Why You Should Start a Career in Logistics Management

Here’s the truth: With a career in logistics, you can change the world for the better every single day.

That may sound like an oversell, but it’s the truth. People with roles in logistics, such as logistics managers or supply chain managers, have a huge impact on how millions of people access consumer goods each day. Your ability to drop something in an online shopping cart and reliably get it in a matter of days relies on a world of coordination that doesn’t just happen by accident—far from it.

Today, let’s take a peek behind the curtain and look at the invaluable ways people with careers in logistics support society and why you might benefit from joining this industry.

First Things First: What Can You Do with a Career in Logistics?

If you’re planning on taking a logistics career pathway, you’ll likely study topics in college or while working toward your graduate degree that range from supply chain management to transit systems, inventory management, procurement strategies, and logistics analysis.

Then, after you graduate, you’ll be equipped to pursue numerous logistics or warehouse management careers. For example:

• You could work in warehouse management, overseeing the nerve center of storage and distribution.
• You could work in inventory control and exercise the art of balancing supply with demand on a daily basis.
• You could venture into procurement, where you’ll negotiate and make strategic purchases during your workweek.
• Or, of course, you could work in logistics or supply chain management, which encompasses a little bit of all of the above (and more!)

Careers in Logistics 101: The Unique Role of Logistics Management

Logistics management supports the smooth operation of the supply chain—specifically, the efficient, timely movement of items from where they’re first made to where they’re ultimately used. If a logistics manager oversees both inbound and outbound logistics, this involves a lot of activities, including sourcing, procuring, producing, timing deliveries, and ensuring everything happens with high precision and efficiency. 

Think of it this way: Before a product—just about any product, from the box of tissues on your desk to the gadget you’re reading this on—ends up at your home, it starts out as a collection of raw materials. Getting those raw materials in one place for production, figuring out demand, managing appropriate and safe storage, coordinating delivery, and ensuring the end user is satisfied requires a lot of work. (Especially when logistics managers are asked to optimize the process for cost and quality at the same time!)

Logistics professionals do all that work, and they do it in just about every industry, from healthcare to tech to food. When demand surges, logisticians oversee herculean efforts to get goods where they need to be—including converting passenger aircraft into cargo planes. Logistics managers work with the latest tech (the global logistics automation market is booming), have clear time-reducing and obstacle-overcoming goals to hit, and tend to do something a little different every day. They create value for consumers, boost product availability, and strategize how to position and move goods to their best effect. 

But those aren’t the only perks of the job.

What are Some of the Benefits of Supply Chain Career Pathways?

After starting a career in logistics, you’ll likely accept a job title as a “logistician,” and you’ll be able to work in a variety of scenarios. In any industry, you should look forward to the following benefits.

1. A Positive Job Outlook

As our world gets more complicated, we will need skilled logisticians to ensure everything gets where it needs to be. And the early 2020s showed us just how vital it is to have strong supply chain systems.

The result? The job outlook for trained logistics professionals is good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has said that employment in this field is expected to grow by about 18 percent from 2022-2032, which is much faster than the national average for all occupations.

However, if you spend some time in the field as a logistician, gain some experience, and then decide that you would like to do something else, the world is your oyster. For example, you could become an operations research analyst or go into consulting or business administration to help companies operate more efficiently.

2. Competitive Pay

If you’re interested in finding a career in logistics that pays well, supply chain management is a good choice.

In 2022, the median annual wage for logisticians was around $77,500, according to the BLS. (There are opportunities to earn far more than that, though, especially if you gain specializations, work as a logistician for the government, or live in an area with a high concentration of manufacturing and distribution facilities.)

3. Management Experience

Being a supply chain logistician puts you in proximity to many different people. You’ll have abundant opportunities to practice building relationships, honing your communication styles, and investing in productivity habits. From vendors to distributors, you’ll come to understand how various people work and what they need to keep the supply chain running smoothly.

This will net you significant delegation, communication, and management skills. These skills can help you pursue logistics industry career growth opportunities, climb corporate ladders, and shift between industries (if that’s what you want!) with ease.

With a Career in Logistics, Each Day Is Different! 

Want a career that keeps you on your toes—or at least offers exciting tasks to keep you busy week to week?

That’s what you’ll find in logistics. When you’re in charge of managing both inbound and outbound logistics for a company, you may need to accomplish a wide range of tasks, including:

• Traveling to manufacturing sites and distribution hubs
• Meeting with suppliers and clients
• Selecting and onboarding goods management software
• Troubleshooting disruptions in the supply chain
• Recommending fixes to business operations
• Arranging professional development for logistics professionals
• And more!

If you enjoy overcoming challenges and doing various tasks, a supply chain career pathway may be a good fit for you.