s demand and supply flows
  • Monitor and manage product risk
  • Manage business systems, including their selection and implementation
  • Review logistical functions and identify areas for improvement
  • Serve as a liaison between an organization and its suppliers or customers
  • Propose strategies to minimize costs or time required to deliver goods

Logisticians oversee activities related to purchasing, transportation, inventory, and warehousing. They organize and direct the movement of goods, people, and equipment, including manufacturing components, consumer products, and military personnel and supplies.

Logisticians choose, integrate, and implement software for systems that help them to plan and track product movement. They use these systems to manage their organization’s data and administrative functions, such as for procurement.

Some logisticians have other duties, such as training and managing clerical staff. Logisticians may work closely with, or under the supervision of, supply chain managers and project management specialists.

Work Environment About this section

Male and female logisticians talking in warehouse.
Logisticians ensure that operations stay on schedule and work quickly to resolve problems that arise.

Logisticians held about 237,100 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of logisticians were as follows:

Manufacturing 23%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 16
Federal government 15
Management of companies and enterprises 9
Wholesale trade 9

Logisticians work in many industries. Some logisticians work in the logistical department of a company, and others work for firms that specialize in logistical work, such as freight-shipping companies.

Logisticians’ work is fast paced and therefore may be stressful. They must ensure that operations stay on schedule, working quickly to solve problems that arise. Some logisticians travel, such as to visit manufacturing plants or distribution centers.

Work Schedules

Most logisticians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Depending on the position, logisticians may need to work nonstandard hours. For example, manufacturing industries may require logisticians to work flexible hours, evening shifts, or weekends.

How to Become a Logistician About this section

Male and female logisticians outside talking with hardhats on.
Logisticians use interpersonal skills when collaborating with colleagues, suppliers, and customers.

Logisticians typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Employers often prefer to hire candidates who have experience in a related occupation. In some cases, work experience may substitute for education.

Education

Logisticians typically need a bachelor’s degree, although less education may be sufficient for some jobs. Bachelor's degree programs may be in fields such as logistics and supply chain management, business, or related disciplines. Coursework includes accounting, economics, procurement, and other business topics.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Although not required, certification demonstrates professional competence and a broad knowledge of logistics. Certifications include those available through the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) and the International Society of Logistics (SOLE). Certifications available from the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) are required for Department of Defense acquisitions. 

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Logisticians may benefit from work experience in a field related to logistics, supply chains, or business. Some get experience while working in a logistical support role, such as material recording clerks, or while serving in the military. Others gain experience by participating in internships during college.

Some employers allow candidates to substitute work experience for a specific degree.

Advancement

Experienced logisticians may advance to become supply chain managers or project management specialists. Education, experience, and other requirements may vary by employer and industry.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Logisticians must be able to convey information to their business associates, including suppliers and customers.

Critical-thinking skills. Logisticians must develop, adjust, and carry out plans that maximize efficiency.

Customer service skills. Logisticians must understand the needs of their customers when coordinating the movement of goods, supplies, and equipment.

Interpersonal skills. Logisticians need to collaborate with colleagues, suppliers, and customers.

Organizational skills. Logisticians must be able to keep detailed records and manage many responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

Problem-solving skills. Logisticians must be able to handle unforeseen issues, such as delivery problems, and adjust plans as needed to resolve the issues.

Pay About this section

Logisticians

Median annual wages, May 2023

Logisticians

$79,400

Business operations specialists

$78,500

Total, all occupations

$48,060

 

The median annual wage for logisticians was $79,400 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,990, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $128,550.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for logisticians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Federal government $95,890
Manufacturing 82,410
Management of companies and enterprises 81,890
Professional, scientific, and technical services 80,160
Wholesale trade 72,200

The majority of logisticians work full time and they sometimes work overtime to ensure that operations stay on schedule.

Job Outlook About this section

Logisticians

Percent change in employment, projected 2023-33

Logisticians

19%

Business operations specialists

7%

Total, all occupations

4%

 

Employment of logisticians is projected to grow 19 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 26,100 openings for logisticians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

As the growth of e-commerce makes logistics more dynamic and complex, logisticians will be in demand to move products more efficiently, solve problems, and identify areas for improvement. The increased volume of inventory and need to manage multiple supply chains have made logisticians' work critical. In addition, as more goods are purchased online, timeliness of delivery remains a priority for companies, further increasing demand for these workers.

Employment projections data for logisticians, 2023-33
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2023 Projected Employment, 2033 Change, 2023-33 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Logisticians

13-1081 237,100 282,900 19 45,800 Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of logisticians.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help on Entry-Level Education 2023 MEDIAN PAY Help on Median Pay
Cost estimators Cost Estimators

Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to assess the time, money, materials, and labor required to make a product or provide a service.

Bachelor's degree $74,740
Industrial engineering technicians Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Industrial engineering technologists and technicians help engineers solve problems affecting manufacturing layout or production.

Associate's degree $62,610
Industrial engineers Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineers design, develop, and test integrated systems for managing industrial production processes.

Bachelor's degree $99,380
Industrial production managers Industrial Production Managers

Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants.

Bachelor's degree $116,970
Management analysts Management Analysts

Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.

Bachelor's degree $99,410
Operations research analysts Operations Research Analysts

Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to help solve complex issues.

Bachelor's degree $83,640
Quality control inspectors Quality Control Inspectors

Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.

High school diploma or equivalent $45,850
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents

Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations. Purchasing managers oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents.

Bachelor's degree $77,180
Meeting, convention, and event planners Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners

Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings.

Bachelor's degree $56,920
project management specialists Project Management Specialists

Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project.

Bachelor's degree $98,580
Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Logisticians,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm (visited September 29, 2024).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024

What They Do

The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties.

Work Environment

The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face.

How to Become One

The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.

Pay

The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH.

State & Area Data

The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings.

Similar Occupations

The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile.

Contacts for More Information

The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

2023 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all workers was $48,060.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.

Number of Jobs, 2023

The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2023, which is the base year of the 2023-33 employment projections.

Job Outlook, 2023-33

The projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033. The average growth rate for all occupations is 4 percent.

Employment Change, 2023-33

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Employment Change, projected 2023-33

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Growth Rate (Projected)

The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2023 to 2033.

Projected Number of New Jobs

The projected numeric change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

Projected Growth Rate

The projected percent change in employment from 2023 to 2033.

2023 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2023, the median annual wage for all workers was $48,060.