What are the highest paying jobs in supply chain management?

Given the volume of supply chain disruptions over the last years, you may wonder if jobs in this field are viable over the long term. The short answer is yes. There’s a near-endless number of supply chain management jobs available. 

And like any other industry, there are a variety of roles to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the highest paying jobs in supply chain management so you know what to expect from a career in this industry.

Quicklook: Highest Paying Jobs in Supply Chain Management

• Best For Collaborators: Strategic Sourcing Manager 
• Best For Exceptional Negotiators: Global Commodity Manager 
• Best For Logistics Coordinator: Supply Chain Manager
• Best For Marketing Backgrounds: Category Manager 
• Best For Detail Oriented: Quality Manager 
• Best For Management Backgrounds: Purchasing Manager
• Best For Information Technology Backgrounds: Capacity Manager
• Best For Outstanding Organizational Skills: Inventory Manager
• Best For Warehousing Backgrounds: Warehouse Floor Manager

9 Top Paying Jobs in Supply Chain Management

So now that you’re familiar with some of the highest paying jobs in supply chain management, you have more questions. What are the requirements to be a supply chain manager? What is the duty of a supply chain manager?

While many of the benefits, responsibilities, average salaries, and requirements may differ from employer to employer, the details explained below are common in many of the top-paying supply chain management roles.

Strategic Sourcing Manager

Among the highest paying jobs in supply chain management is the sourcing manager. They select, evaluate, and manage vendor relationships. The sourcing manager uses these relationships and data analytics to resolve complications and reach business goals. 

Best For: Enthusiastic Collaborators

Average Salary: $115,414

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, finance, logistics, or related field
• Master’s degree in business 
• Four years’ procurement experience
• Proficiency in sourcing software

Responsibilities: 

• Evaluate sourcing procedures and present improvement strategies
• Analyze and calculate procurement costs and develop cost reduction strategies
• Negotiate contracts with suppliers
• Maintain vendor relationships and develop strong partnerships
• Conduct market research and create cost estimates and forecasts

Benefits may include:

• Health Insurance
• 401K
• Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Mobile Phone Discount

Disadvantages: 

• Contract negotiations can be long and strenuous 
• Struggle to maintain several vendor relationships  
• Locating vendors is time consuming 

Global Commodity Manager

In this position, you would manage the world-wide purchase of commodities to support the company’s supply chain. Global commodity managers need a strong knowledge and understanding of the market in communities around the world in order to coordinate procurement strategies for merchandise. 

Best For: Exceptional negotiators

Average Salary: $112,000

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or economics
• Eight years of related experience
• Five to seven years of supplier quality or management experience

Responsibilities: 

• Manage company supply chain by sourcing, reviewing, and buying commodities
• Evaluate, select, and recommend new vendors
• Negotiate prices and terms of purchases with commodity suppliers
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers and distributors
• Research market trends and identify potential risks to supply chain

Benefits may include: 

• Health Insurance
• 401K
• Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Employee Assistance Program 

Disadvantages: 

• Time consumed creating reports for management
• Resolving vendor disputes 
• Consistent traveling

Supply Chain Manager

These logistics managers ensure the efficient sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing of products, and storage and transportation of shipments to wholesalers and consumers. Supply chain managers spend most of their time analyzing data to keep supply chain operations streamlined.

Best For: Logistics coordinators

Average Salary: $112,000

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or logistics
• Three years of logistics or warehouse management experience
• Experience in accounting or finance

Responsibilities:

• Establish performance metrics
• Develop and maintain detailed inventory of materials at all company related sites
• Maintain necessary quantity of supplies and materials for optimal production
• Analyze supply chain data and performance

Benefits may include: 

• Matching 401k
• Health Insurance 
• Disability Insurance 
• Remote Work

Disadvantages: 

• Service redundancy
• Missed deadlines
• Wasted labor

Category Manager

Category managers supervise the products and are responsible for the pricing and promotion of the product or service. They have a firm understanding of the retail environment and consumer needs. Category managers are persuasive individuals who can easily sell their ideas to consumers and stakeholders.

Best For: Strong marketing background

Average Salary: $102,212

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or supply chain management
• Three years of retail and marketing experience
• Proficient in supplier management software

Responsibilities: 

• Optimize product categories and displays for sales and marketing
• Research and analyze trends in sales and consumer behavior
• Produce, adapt, and advise on displays and marketing materials
• Creating planograms for in-store displays

Benefits may include: 

• Employee Discount 
• Flexible Schedule 
• Parental Leave 
• Matching 401k

Disadvantages: 

• Travel to several retail locations 
• Identifying target shoppers
• Product quality dependent on other departments

Quality Manager

This is one of the most important jobs in supply chain management. The quality manager ensures the standards of excellence are upheld and safety rules and regulations are met by creating and implementing policies for quality control and improvement. They put initiatives in place that promote long-term success for the business.

Best For: Detail oriented people

Average Salary: $87,253

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration 
• Quality control certification

Responsibilities: 

• Develop quality control processes
• Design product specifications
• Ensure products adhere to legal and safety standards
• Monitor staff and production standards
• Examine quality of raw materials
• Monitor and evaluate internal production processes
• Reject products that don’t meet quality standards

Benefits may include: 

• Health Savings Account
• Relocation Assistance 
• Prescription Drug Insurance 
• Disability Insurance

Disadvantages: 

• Product waste from faulty resources 
• Implementation costs for quality control strategies  

Purchasing Manager

Purchasing managers buy products for companies to use or resell. They assess suppliers and negotiate contracts while coordinating with internal teams regarding their supply needs. Purchasing managers make sure the organization has the supplies they need to run efficiently.

Best For: Management Backgrounds

Average Salary: $77,766

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration
• Experience in purchasing management or related field
• Management experience

Responsibilities: 

• Determine order frequency
• Evaluate different suppliers
• Define shipping requirements
• Negotiate contracts

Benefits may include: 

• Life Insurance 
• Health Insurance
• Paid Jury Duty 
• Employee Discount

Disadvantages: 

• Dark purchasing 
• Inaccurate data from other departments 
• Supplier related problems 

Capacity Manager

This is an integral role in supply chain management as it consists of the planning and monitoring of the information technology resources infrastructure. They ensure the IT properties have the appropriate capacity to handle the business’s data processing requirements. This includes hardware performance, memory, software, and physical space.

Best For: Those with IT backgrounds

Average Salary: $72,590

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s in information technology
• Experience in IT service management
• Experience in capacity and availability management

Responsibilities: 

• Ensure satisfactory performance and capacity for IT services
• Develop and manage a capacity plan
• Prepare and summarize reports on system configurations and usage metrics

Benefits may include: 

• Commuter Assistance 
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Matching 401k
• Health Savings Account

Disadvantages: 

• New projects are time consuming 
• Removes flexibility by relying on systems for tasks previously done by employees and managers (e.g. requesting and approving days off) 
• Relying on discipline of others to utilize new systems 

Inventory Manager

This member of the supply chain management team supervises the ordering, storing, receiving, and distribution process for products and supplies. Inventory managers control, track, and analyze the flow of supplies and equipment. They also implement strategies and protocols to minimize product loss. 

Best For: Outstanding Organizational Skills

Average Salary: $54,603

Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s or associate’s degree in business, logistics, systems engineering or supply chain management
• Five years of experience in similar role
• Experience in inventory management software and forecasting strategies
• Experience conducting tracking and data analysis
• Product and inventory management certification

Responsibilities: 

• Design and implement tracking system for inventory control
• Document daily shipments and deliveries 
• Produce detailed reports for inventory operations
• Evaluate inventory before it ships

Benefits may include: 

• Referral Program
• Cell Phone Reimbursement 
• Employee Discount 
• Flexible Schedule

Disadvantages: 

• Implementing expensive software for inventory tracking and control 
• Locating spaces large enough to hold products 
• Outdated inventory

Warehouse Floor Manager

A warehouse floor manager is in charge of overlooking the day to day operations of the facility. This typically includes assigning tasks to the correct employees, scheduling deliveries, and ensuring that all customer service needs are met. Similar to other warehousing roles, the salary for this position can fluctuate quite a bit.

Best For: Warehousing Backgrounds

Average Salary: $55,000 to $75,000

Requirements: 

• Usually a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in business, logistics, supply chain management, but some companies may accept equivalent work experience
• Three to five years of experience in similar role
• Proficiency in warehouse management software and Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of safety regulations and OSHA standards
• Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) or Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification may be beneficial

Responsibilities: 

• Overseeing daily warehouse operations and staff
• Ensuring efficient inventory management and order fulfillment
• Implementing and maintaining safety protocols and procedures
• Coordinating with other departments for smooth logistics
• Optimizing warehouse layout and processes for maximum efficiency

Benefits may include: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Matching 401(k)
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Life Insurance

Disadvantages: 

• High-stress environment with constant pressure to meet deadlines and targets
• Physical demands of long hours on feet, potential for injury
• Irregular work hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays

What Is Supply Chain Management?

Supply chain management is the supervision of the process a company uses to move products, information, or resources from supplier to customer. This includes each step of the process from development to delivery. 

Companies create a network of suppliers that obtain their raw materials and move the product along to production and then packaging. From here the inventory is shipped to warehouse locations where it can be stored for delivery to customers’ homes or retail locations. 

Supply chain management systems save time, keep company costs low, and minimize waste in the production cycle. These qualities are what make them so crucial to a company’s profitability. Areas such as costs, service quality, product quality, delivery, and customer experience, are all directly impacted by the effectiveness of the supply chain’s management. 

How Does Supply Chain Management Work?

Supply chain management works by finding raw materials and organizing a network of manufacturing facilities, distributors, retailers, and customers to aid in moving goods through the production, sales, and buying cycles. 

First, supply chain managers strategize to coordinate the logistics of each aspect of the supply chain. Next is sourcing, which is when suppliers are selected to provide the raw materials, goods, or services that create the product. 

They look for the most cost-effective suppliers, transportation, and storage services to cut down on costs and get the product to the customer quickly. This is one reason jobs in supply management are highly valued within companies. Once the sourcing is complete, it’s time to make the product. 

The product is then evaluated by the supply chain management team for quality. If it meets the company’s standards, it’s then delivered. This team is also responsible for creating a network for returning products. 

Staying in contact with suppliers and closely managing inventory helps supply chain managers anticipate potential disruptions and move quickly to make changes that protect the business. 

What to Consider in High-Paying Jobs in Supply Chain Management

Jobs in supply chain management are lucrative and require particular skill sets and qualifications. Below is a checklist you want to keep in mind as you search for supply chain management jobs, or consider taking classes to improve your opportunities.

Degrees

To become a supply chain manager you must obtain a bachelor’s degree. There are programs that have a specific focus on supply chain management, but areas such as business, finance, and engineering are also helpful on your resume. 

A master’s of business administration (MBA) degree is becoming an increasingly common ask from employers seeking someone with graduate-level education. The industry is becoming more complex as consumer needs become more digital, and employers want candidates with a working knowledge of today’s technology as it pertains to the supply chain.

Certifications 

Although certifications are not mandatory, they certainly have a positive effect on your career in supply chain management. There are several certification programs to choose from and each offers benefits to specific roles within the industry.

Before settling on a professional certification you should know the areas of supply chain management that most appeal to you. The certificate you obtain will show others that you have a specialized, high level of skills and knowledge in that area. 

Work Experience

Just like any industry, experience is needed to move up into the higher ranks of supply chain management. Most managers receive on-the-job training as they work in their entry-level position. Many supply chain managers have a logistics or military background that has prepared them for this complex work.

Having retail, marketing, or management background will also prove useful as much of the knowledge gained in these subjects can be transferred to supply chain management. The field is constantly adjusting to keep up with changing consumer trends, so ongoing education is needed to remain competitive.

Duties and Responsibilities

Supply chain managers collaborate with departments, like Operations and Finance teams to procure materials that keep the business running smoothly. Because they oversee each step in the process from production to delivery, they are constantly in touch with other teams, especially those on the front-lines. 

Anyone who comes into contact with the customer is sure to also be in touch with supply chain managers to ensure consumer satisfaction. These managers also work closely with vendors and suppliers to ensure the quality and safety standards of the products or services being offered.

Position

Choosing a role in supply chain management that interests you is important to demonstrate your skills and show your value to the company. For example, category management deals heavily with marketing products. While someone with finance experience will do well in the position, a person with a marketing background will excel in this area. 

They’ll have the opportunity to show off their skills as they develop creative promotional campaigns. The same is true for capacity managers who have the chance to flex their information technology muscles to improve business functions. You’ll be valued highly if you pick the correct position for your skillset in supply chain management.

Become a Link in the Supply Chain

Overall, supply chain management jobs are always needed. With eCommerce on the rise, there will undoubtedly be more positions opening up soon, so if you don’t have the necessary experience or education it’s not too late. You can begin training now, and there are paid internships out there that will give you the skills and experience you need all at once. 

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