Work Environment
Logisticians held about 191,000 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of logisticians were as follows:
- Manufacturing - 24%
- Federal government - 18%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - 17%
- Management of companies and enterprises - 9%
- Wholesale trade - 8%
Logisticians work in almost every industry. Some logisticians work in the logistical department of a company, and others work for firms that specialize in logistical work, such as freight-shipping companies.
The job can be stressful because logistical work is fast-paced. Logisticians must ensure that operations stay on schedule, and they must work quickly to solve any problems that arise. Some logisticians travel to manufacturing plants or distribution centers.
Work Schedules
The majority of logisticians work full time and they sometimes work overtime to ensure that operations stay on schedule.
Job Outlook
Employment of logisticians is projected to grow 30 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 24,500 openings for logisticians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Employment of logisticians is expected to grow as companies and government agencies increasingly rely on these workers to move products more efficiently, solve problems, and identify areas for improvement. As e-commerce continues to expand, these workers will be needed to help with the complex logistics involved, such as just-in-time delivery to consumers. In addition, as more goods are purchased online, timeliness of delivery will become a more critical component of firm competition, further increasing demand for logisticians.
Earnings
The median annual wage for logisticians was $77,030 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,160, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $122,390.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for logisticians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Federal government - $88,710
- Management of companies and enterprises - $78,660
- Manufacturing - $77,740
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $76,840
- Wholesale trade - $63,930
The majority of logisticians work full time and they sometimes work overtime to ensure that operations stay on schedule.
