What Is a Logistician's Salary?

Logisticians work for manufacturers, government entities, and other organizations to move products and parts from suppliers to customers. As a logistician, you’re responsible for managing an organization’s supply chain and product’s life cycle from its design until it reaches the hands of the customer, reviewing areas as needed where you can improve efficiency. Logistician positions have a much faster-projected growth rate than the national average.

Discover which factors may contribute to your salary if you choose to take on the role of a logistician and how much you can earn.

What is a logistician?

A logistician is responsible for organizing the supply chain for a product from the beginning until the product reaches the customer. Logisticians may analyze every part of a product’s movement, from its design and creation phase to distribution and transportation to a company’s customers. 

In this role, you may be responsible for developing relationships with suppliers and distributors. You’ll also review the logistics of a supply chain to identify issues in the process and recommend solutions to alleviate problems that may hold up a product as it moves through to reach customers.

How much does a logistician make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), logisticians in the United States earn a median annual salary of $79,400 [1].

Various job listing sites show the average annual pay for logisticians ranges from roughly $50,000 to $79,000. Take a look at the base salary ranges given by four different organizations that track logistician salaries:

Factors that affect a logistician's salary

Factors such as your education level and experience in the field can boost your potential earnings as a logistician. Where you live can also impact your salary, including the demand for logisticians and the cost of living in a particular area. Some industry sectors will pay more than others, depending on your particular interests or specialties.

Education

According to Zippia, roughly 50 percent of logisticians earn a bachelor’s degree, while 22 percent have an associate degree. Another 12 percent have only a high school diploma, and 8 percent have a master’s degree.  If you opt for a degree, common majors include business, supply chain management, logistics, or a related field. If a degree isn’t for you, you can also earn a Professional Certificate or certification through the Association of Supply Chain Management or the International Society of Logistics to compete for jobs in the field.

Explore the average logistician salaries based on education level, according to Zippia [5]:

• High school diploma or less: $64,087

• Some college/associate degree: $69,541

• Bachelor's degree: $79,984

• Master's degree: $89,553

Experience

Your level of experience as a logistician or working in a related field can affect your salary as employers may recognize work experience with a higher salary. Take a look at the estimated average base salaries you can expect based on your level of experience, according to Glassdoor [3]:

• 0–1 year: $64,943 

• 1–3 years: $70,715 

• 4–6 years: $77,162 

• 7–9 years: $78,793 

• 10–14 years: $84,510 

• 15+ years: $94,804 

Location

Your location can affect your logistician salary due to the cost of living, demand for work in the area, and other regional factors.

Discover the five top-paying states and districts for logistician positions and their annual mean wages based on data collected by the BLS [6]:

• District of Columbia: $112,370 

• Delaware: $101,260

• Maryland: $99,570

• Hawaii: $97,560

• Washington: $97,510

Some cities may have higher earnings than others based on the cost of living or the number of logistician positions. You can earn more if you live in these areas, are willing to relocate, or can work remotely at a job-based in one of these areas.

According to the BLS, the highest annual mean wages are offered by the following metropolitan areas [6]:

• California-Lexington Park, MD: $120,020 

• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $119,810 

• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA: $106,590

• Huntsville, AL: $105,660 

• Boulder, CO: $105,570

If a less densely populated area is more attractive to you, the following nonmetropolitan areas offer the highest annual mean wages for logisticians, according to the BLS [6]:

• Northern New Mexico: $98,120

• Southwest Maine: $96,670

• Southern Indiana: $92,310  

• Eastern and Southern Colorado: $91,490

• Eastern New Mexico: $90,200

Industry

Certain industries may provide the opportunity to earn more income as a logistician. Working for the federal government can earn you a median annual income of $95,890. In contrast, logistician jobs in the manufacturing industry can earn you $82,410 in median annual income, according to the BLS [7].

Glassdoor also lists the median total salary (base salary plus additional compensation) in the following industries for logisticians [3]:

• Financial services: $129,332

• Information technology: $88,308

• Management and consulting: $81,626

• Transportation and logistics: $80,584

• Aerospace and defense: $79,255

Related job titles

Other positions in the supply chain management field can help you gain experience as a logistician, or you can find a job that better fits your interests if you don’t want to become a logistician specifically.

For example, an industrial production manager oversees manufacturing operations for organizations. Sometimes called plant managers, you keep production running on schedule and on budget for a manufacturing company within a plant. You’ll also be responsible for monitoring the production process to identify ways to be more efficient or review safety protocols. You can earn a median annual wage of $116,970, per the BLS [8].

A project management specialist coordinates projects with various skills, including budgeting, scheduling, and other important steps in the development process of a project. You’ll also have to present client updates such as production costs and obtained goals. Expect to earn a median annual salary of $98,580, according to the BLS [9].

Job outlook

The BLS expects logistician jobs to grow by 19 percent between 2023 and 2033, much higher than the national average for all occupations. The field expects about 26,100 job openings each year on average during that time frame  [1].

One area where logistician positions will likely grow is the e-commerce sector as more customers order products online. Logisticians are responsible for finding new ways to get products to consumers quickly and within budget. Retirements in the field may also contribute to job creation for logisticians.

Getting started with Coursera

A logistician's salary may depend on various factors, including education, location, and years of experience working in the field. To increase your annual wages as a logistician, consider enhancing your supply chain management skills and expanding your knowledge of logistics as you begin your career.

Educational programs can help you start a career as a logistician or continue your training in the field. For example, Rutgers offers a Supply Chain Management Specialization on Coursera for individuals who want to learn about logistics, operations, planning, and sourcing within the logistics field.

In addition, intermediate learners can check out the Inventory Management course through the University of California, Irvine, on Coursera. The course is part of the Leverage Data Science for a More Agile Supply Chain Specialization. It focuses on how to manage inventory as a logistician and review data to make projections for future supply chain development.