Since the supply chain started in the late 1980s, this career choice has been a lucrative one for all types of professionals.  While there have been some ups and downs in the industry – particularly during the recessionary period of 2008-2009, in general a career in this field is an excellent choice.  That said, what are some of the benefits of being a supply chain professional?

Read on to discover just how rewarding this type of career can be:

Careers in logistics are paying more than ever.

While the average salary of someone working in the logistics field was $53,000 in 2002, in today’s market the average annual earnings is nearly $74,000 according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

That said, the workers earning in the top ten percent earned over $108,000 per annum. Additionally, the top market for logistics professionals in the United States is in the Bellingham, Washington area and the average salary per year is just over $96,700.

Lucrative and in demand career

In today’s economy, logistically challenging shipments have virtually disappeared.  Why?  The lucrative development of high-tech transportation and technology systems allow these shipments to reach any destination on the globe.  Moreover, the international supply chain management behind these shipments enables these consignments to arrive at these destinations in both a timely and accurate manner.  One can therefore safely say that supply chain management provides a critical role in all types of business transactions.

That said, there currently is a strong demand for qualified managers in the distribution systems and logistics sectors in every industry imaginable.  After all, these supply chain managers help businesses to remain efficient and achieve maximum profitability – two very important qualities.  Specifically, according to research from the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of jobs in the logistics field will increase by 25.5 percent from the years 2010 to 2020. Doing the math, this prediction means that a generous 27,800 jobs will be created during that period of time.

Flexible Career Options

A career in the supply chain management field encompasses many different positions.  One common career pathway is to start in the field as an expeditor, then to advance to a buyer and then transition into more lucrative positions. Some job titles in the field include loading operator, sales, and operations analyst, loading operator, sales, logistician and production manager.

Once you have adequate experience at the middle management or director level, you can become a supply chain consultant if you so desire.  These types of consultants are in demand for their expert knowledge of the supply chain.  That said, you do generally need to specialize in a certain area i.e. – supply chain analytics if you wish to thrive as a supply chain consultant and help other companies prosper.

Another option for a mid-career professional is to make the transition from supply chain management to general business management.  As a supply chain manager can expertly maximize an organization’s profitability, these types of professionals are ideally suited to manage other types of businesses.  Since supply chain managers also have knowledge in other areas that include manufacturing, sales, finance, and manufacturing, supply train managers can readily apply this knowledge to another field.

Conclusion

Being a supply chain professional is more desirable than ever. With steady growth and a high demand for supply chain professionals in a wide range of industries, along with flexibility for future transition, there has never been a better time than now to consider a career as a supply chain professional.