Supply Chain Managers
SOC code 11-3071 · O*NET-SOC 11-3071.04 · Considerable preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Supply Chain Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$107,230
a year
Hourly
$51.55
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$121,600
$58.46 per hour
Middle 50%
$82,440 – $146,770
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$65,120 – $194,900
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
221,180
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $65,120
- $31.31/hr
- 25th percentile
- $82,440
- $39.64/hr
- Median percentile
- $107,230
- $51.55/hr
- 75th percentile
- $146,770
- $70.56/hr
- 90th percentile
- $194,900
- $93.70/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+6%
Growing faster than average
216,700
jobs in 2024
229,800
projected for 2034
About 13,100 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 supply chain manager do?
Direct or coordinate production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, or financial forecasting services or activities to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service, or safety. Examine existing procedures or opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs. Direct the movement, storage, or processing of inventory.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Determine appropriate equipment and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials.
- Manage activities related to strategic or tactical purchasing, material requirements planning, controlling inventory, warehousing, or receiving.
- Select transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution.
- Define performance metrics for measurement, comparison, or evaluation of supply chain factors, such as product cost or quality.
- Implement new or improved supply chain processes to improve efficiency or performance.
- Develop procedures for coordination of supply chain management with other functional areas, such as sales, marketing, finance, production, or quality assurance.
- Confer with supply chain planners to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials or products.
- Analyze inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste, or optimize customer service.
How to become a supply chain manager
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 67% 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 Degree67%
- Master's Degree19%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate10%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5%
Common questions
How much does a supply chain manager earn?
The national median is $107,230 a year. The full range runs from $65,120 at the 10th percentile to $194,900 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 supply chain manager 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 supply chain manager in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 6% between 2024 and 2034 — growing 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
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Transportation4.5/5
- Administration and Management4.3/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Economics and Accounting3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Production and Processing3.8/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.7/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
Transferable strengths: Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving.