Updated June 2018

Not quite sure what “logistics” and “supply chain management” are in the career sense? Many aren’t, until they realize this industry’s impact has made on nearly every facet of their modern lives. The logistics sector ensures that goods are available to consumers when and where they need them. Logisticians oversee important phases of a product's life, including allocation, distribution, and delivery.

The demand for logistics is currently at an all-time high, so if you hope to find steady, high-paying work, this might be the career for you. Detailed below are 10 excellent reasons to pursue a career in logistics and supply chain management:

1. Job growth
Logistics is a rapidly expanding field that experienced growth even in the height of the recession. Now, the field is even more promising, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a seven percent job growth between 2016 and 2026.

2. High pay
As of May 2017, the median annual pay for a logistician in the United States was $74,590, or $35.86 per hour. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $44,820, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $120,120.

3. Relatively low barrier to entry
Logistics offers professionals the opportunity to score high-paying work without an advanced degree. Although some roles may necessitate graduate education or other forms of advanced training, most individuals can find work in logistics if they possess a bachelor's degree. A handful of jobs are available to those with associate's degrees, but in general, aspiring logisticians are advised to pursue four years of post-secondary education.

4. Opportunities for advancement
Although an advanced degree is not necessary for success in logistics, it can pave the way to rapid advancement. Upper management jobs are plentiful, but require extra education and experience.

5. International travel
Many logistics jobs necessitate frequent international travel. Although these trips focus far more on work than sightseeing, they offer an array of opportunities for those eventually hoping to break into the field of international business.

6. Local job availability
Not all aspiring supply chain management professionals hope to travel on a regular basis — many prefer to stay put. This is also possible in logistics, which, despite having a few hotspots, has broad appeal across numerous regions.

7. Industry options
Within the field of logistics, professionals can pursue specialization in such sub-sectors as wholesaling, warehousing, and postal services. Places of employment also can vary from big corporations, small business, not-for-profit organizations or for local or federal government entities.

8. Abundant internship opportunities
Although logistics is a quickly growing field, many aspiring professionals worry about finding that first job. Plenty of stepping stones to entry-level employment are available, including paid internships at companies that may offer jobs to successful  interns upon program completion.

9. Development of transferrable skills
Many logisticians remain in the field for decades, but others use the skills they've gained to move into other fields. Transferrable skills fostered in the field of logistics include forecasting, workflow optimization, general management, and financial planning.

10. Personal satisfaction
Although steady employment and high pay entice many individuals to find careers in supply chain management, most choose to remain in the field because they find their work so rewarding. In a 2017 report compiled by supply chain management research association APICS, millennials see supply chain management as an opportunity for growth. These surveyed upbeat employees believe in their ability to make a difference in this field while it will provide personal growth and development. In the end, the prospect for a deeply rewarding career should be any prospective logistician's chief reason for pursuing a career in supply chain management.

Johnson & Wales University offers an online BSBA — Operations and Supply Chain Management degree. For more information, complete the "Request Info" form on this page or call 855-JWU-1881.