### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Logisticians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			logisticians imageLogisticians work to understand customers’ needs and how to meet them.							
						Quick Facts:     Logisticians2023     Median Pay
            						$79,400     per year
										$38.17     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    208,700Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    18% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    38,300What 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							 18 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 21,800 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 
            

			LogisticiansLogisticians 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 goodsLogisticians 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
			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 208,700 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of logisticians were as follows:
        Manufacturing
                24%Federal government
                17Professional, scientific, and technical services
                16Management of companies and enterprises
                10Wholesale trade
                10Logisticians 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

			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

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                LogisticiansMedian annual wages, May 2023Logisticians$79,400  Business operations specialists$78,500  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
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
                $95,890Manufacturing
                82,410Management of companies and enterprises
                81,890Professional, scientific, and technical services
                80,160Wholesale trade
                72,200The majority of logisticians work full time and they sometimes work overtime to ensure that operations stay on schedule.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                LogisticiansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Logisticians18%  Business operations specialists6%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of logisticians is projected to grow				 18 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 21,800 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, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Logisticians**
			13-1081
			208,700
			246,900
			18
			38,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **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 OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Logisticians **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.com. 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 This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of logisticians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**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 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 devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,380**Industrial Production Managers**
            Industrial production managers oversee the operations of manufacturing and related plants.
            Bachelor's degree
            $116,970**Management Analysts**
            Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,410**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 examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $45,850**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 arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings.
            Bachelor's degree
            $56,920**Project Management Specialists**
            Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project.
            Bachelor's degree
            $98,580
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about logisticians, including certification, visit
Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
Council of Logistics Engineering Professionals (CLEP)
Defense Acquisition University
International Society of Logistics (SOLE)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        LogisticiansLogistics AnalystsLogistics Engineers
 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 *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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