Careers in the supply chain industry, plus salaries and job outlook

The supply chain is a big topic in the news all around the world today. It’s an entire network made up of companies and individuals who create, house/store, and deliver products for consumers. This means that it includes every step from the creation of a product to its end result: on the shelves of retailers for customers to buy. Because this is such a large industry, there are several careers available within the supply chain industry.

Business Analyst

A business analyst’s main job is to come up with solutions to company operations. When it comes to the supply chain, they make sure that the supply meets the demand of a company. Job duties include:

• Analyzing costs and benefits
• Identifying problems in workflow and suggesting improvements
• Negotiation

The average annual salary for a business analyst in supply chain management is just under $85,000, or about $40 an hour. Currently, there are over 300,000 available business analyst-related jobs in the U.S.

Distribution/Logistics Manager

Both distribution and logistics are key to the day-to-day operations of delivering goods from one place to another. Distribution is the physical placement of goods, while logistics involve the planning, storage and inventory management, and movement of goods. A lot of job titles are “Logistics and Distribution Manager”, meaning you’ll be dealing with both. Some responsibilities include:

• Plan and manage products
• Plan vehicle routes
• Work on new supply strategies
• Working with e-commerce

Salaries start at $23,325 per year, but senior managers can make up to $74,000 per year. Employment is expected to grow 4% over the next five to seven years.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing, the first step in the supply chain, is the actual creation of products and goods from raw materials with the help of labor, machines, tools, and other equipment. Careers in manufacturing are pretty broad, ranging from a baker to a welder, so salaries will look quite different depending on the specific field. However, the top paid manufacturing jobs can be found in the status of California, Wyoming, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, while the lowest paying manufacturing jobs are in states like Arkansas and Florida.

Operations Manager

Operations management oversees the big picture of an organization, managing processes, human resources, inventory, and all financial aspects. When it comes to the supply chain, they manage inventory and oversee the flow of goods and services, working with third-party providers. They’re one of the highest paid professionals in the industry, with a median annual salary of $92,500. Employment is also expected to grow at an average rate in the next ten years.

Retail Manager

Retail management involves running and managing a store’s daily operations, as it relates to selling goods and services to consumers. This is the final step in the supply chain, and a retail manager oversees the selling of goods to customers. There are many sub-industries of retail, with everything from food to clothing, to electronics— whatever can be sold to a customer in a physical form. Retail managers make an average of $50,630 per year, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% increase in employment from 2020 to 2030.

Shipping and Transportation

Shipping is the transport of goods by road, sea, air, railroad, etc. Some examples of jobs in shipping and transportation include:

• Captain (ship)
• Commercial pilot
• Delivery driver
• Shipping and receiving clerk
• Train operator
• Transportation planner
• Transportation specialist
• Truck drivers

Again, the salaries of these types of jobs will vary depending on the specific sector and where you work. As for job outlook, the BLS projects a 9% growth over the next decade.

Warehouse Manager

The main purpose of a warehouse is to store goods before they are moved to a different location, and a warehouse manager oversees the receiving and shipping of these products entering and exiting the warehouse. It’s also the responsibility of the warehouse manager to ensure that they have the proper equipment to perform these tasks. This requires a variety of new or used material handling equipment, such as:

• Balers
• Bins and containers
• Forklifts
• Pallet racks
• Packaging equipment
• Shelving

The average base salary for a warehouse manager is $90,730 per year. Employment is expected to grow 4% by the end of the decade.

Overall, there is pretty good job security and opportunities for careers relating to the supply chain. Billions of people all over the world consume goods, so it’s not likely that this need will cease to exist. Plus, there are so many different sectors that you’re bound to find something that fits your interests and skills.