Business Careers in Logistics

The booming logistics industry offers rewarding careers in administrative support, business operations, and management.

An associate degree in supply chain management can prepare students to obtain logistics credentials: the foundational CLA (certified logistics associate) and the mid-level CLT (certified logistics technician).

If you earn a bachelor’s degree, you’ll be considered for higher-paying jobs such as a logistician, operations research analyst, or business operations specialist.

Clerks, dispatchers, recordkeepers

Tracking products is vital for keeping the supply chain on schedule. Production, planning, and expediting clerks make the most money among clerks employed in material handling.

Technology allows fewer clerks to do the same amount of work, but technology cannot yet replace a clerk who can plan and schedule the production and shipment processes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • Production, planning, and expediting clerks: 8.16 percent increase from 2018-2028, from 3,541 to 3,830 jobs. Median wage $45,630.
  • Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance: 2.61 percent increase from 2018-2028, from 3,061 to 3,141 jobs. Median wage $39,372.
  • Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks: 4.54 percent increase from 2018-2028, from 8,559 to 8,948 jobs. Median wage $33,780.
  • Recordkeeping weighers, measurers, checkers, samplers: 10.14 percent increase from 2018-2028, from 957 to 1,054 jobs. Median wage $41,544.

Moving cargo

Careers in managing the movement of cargo and freight in Kentucky can pay $40,000 and up. You can get started with a high school diploma and some training, then with experience you can move up to supervisor.

  • Cargo and freight agents: 13.12 percent increase from 2018-2028, from 3,095 to 3,501 jobs. Median wage $40,140. You need short-term, on-the-job training for this work.
  • Aircraft cargo handling supervisors: 4.65 percent increase from 2018-2028, from 796 to 833 jobs. Median wage $46,506. You need some experience for this work, typically less than five years.

Highest paying jobs

Managing the flow of goods and supervising operations can pay handsomely. As in most industries, a bachelor’s degree is usually needed for these higher-paying positions.

Logisticians manage the entire life cycle of a product in the supply chain, from the supplier to the consumer. They work in almost every industry. You usually need a bachelor’s degree, but an associate degree may be acceptable for some jobs.

  • Logisticians: 8.46 percent increase from 2018-2028, from 1,973 to 2,140 jobs. Median pay $72,705.

Many entry-level business and financial workers have a bachelor’s degree related to their job. Experienced workers are often promoted from within the company.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the national median salaries as of May 2014 for selected business and financial occupations in transportation and warehousing.

  • Business operations specialists: $63,170
  • Financial specialists: $65,900
  • Administrative service managers: $78,750
  • Transportation, storage, and distribution managers: $84,380
  • General and operations managers: $91,690
  • Marketing and sales managers: $99,290

Except where noted, figures are from Kentucky Occupational Outlook to 2028.

See more resources for:

Learners

See more resources about:

Adult Education