Exploring Supply Chain Job Demand in the U.S.

Understanding supply chain job market trends helps professionals and businesses adapt to changing demands and seize emerging opportunities. For a comprehensive snapshot of America’s current supply chain job market and outlook, we conducted an in-depth study using Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and O*Net OnLine data, analyzing wages and employment across various roles in the U.S. In this article, we’ll share our key insights on median salaries, job rates, and online job postings to help inform your strategic career and business decisions.

Key Takeaways

• Purchasing managers have the highest median salary of supply chain jobs analyzed: $131,350.
• The average median salary for supply chain jobs is $90,812.
• Logisticians have the highest 10-year projected growth rate (18%), while cost estimators have the lowest (projected to decline by 3%).
• New Jersey, New York, and Washington offer the highest average salaries for supply chain jobs.
• The supply chain jobs with the most openings are general and operations managers, with over 35,000 job openings posted online.

Supply Chain Job Snapshot

We analyzed 13 different supply chain sector jobs to explore their salaries, current U.S. employment rates, and projected growth over the next decade.

Purchasing managers topped our supply chain salary charts with the highest median salary of $131,350 — well above the average median salary for supply chain jobs at $90,812. Considering that sourcing and procurement are important factors in maximizing ROI, supply chain professionals in charge of purchasing play a key role in business.

However, general and operations managers had the highest employment rate: 2,013 of these roles were occupied per 100,000 workers as of May 2022, far higher than the other supply chain roles we examined. This highlights their versatility across various industries and may inform strategic talent acquisition as well as supply chain professionals navigating their career paths.

Regarding job outlook, logisticians led with an 18% projected growth rate over the next decade spanning 2022-2032, indicating a robust demand for their expertise. In contrast, cost estimator jobs were projected to decline by 3%.

Supply Chain Salaries by State

Building on these individual roles, we wanted to see how geographical variations might affect the narrative. Next, we determined the average salaries of supply chain jobs in each state.

New Jersey, New York, and Washington emerged as the supply chain champions of compensation, offering the highest average salaries at $116,356, $108,966, and $105,545, respectively. These rates reflect the high cost of living in these states. According to a recent Forbes study, New York’s is the fourth highest, New Jersey’s is fifth, and Washington’s is eighth.

At the other end of the spectrum, Idaho, Mississippi, and Vermont were the bottom three of the lowest 25 average salaries — $73,470, $76,667, and $78,771, respectively — suggesting a stark contrast in regional economic opportunities. This geographical salary distribution can help supply chain professionals weighing relocation for career growth or companies planning strategic expansions.

Which Supply Chain Jobs Have the Most Openings

Continuing the exploration into supply chain jobs and employment, the nationwide availability of openings for these jobs adds another layer to the story. Below, we reveal which jobs have the most open postings online and which states list the most per capita so you can learn where demand is the highest.

General and operations managers had the highest number of job openings in the U.S., totaling over 35,000, suggesting they play a pivotal role in supply-chain-dependent industries. Such high demand aligns with these roles’ earlier-noted employment rate of 2,013 positions filled per 100,000 workers. 

Yet, supply chain job openings per capita varied across the states, with Vermont, Wyoming, and North Dakota leading the way. These states offered a concentrated market for supply chain positions, with a respective 72.6, 70.5, and 65 open job postings per 100,000 residents.

The Supply Chain Job Market Horizon

Our findings illustrate a dynamic job market in supply-chain-based industries. Purchasing managers appeared to be at the apex in terms of earnings, while logisticians stood to see significant job growth in the coming years. General and operations managers held the most ubiquitous roles, showing the highest numbers in job availability. This provides a dual view of present conditions and future possibilities to guide career-focused individuals working in the supply chain sector and businesses looking to harness the best opportunities in these fields. 

Methodology

We collected data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and O*Net OnLine (a resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor) on 13 supply chain jobs. Wage and employment data was obtained from the BLS for all occupations except for “supply chain managers” and “quality control analysts” (these came from O*Net since they were not listed on BLS). We obtained the number of online job postings from O*Net in November 2023. The civilian labor force figures for employment per 100,000 workers came from BLS employment data. 

About Zetwerk

Zetwerk is a leading global manufacturing platform that simplifies outsourcing for businesses across various sectors. Leveraging advanced technology and a vast network of trusted suppliers, Zetwerk delivers efficient, high-quality manufacturing solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

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