Supply Chain Planner Salary: Your 2025 Guide

A supply chain planner is responsible for orchestrating and overseeing the efficient movement of goods, services, and information within a company's supply chain. They also support firms in their production scheduling, inventory optimization endeavors, and contingency plans to combat potential risks. 

Read on to explore the work duties and salary prospects of supply chain planners in the United States.

What is a supply chain planner?  

As a supply chain planner, your job is to ensure the organization has the necessary stock to keep operating optimally. This means you have enough materials and products to meet customer demand without stockpiling. In this role, you also may generate inventory reports, communicate with personnel across multiple departments, and adjust inventory as needed to efficiently handle fluctuations in demand. Other common responsibilities include:

• Identifying and assessing demand

• Devising capacity and allocation strategies concurrent to demand

• Ensuring data integrity and adherence to business guidelines 

As a global supply chain planner, you have the potential to explore job openings across diverse industries, including consumer goods, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and more. However, it's important to note that this role can be demanding due to the dynamic and fast-moving nature of logistics. That said, you can anticipate working full-time during regular business hours.

Did you know? The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology  committed $20 million to enhance the resiliency of US domestic supply chains in June 2023. The funding will support the development of a robust supply chain optimization and intelligence network [1].

How to become a supply chain planner

If you are just starting your career, a bachelor’s degree can be your first stepping stone. You could opt for a business or supply chain management major. Furthermore, developing skills such as customer service, organizational abilities, and systems-thinking aptitude can help you make a notable impression on hiring managers.

Typically, individuals in this job role possess around four to six years of work experience. You can gain some of this experience through roles like logistics coordinator, purchasing assistant, or supply chain specialist. 

How much does a supply chain planner make?

According to multiple job listing sites, the average annual income for a supply chain planner ranges from $65,087 to $90,3519. The following table lists the salary ranges provided by Salary.com, Payscale, Glassdoor, and Zippia in 2025.

What factors impact supply chain planner salary?

Multiple factors can influence your career outlook as a supply chain planner, including educational background, certifications, work experience, and geographic location. Consider each of these determinants in more detail below.

Education

According to Zippia, if you have a master's degree, you could earn an average yearly salary of $94,901. With a bachelor's degree, your potential annual income might be around $86,679. A doctorate can help you earn approximately $99,229 per year [6].

A vast majority of supply chain planners—73 percent—hold a bachelor's degree, making it the most common educational qualification in this field [6]. Around 14 percent of supply chain planners have a master's degree, and 10 percent hold an associate degree.

When it comes to preferred majors, supply chain planners predominantly choose business as their field of study, with 39 percent of professionals opting for this specialization [6]. Other popular majors among supply chain planners include supply chain management, marketing, and industrial engineering.

Certification

Employers often value certifications as they indicate your ability to handle complex tasks, make informed decisions, and contribute to organizational success. Some industry-recognized certifications that can greatly benefit your career as a supply chain planner include:

• APICS Certified Supply Chain Certification (CSCP): $95,000 [7]

• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM): $91,000 [8]

• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP): $99,000 [9]

Level of experience      

As you gain experience, you often take on more challenging and complex roles within your organization. This can include managing larger teams or supervising more significant projects, which can lead to a higher salary. The following figures offer an estimation of average compensation at different experience levels for supply chain planners [4]:

• 0–1 year: $70,643 

• 1–3 years: $82,514

• 4–6 years: $88,544

• 7–9 years: $91,673

• 10–14 years: $95,175

• 15 or more years: $102,826

Location

Your income can vary significantly based on your geographic location. Areas with a higher cost of living, such as major cities or regions with a high demand for housing, tend to offer higher salaries to compensate for the increased expenses.

Highest-paying states for supply chain planners

Some of the top-paying states for supply chain planners in the United States, according to data compiled by Zippia, include [5]:

• California: $103,585

• Washington: $102,630

• Nevada: $102,445

• Oregon: $99,140

• Montana: $93,074

Industries hiring supply chain planners

Supply chain planners are in demand across various industries, as effective supply chain management is pivotal for ensuring smooth operations and a positive customer experience. For instance, the health care industry relies on supply chain planners to manage the flow of medical supplies and equipment to health care facilities to ensure the timely delivery of essential medical resources. 

Highest-paying industries for supply chain planners

Here are the top five industries that offer lucrative salaries for supply chain planners in the United States, based on data from Glassdoor [4]: 

• Information technology: $133,352 

• Telecommunications: $92,380

• Management and consulting: $89,711

• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology: $102,521

• Manufacturing: $86,362 

Related job titles

If you are aiming to pursue a career as a supply chain planner, you may find the following job titles intriguing:

Supply chain manager

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $111,191 [10]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 19 percent [11]

As a supply chain manager, your work duties will include overseeing procurement activities and serving as the primary contact between a company and its external vendors. Besides monitoring inventory levels, you may also be tasked with ensuring fair pricing and securing favorable deals for the company.

Supply chain analyst

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $83,055 [12]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 19 percent [11]

As a supply chain analyst, you will develop and execute strategies for collecting and managing supply chain data. This involves conducting research to identify the most cost-effective shipment procedures. Furthermore, you will assess gathered data to pinpoint areas of improvement in the supply chain process and devise strategies to enhance overall efficiency.

Supply chain specialist

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $71,552  [13]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 19 percent [11]

As a supply chain specialist, you will analyze and coordinate supply chain operations, ensuring efficient order placement, shipment, billing, and customer service. You will also address changes in demand and resolve any issues that may arise.

Get started in supply chain management. 

As a supply chain planner, you will manage stock to ensure the efficient flow of products. Your earning potential is influenced by factors such as your education, level of experience, certifications, and location.

Make yourself job-ready by opting for Rutgers University’s Supply Chain Management Specialization, available on Coursera. This beginner-friendly course, which takes about a month to finish, will introduce you to key areas of logistics, including transportation, warehousing, and inventory.