Logisticians

Analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.

Also called: Client Services Administrator, Logistician, Production Planner, Supply Management Specialist, Acquisition Analyst, Automated Logistics Specialist, Delivery Coordinator, Demand Planner, Distribution Associate, Distribution Specialist, Inventory Analyst, Logistics Associate, Logistics Clerk, Logistics Coordinator, Logistics Planner, Logistics Specialist, Logistics Team Member, Logistics Technician, Manufacturing Planner, Material Coordinator, Material Planner, Materials Planner, Planner, Scheduler, Supply Chain Associate, Supply Chain Consultant, Supply Chain Coordinator, Supply Chain Planner, Supply Chain Specialist, Supply Planner, Transportation Coordinator

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

Maintain and develop positive business relationships with a customer's key personnel involved in, or directly relevant to, a logistics activity.
Develop an understanding of customers' needs and take actions to ensure that such needs are met.
Manage subcontractor activities, reviewing proposals, developing performance specifications, and serving as liaisons between subcontractors and organizations.
Develop proposals that include documentation for estimates.
Review logistics performance with customers against targets, benchmarks, and service agreements.
Direct availability and allocation of materials, supplies, and finished products.
Redesign the movement of goods to maximize value and minimize costs.
Explain proposed solutions to customers, management, or other interested parties through written proposals and oral presentations.
Direct team activities, establishing task priorities, scheduling and tracking work assignments, providing guidance, and ensuring the availability of resources.
Perform managerial duties such as hiring and training employees and overseeing facility needs or requirements.

Skills, machines and equipment

Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Coordination
Complex Problem Solving
Social Perceptiveness
Judgment and Decision Making
Active Learning
Systems Analysis
Writing

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (75.00% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

O*NET Job Zone 4: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

64,440–106,190 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 13-1081.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop inventory, scheduling, planning, and supply-chain analysis experience; explore coordinator, planner, or logistics-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (75.00% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET Job Zone 4: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Logisticians