Logisticians
SOC code 13-1081 · O*NET-SOC 13-1081.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Logisticians pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$82,320
a year
Hourly
$39.58
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$89,730
$43.14 per hour
Middle 50%
$64,440 – $106,190
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$50,890 – $133,160
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
251,040
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $50,890
- $24.47/hr
- 25th percentile
- $64,440
- $30.98/hr
- Median percentile
- $82,320
- $39.58/hr
- 75th percentile
- $106,190
- $51.05/hr
- 90th percentile
- $133,160
- $64.02/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+17%
Growing much faster than average
241,000
jobs in 2024
281,300
projected for 2034
About 40,300 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a logistician do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a logistician
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 75% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree75%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8%
- Some College Courses8%
Common questions
How much does a logistician earn?
The national median is $82,320 a year. The full range runs from $50,890 at the 10th percentile to $133,160 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a logistician without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is logistician in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 17% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
Knowledge areas
- Transportation4.8/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Mathematics3.7/5
- Computers and Electronics3.6/5
- Economics and Accounting3.3/5
- Geography3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making.