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Logistician: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $50,890lowest 10% earn less
- $64,44025th percentile
- $82,320median
- $106,19075th percentile
- $133,160top 10% earn more
Logisticians earned a median of $82,320 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 17.6% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the rate for all occupations[2][3].
How much do logisticians make?
The median pay for logisticians was $82,320 a year, or $39.58 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $89,730 a year, or $43.14 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].
Here are the annual percentiles[4]:
| Percentile | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[4] | $50,890 | |
| 25th[4] | $64,440 | |
| Median[1] | $82,320 | |
| 75th[4] | $106,190 | |
| 90th[4] | $133,160 |
A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $50,890, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $133,160[4][9]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. By the hour, the 10th percentile was $24.47 and the 90th was $64.02[10].
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. Only 1.2% of logisticians were self-employed in 2025[12].
Pay by state and city
Among the 50 states and DC with published data, Washington had the highest median at $107,250[13]. The District of Columbia followed at $104,770, then Maryland at $102,700[13].
California had the most logistician jobs at 32,940[14]. Texas followed with 21,030, then Florida with 15,020, Illinois with 14,170 and Georgia with 12,580[14].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Lexington Park, MD had the highest median at $131,600[15]. Huntsville, AL came next at $117,060, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $115,570[15]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs, about 10,950, with a median of $81,730[16]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin was next with about 10,220 jobs[16].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[13] | $107,250 | 5,670 |
| District of Columbia | $104,770 | 1,350 |
| Maryland | $102,700 | 6,840 |
| Massachusetts | $100,360 | 5,250 |
| Hawaii | $100,340 | 570 |
| Virginia | $98,920 | 10,540 |
| Alabama | $98,450 | 5,190 |
| New Mexico | $98,430 | 850 |
| Colorado | $96,090 | 4,490 |
| Delaware | $96,090 | 520 |
| California | $92,890 | 32,940 |
| New Jersey | $92,280 | 6,280 |
| New York | $88,240 | 6,930 |
| Alaska | $87,280 | 530 |
| Oklahoma | $86,600 | 3,830 |
| Wyoming | $85,550 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $85,450 | 2,200 |
| Vermont | $83,560 | 260 |
| Ohio | $83,460 | 8,990 |
| Utah | $83,300 | 3,760 |
| Michigan | $83,200 | 10,270 |
| Oregon | $83,180 | 3,170 |
| Minnesota | $82,320 | 3,450 |
| Montana | $81,270 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $81,270 | 690 |
| North Carolina | $80,780 | 7,860 |
| South Carolina | $80,330 | 5,250 |
| Illinois | $80,100 | 14,170 |
| South Dakota | $80,020 | 210 |
| Nevada | $79,600 | 1,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,340 | 9,980 |
| Iowa | $78,740 | 2,480 |
| Arkansas | $78,400 | 2,220 |
| Missouri | $78,350 | 3,440 |
| Maine | $77,780 | 570 |
| Indiana | $77,670 | 3,890 |
| Arizona | $77,620 | 4,800 |
| Georgia | $77,570 | 12,580 |
| Florida | $76,410 | 15,020 |
| Rhode Island | $76,180 | 550 |
| Texas | $75,480 | 21,030 |
| Louisiana | $75,230 | 1,710 |
| Mississippi | $75,160 | 1,560 |
| Idaho | $73,920 | 570 |
| Wisconsin | $73,180 | 5,140 |
| North Dakota | $72,800 | 310 |
| West Virginia | $71,590 | 590 |
| Tennessee | $71,280 | 4,990 |
| Kansas | $69,520 | 1,780 |
| Kentucky | $68,420 | 2,590 |
| Nebraska | $65,370 | 1,500 |
How to become a logistician
The facts point to this route:
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. That is the typical entry education, though some jobs may accept less[7][17]. Relevant degrees include logistics and supply chain management, business or related fields[17].
- Next: build experience. BLS lists no related work experience as typical, but employers often prefer candidates who have some[7][18]. Experience can come from a logistical support role, military service or college internships[19].
- Then: consider certification. It is not required, but it can show professional competence[20]. Certifications from the Warfighting Acquisition University are required for Department of Defense acquisitions[20].
In some cases, work experience may stand in for education[18][21]. In an O*NET survey of 24 workers, 75% said a bachelor's degree was required[22].
Experienced logisticians may move up to supply chain manager or project management specialist, and requirements vary by employer and industry[23]. The facts do not give a total time to qualify or the cost of a degree.
What logisticians do
O*NET describes the work as analyzing and coordinating the ongoing logistics of a firm, covering a product's whole life cycle from acquisition to final disposal[24]. Typical tasks include:
- Building good relationships with the customer's key contacts[25].
- Learning what customers need and making sure those needs are met[25].
- Managing subcontractors and acting as the link between them and the organization[25].
- Reviewing logistics results with customers against targets and service agreements[25].
- Directing how materials, supplies and finished products are allocated[25].
- Redesigning how goods move to add value and cut costs[25].
- Leading team activities and sometimes hiring and training staff[25].
BLS names communication, critical-thinking, customer service, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills as important[26][27][28][29][30][31].
Where they work
Logisticians work in many industries. Some are in a company's logistics department and others work for firms that specialize in logistics, such as freight-shipping companies[32]. Manufacturing employed 22% of logisticians in 2025[33].
The work is fast paced and may be stressful. Logisticians keep operations on schedule and solve problems quickly, and some travel to plants or distribution centers[34]. Most work full time, and some put in over 40 hours a week[35]. Depending on the job, they may work nonstandard hours, such as evening shifts or weekends in manufacturing[35].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of logisticians to grow 17.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 255,100 to 300,000 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. BLS lists growing e-commerce, which makes logistics more complex, as a factor raising demand[36]. These counts include self-employed workers and differ from the OEWS count of about 251,040 wage and salary jobs[37][2].
About 26,600 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 5.7% move to a different occupation[38].
Is it a good fit?
Pay is well above the all-occupations median, and projected growth is much faster than average[1][5][2][3]. The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree, with experience preferred by employers[7][18]. The work is fast paced and can be stressful, with some travel and nonstandard hours[34][35]. Anyone weighing it should also check what a degree costs, since the facts here do not say.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a logistician make an hour?
- The median was $39.58 an hour and the mean was $43.14 in May 2025[1][8].
- What degree do you need to be a logistician?
- The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree, though less education may be enough for some jobs[7][17].
- Is logistician in demand?
- Employment is projected to grow 17.6% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 26,600 openings a year[2][3][6].
- What is the highest paying state for logisticians?
- Washington had the highest median at $107,250, then the District of Columbia at $104,770[13].
- Do logisticians need certification?
- Certification is not required, though it can show professional competence[20].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Logisticians in the US was $82,320 per year and $39.58 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Logisticians is projected to grow 17.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 255,100 to 300,000 jobs (a change of +44,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Logisticians: 10th percentile $50,890, 25th percentile $64,440, 75th percentile $106,190, 90th percentile $133,160. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 26,600 openings for Logisticians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Logisticians: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Logisticians was $89,730 per year and $43.14 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Logisticians: 10th percentile $24.47, 25th percentile $30.98, 75th percentile $51.05, 90th percentile $64.02. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 1.2% of Logisticians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for Logisticians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Logisticians jobs: California 32,940; Texas 21,030; Florida 15,020; Illinois 14,170; Georgia 12,580. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Logisticians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Lexington Park, MD $131,600; Huntsville, AL $117,060; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,570; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $108,920; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $108,340; Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $105,060; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $104,330; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $104,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Logisticians jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 10,950 (median $81,730); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 10,220 (median $79,900); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 8,860 (median $92,540); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 8,020 (median $104,330); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 7,420 (median $77,570); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,050 (median $76,510). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 13-1081.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 75%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 8%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8%, Some College Courses 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Logisticians. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Logisticians. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of logisticians in 2025: Manufacturing 22%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Logisticians: Demand change - share increases as the growth of e-commerce makes logistics more dynamic and complex. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 251,040 people were employed as Logisticians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Logisticians: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.