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Logisticians
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.
Other titles employers use
Client Services Administrator · Logistician · Production Planner · Supply Management Specialist · Logistics Analyst · Logistics Coordinator · Logistics Planner · Logistics Specialist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and analytical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Transportation
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.3 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.3 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 75%
- A certificate or some college 17%
- High school or less 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Accounting software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 36,800
- Job openings each year
- 3,290
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 21.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 36,800 | 3,290 | 21.1% |
| Texas | 22,680 | 2,160 | 36.2% |
| Florida | 16,520 | 1,540 | 31.2% |
| Illinois | 13,060 | 1,150 | 17.0% |
| Georgia | 11,270 | 1,020 | 24.3% |
| Virginia | 10,710 | 950 | 19.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 10,070 | 900 | 19.6% |
| Ohio | 9,470 | 830 | 17.1% |
| Maryland | 9,250 | 830 | 22.5% |
| Michigan | 9,160 | 800 | 16.7% |
| North Carolina | 8,100 | 740 | 26.0% |
| New Jersey | 7,500 | 670 | 19.8% |
| Washington | 6,630 | 700 | 19.5% |
| Alabama | 6,350 | 550 | 16.3% |
| Tennessee | 5,850 | 550 | 35.1% |
| South Carolina | 5,610 | 530 | 34.2% |
| Wisconsin | 5,030 | 460 | 23.3% |
| Colorado | 4,710 | 430 | 27.6% |
| New York | 4,650 | 20 | 3.8% |
| Oklahoma | 4,570 | 400 | 17.8% |
| Utah | 4,390 | 420 | 36.3% |
| Arizona | 4,240 | 400 | 31.3% |
| Minnesota | 4,110 | 370 | 19.5% |
| Missouri | 3,590 | 330 | 24.7% |
| Indiana | 3,350 | 300 | 19.6% |
| Kansas | 2,890 | 270 | 29.6% |
| Kentucky | 2,660 | 240 | 22.6% |
| Oregon | 2,600 | 240 | 25.0% |
| Connecticut | 2,220 | 200 | 24.0% |
| Arkansas | 1,990 | 180 | 27.6% |
| Iowa | 1,890 | 170 | 18.9% |
| Louisiana | 1,880 | 170 | 19.7% |
| Massachusetts | 1,740 | 150 | 16.8% |
| District of Columbia | 1,640 | 140 | 10.1% |
| Mississippi | 1,430 | 140 | 33.6% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,180 | 110 | 24.2% |
| Nebraska | 1,170 | 100 | 20.6% |
| Nevada | 1,090 | 100 | 39.7% |
| New Mexico | 1,080 | 100 | 27.1% |
| New Hampshire | 970 | 90 | 21.3% |
| Idaho | 790 | 80 | 33.9% |
| Delaware | 740 | 60 | 19.4% |
| Rhode Island | 560 | 50 | 16.7% |
| West Virginia | 540 | 40 | 5.9% |
| Maine | 450 | 40 | 9.8% |
| Alaska | 350 | 30 | 6.1% |
| Montana | 320 | 30 | 28.0% |
| South Dakota | 290 | 30 | 20.8% |
| North Dakota | 240 | 20 | 20.0% |
| Vermont | 240 | 20 | 9.1% |
| Wyoming | 110 | 10 | 22.2% |
| Guam | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Virgin Islands | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 5,571
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 2,505
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 2,134
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 2,008
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
San Jose State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,657
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 1,523
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 1,519
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,435
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Compare every college offering business administration, management and operations